Vehicle Command Crewer Vehicle Command Crewers , also known as Imperial Army pilots , were the Galactic Empire ' s support personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of a variety of vehicles , such as the AT - AT and AT - ST , within the Imperial Army . Equipment . Imperial Army pilots were usually unarmed , but on occasion , senior NCOs or officers would have a standard issue BlasTech SE - 14r light repeating blaster , Thermal detonators , Concussion grenades and possibly even a Merr - Sonn V - 6d mortar launcher . Imperial Army pilots usually did not wear armor due to protection given by Imperial vehicles , but higher ranking NCOs and commissioned officers often wore some protective armor into combat . This was the case with General Maximilian Veers at the Battle of Hoth . They had numerous amounts of vehicles assigned to them including the AT - ATs and the AT - STs . The pilots were split into at least two branches : Heavy Armor and Armored Cavalry . AT - AT pilots . Selected from hardened combat troopers , the Heavy Armor division of the Vehicle Command Crewers , also known as AT - AT pilots , were specialized soldiers that were trained to pilot the All Terrain Armored Transport or other heavy armors in blatant " shock " tactics , attacking their enemy in plain sight after having landed at great distances from their intended targets . In large part because of the AT - AT being widely perceived to be invincible during combat , the AT - AT pilots were also conditioned to believe themselves invincible . AT - AT drivers typically worked in teams of two , and they were in charge of everything from guiding the massive walkers over all types of terrain , to firing the AT - AT ' s powerful heavy laser cannons , to carrying out the orders given to them by the combat coordinator , who also occupied the cockpit . The task of guiding the walkers over uneven terrain was a difficult challenge , and to ensure that the pilots of these massive war machines were the best of best , they were put through many hours of simulation tests and similar instruction . Because of their armored cockpits and their commanding view of the battlefield , their training stressed their importance on the battlefield , which gave many pilots the idea that they were invincible . This enlarged ego led to many pilots developing an arrogant attitude when dealing with the infantry . They received their orders from a combat coordinator who was also stationed on the AT - AT ' s bridge . AT - AT pilots were very similar in appearance to Imperial TIE pilots , though retained a color scheme that was reminiscent of the Phase II clone pilot attire , being a light grey flight suit complete with webbing , along with white gloves , boots and helmet , with the boots and overall suit in particular being insulated , and even possessing armor , although the armor was considered unnecessary by the Galactic Civil War . The helmet was reinforced , and bore the Imperial Army emblem on both sides . Although not required in the pressurized environment of an AT - AT cockpit , the operators at the controls of an AT - AT utilized life support gear that would ensure their survival in the event of a hull breach in a hostile environment , as well as out of respect for their combat history . The helmets were connected directly to vehicle ' s computer , allowing easy monitoring of its vital systems . A computer on their chest armor heated their suit and helmet , with controls to change the level of heat for the suit . The life support system also contained an identity chip , as well as an energy monitor , and connected to the helmet via pressurized air hoses . The suit also contained gear harnesses . The survival pack worn by these pilots was an advanced design which enabled the suit systems and heater to run off a single power pack via maximum output for up to five days without requiring a recharge . They wore driving gauntlets with a comlink on the left wrist for communication . These pilots were usually armed with a blaster pistol and grenades . The uniform also had an insulated variant that is worn when undergoing missions requiring venturing into frozen terrain such as on Hoth , as the AT - ATs themselves are not climate - controlled . Like all AT - AT crews , the pilots lived and worked in their machines over much of each mission . It was common for them to even involve themselves in the maintenance of the walkers , reinforcing the theory that the crew was an extension of the walker and vice versa . AT - AT swimmer pilots . AT - AT Imperial swimmer pilots were specially trained AT - AT drivers used for piloting AT - AT swimmers . They operated swimmers on aquatic worlds . In 137 ABY they were used in the Genocide on Dac , under command of Darth Krayt , serving his Sith Empire . The uniforms they wore were almost identical to the ones worn by standard AT - AT pilots a century ago , with the only differences being that the Swimmer pilot jumpsuits were black , not white , and their armor was unmarked with the Imperial insignia . They were not known to use any weapons . Only one was needed to pilot each swimmer . AT - ST pilots . The Armored Cavalry division of the Vehicle Command Crewers , also known as AT - ST pilots , were utilized for operating AT - STs as well as other armored cavalry . They were trained to have an incredible sense of balance and terrain , due to the All Terrain Scout Transport ' s bipedal locomotion instability compared to the quadruped AT - AT . In addition , the position was only given to the most talented of Imperial recruits . They wore black boots with a black bottom and a gray jumpsuit with pockets . Their helmet was open - faced with a chinstrap . Their uniform included goggles , attached by a strap to the back of the helmet , and long black gauntlets . Both shoulder portions of their jumpsuit had the Imperial emblem in black . They carried concussion grenades , a blaster pistol , a blaster rifle , emergency flares , spare ammunition , a comlink , and two thermal detonators , which were coded with blank keys in case they fell into enemy hands . Compared to the Heavy Armor crewers , the Armored Cavalry wore a lightweight battle dress . Overall , the uniform resembled that of the Imperial Army trooper . AT - PT pilots . AT - PT pilots operated inside the All Terrain Personal Transport . They were also trained to have an incredible sense of balance and terrain . Although protected by the AT - PT ' s armor , they still wore armor in case the vehicle was destroyed . They carried standard Imperial sidearm pistols , blaster rifles , and grenades . Behind the scenes . In " " , the AT - AT pilot is referred to as an " Imperial engineer " on Hoth . In a Star Wars Miniatures pack , Imperial Entanglements , the 181st Imperial Fighter Group pilot looks just like the AT - AT pilot , rather than its normal colors . The " Imperial Sourcebook " calls the crewmen of ground assault vehicles " Imperial Army Assault Trooper " . It states that they are trained in the operation of a variety of ground assault vehicles and wear the Army trooper gray uniform and partial body armor . However the AT - ST crew seen in The Return of the Jedi doesn ' t wear field armor , while The Empire Strikes Back AT - AT crew wears a different uniform .