501st Legion ( fan organization ) The 501st Legion ( a . k . a . Vader ' s Fist ) is a worldwide organization of " Star Wars " fans , formed by Albin Johnson . The 501st Legion is the world ' s largest Imperial costuming organization , spanning the entire United States and 59 other countries . Its website is 501st . com . The 501st can often be found at promotional events for almost anything related to " Star Wars " and frequently put their " fame " to use at numerous charity events throughout the year ( e . g . , Toys for Tots , MDA Telethons , local children ' s hospitals , etc . ) . Formed initially for the pristine white Death Star armored troops , the group has grown to include all Imperial trooper variations as well as Sith Lords , bounty hunters and other villains from both the movies and Expanded Universe ( EU ) . As a tribute to the group , the legion of blue clone troopers in that Darth Vader leads into Jedi Temple during is designated the 501st , officially making the group name canon . Although not mentioned in the film itself , much of the support and merchandising material for the film make this reference , including the videogame " " . The 501st Legion also publishes " Static Burst " , its own quasi - quarterly newsletter , which is staffed entirely by volunteer members of the 501st . The Legion newsletter profiles current events , interviews , Trooper profiles , and efforts of 501st Legion members around the world . Lucasfilm ' s Steve Sansweet , Mary Franklin , Pablo Hidalgo , and Jeremy Bulloch have been past interviewees , and the newsletter has been compared to the " Star Wars Insider " with an all - Imperial slant . The feature - length documentary film " Heart of an Empire " chronicles the growth of this organization and how , through acts of charity , the group touches the lives of children in need . The Legion is also featured in the " 2008 Guinness Book of World Records " ( on page 174 ) as the " World ' s Largest Star Wars Costuming Group . " In the 2015 film , a variation of the 501st logo can be seen on a banner in Maz Kanata ' s castle . Organization . The 501st is divided into a number of Garrisons , local " chapters " with jurisdiction over regions of varying size ( anywhere from a portion of a state to multiple countries ) . Garrisons with many members can be subdivided into squads , much more localized versions of Garrisons . Regions that do not have a sufficient number of local members to form a Garrison can form an Outpost of at least one member . Outside of the Garrison hierarchy , Detachments have no regional boundaries but are instead made up of members who have similar costumes ( i . e . , a Detachment of Scout troopers ) . A Detachment focuses on the technical details of its chosen costume ( s ) . Legion officials . At the Legion and Garrison level members can be elected to a number of positions to facilitate communication throughout the organization . Other positions are appointed by Legion and Garrison Commanders . These elections are held beginning every January , and any active member in good standing is eligible to hold office in the Legion or in their assigned Garrison . The elected positions consist of : Positions appointed by their respective Legion or Garrison Commander : Local Garrison Commanders will frequently appoint Garrison - level Public Relations officers , Garrison Webmasters , and other Garrison administrative staff as necessary . Members of the 501st not holding an official position are referred to as " Enlisted . " Membership . Anyone who is 18 years or older ( for legal reasons ) and in possession of a high - quality " bad guy " costume from the " Star Wars " universe is eligible for membership in the legion . Applications can be submitted on the official site . This process typically consists of the Legion Membership Officer ( LMO ) checking an applicant ' s submitted photos , and forwarding the information to the Garrison to which the member would belong . Requirements for the costume can typically be found at the Detachment sites listed below . Upon registration , members are allowed to create their own four - digit number which becomes their Legion ID . Attached to the ID number is a two - letter prefix indicative of the type ( s ) of costume worn by that member ( ex : TK 0000 ) . Members with more than one costume simply have multiple prefixes attached ; the one that ' s currently worn is typically the only one displayed ( ex : TK / TB / SL 0000 ) . Prefixes are as follows : The armor . The trooper armor worn by the members is all fan constructed and distributed , and is made out of , , or . As the costumes worn by the 501st are often not official Lucasfilm Ltd . licenses , George Lucas can ( and has ) sought legal action on those who sell armor . However , he has unofficially sanctioned the wearing and presentation of the costumes providing that the participants are not reimbursed financially for their appearances , and that they represent the franchise in a positive and respectful manner . Amongst veteran members there is a saying that a set of armor is never complete , but is an ongoing project . Members will regularly update , modify , repair , and improve a costume , and no two sets of armor , once assembled , are identical . The most common modifications begin simple with cut sections or trimmed joints to allow for better flexibility . Troopers will typically also have some sort of ventilation system mounted in their helmet ( also called the bucket ) to assist with cooling . Many members will also build their voice amplification system into their helmet , while some will mount the speaker behind their chest plate . Costumes that don ' t require the common armor pieces can vary , and specifics can be seen on the detachment websites .