The Creation of a Galactic Marine Detachment

[lemartain]

I can't really say that I understand what having our own detachment would mean.
But against better knowledge, my gut feeling tells me that it would be a good thing.

So I agree with you Dan. Our own detachment would bring us more attention.

[GM-5380]

I'm in for sure

Apr 19, 2016 2:41:18 GMT -5 danrodjr said:

The GM costume is Badass!! And we need to bring the attention back to the badassery the we are. BF is not serving our needs, CTN may or may not either. We should band together like FIST, and build our ranks. The GM is a stand alone costume, it is unique and awesome. I think we should bring the focus around on that. Thoughts???

[Tango Fett]

I agree with you Dan. This is exciting and I love the idea, but as I asked before, I would like to better know what does it imply?, what do we have to do to became a detachment?, what responsibilities it involves?, etc. Also, what's Chris, Ken and BF's position regarding this?.

I also agree and strongly suggest a separate new GM only Detachment instead of going back to the Clone Troopers Detachment. I remember the original discussion we had here in 2013 regarding moving or not to the Blizzard Force, and one of the main reasons the promoters of the move brandished, was that there were too many different clone variations in the detachment, and as a result of that, the GM got lost there. And that was early 2013. Now there are even more clones after all the TV series and so, so it would be really contradictory to move back there.

Also during that discussion, there were some wise statements predicting (what later actually happened) that moving under the umbrella of a detachment like the BF would not only not increase the interest on the GM costume, but maybe even fade it. And those were not only guessing predictions but it was even cited an actual case: the Kashyyyk Troopers moving from the CTD to the Pathfinders, which people having been part of it, quoted as being a negative and prejudicial for the Kashyyyk clones in terms of spreading and increasing the interest for the costume and the character.

So I believe we are at a point in which we have tried everything: we were under the CT Detachment and was OK, but starting to fade because of the increasing number of clone variants; then we were under the BF detachment which ended being not as positive as it was expected. It may be time to have our own Detachment now.

[danrodjr]

You make perfect sense Tango. We would be set up like any other detachment, the DL, the DL XO, the Public relations positions, the merch and branding officer, webmaster, and so on. I have talked to Ken about this and he gave me his full support on the this and likes the idea.

[bootstrap]

As I stated before, I'm all for it. Even if there are only 42 approved at the moment. Would you include CAT troopers as well?

What I've noticed about blizzard force is that it's not very active so finding help is a test in patience. If another detachment was created it could bring together vendors and prospective GMs to work together for a common goal.

If a separate detachment doesn't work out, I would like to see us return to the clone detachment then stay at BF

[danrodjr]

The CAT Trooper, or as it was named after 501st approval Galactic Marine (Cold Weather Gear) is of course included in the detachment.

[midniterider]

Apr 19, 2016 2:36:33 GMT -5 danrodjr said:

The thing is, since we have been with BF I feel that the GM costume has lost major interest. We were doing fine in CTN, however, I would like to try to regenerate interest in the GM costume by setting up our own detachment. I think it may help us build our ranks again and bring us back the interest that we need. I am not opposed to being part of CTN again, however, I think that as a detachment we have a better chance at building up our ranks and getting us noticed again.

Please let the record show that I have absolutely no objection to the Galactic Marines forming their own detachment, and Blizzard Force would certainly work with you and assist you in any way possible.

HOWEVER, A WORD OF CAUTION!!! Good luck with trying to get this off the ground!

I beg to differ with your opinion Dan, for the GM's were not doing good over at CTN, as a matter of fact that section was just about "dead" (in regards to board and forum traffic). Again for the record, I originally started taking the steps to form a separate GM detachment to help us grow and better the costume / character, and even used this organization as an example. Before I took this "radical" step, I went to the DL of the CTN detachment and requested to make a patch with the Galactic Marine on it -- in an attempt to promote and give recognition to this character. I was shot down right out of the gates with no discussion or further inquiry. When I started going through the channels to start a detachment, all I received was constant statements against it and nothing but long drawn loopholes.

When this idea was beaten down and squashed, that is the reason for the transfer to BF, amongst the other logical points that were presented. To this day, I still am getting blasted, trash talked, and slandered over the move to Blizzard Force with people that were unaware of ALL the facts regarding the move. But I stand firm with my actions and decisions with no regret. CTN DID NOT promote the character, and with over 100 costumes or identified variations -- I understand to a point. But when you see Shocktroopers, Beehive, 501st, and other troopers on merchandise and other promotional things, I have a problem with that. The Galactic Marine was a completely DIFFERENT character, in many respects, than the clones -- and should have been promoted more. PERIOD!!! This was not being done, plain and simple!

While in Blizzard Force, we have had numerous merchandise showing and promoting the Galactic Marine, including a new 10th anniversary coin and patch with a KILLER design (HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET AS WE ARE FINALIZING IT). We even went as far as having a specific patch and coin that FOCUSED on the Galactic Marine ( and IMO a pretty bad ass design as well). On the Blizzard Force social media, we have promoted and highlighted all our characters, including many GM's out there trooping and those who were approved. The Blizzard Force Merchandise and Branding Officer, even went so far as ordering additional 53rd FAC pit crew shirts for GM's that requested it. That was pretty AWESOME being that this is NOT a 501st organization, but yet we were looking out for the GM's. Please do not patronize us or state that Blizzard Force has done nothing for the GM's since the transfer.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: As with any detachment or group, whether it be CTN, Blizzard Force, 53rd FAC, or a new GM detachment, you NEED to have troopers coming to the boards / forums and checking in every so often. This also helps with the promoting and encouraging the costume or character. It is not a one way street. Many troopers use detachments as a base of knowledge and information to build their costume, and once COMPLETED, they leave and do not communicate or return. As the Exectutive Officer (XO) of Blizzard Force for the 4th year now, I take offense to those who refer to us as librarians for researching costumes. Blizzard Force is an international community and we have worked hard to keep it that way. We are honored and proud to have GM's participating and advancing in our OPERATION: WHITEOUT trooping initiative program -- which was designed and incorporated to GET TROOPERS back onto the forums and boards to interact and assist others.

My apologies for the rant, but I needed to speak my mind and present the CORRECT information for all to read and see. I have extremely hard to promote the GM's over the years, and all the merchandise you see here is just one of ways. For the record, I sent separate emails to ALL the approved GM's (IN 3 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES) to get feedback about the transfer to BF, and out of the 32 GM's at the time, only 6 responded -- with 4 on board, 1 against, and 1 neutral. To this day, my name continues to get hammered over it, all when I was trying to better the character and costume. 42 troopers is a BIG increase from 32, which includes all those who have sold their costumes or may have left the legion.

So once again, we will assist you in any way possible, as I have no objection to this idea. But keeping this down to earth, expect a lot of rough road ahead as you will be picked apart and questioned on everything. Thank you!

[midniterider]

In addition to the standard bombardment of questions, reasoning, and rationalization for breakaway into a separate detachment, keep in mind all the new Star Wars movies on the horizon. These movies = more and more new canon costumes into the Legion, and I know that the argument or detracting remark that is going to be thrown into the "official" discussion is the need for possible "new" detachments for the new characters or movies.

Again, I have been down this road years ago. In addition, I made the choice (back when I brought up a new detachment ) to keep the 53rd FAC an independent group because the GM's are recognized by the Rebel Legion as well as the 501st Legion. Plus there are independent costumers out there in the world. The rules for application of a 501st detachment include:

• Minimum of (7) members, in good / active standing, with the approved costume.
• Generate a logo which incorporates "501st Legion".
• Website must be launched and up and running.

[danrodjr]

Thanks for your input Ken, I was not bashing or promoting either detachment (be it BF or CTN) in any of my posts. I just want to see if we can bring back the interest in the GM. With the new movies coming I am hopeful that a similar trooper that can join our ranks. Ken you have been helpful in the progression of the GM and would love to continue to have your council in what ever we decide to do or do not.

[tr0897]

Dan and I have discussed this often and I am behind him. I think the move from CTN to BF split much of the community with many folks just sticking around CTN and never even going to BF.

FANGS to answer the question honestly while having since talked to Muppet and others about the reason the LMO's made the call they did at the time. In the end all it did was split the community with neither place really being home. While it's not to say that CTN or BF couldn't be made more welcoming I am not sure we fit in either place any longer.

On what the Detachment would bring:

1. Input on the CRL, Detachments are now responsible for maintaining and approving the CRL. This can include setting standards and other CRL tier related items (e.g. Lancer. EIB or Centurion type programs).
2. Input in approvals of new costumes for members and recruits in the GML/GWL forums.
3. Possible input in Legion Council, there has long been discussion of giving DL's non-voting access to Council.
4. Ability to make Official 501st Merch.

Don't think I forgot anything but here is the OP definition of Detachments and the process of creating a new one:
databank.501st.com/databank/OperationsProtocol#Detachment

Detachment

Given the diversity of costumes encompassed in the Legion's collective costume repertoire, special themed units called Detachments may be created to improve the quality and awareness of a specific costume category in the Legion's Costume Reference Library (CRL). These units serve as a resource for costumers both in and out of the Legion. Accordingly, their websites and forums may contain both public and 501st-only areas. Access to said areas and the decorum thereon are dictated by the Legion's membership and forum policies.

A detachment requires five (5) members (detachment membership is defined in the following paragraph), and is headed by a Detachment Leader (DL), who is elected by the active members of the detachment in accordance with the Legion's election procedures and timelines. A member wishing to form a new detachment must submit an application (as contained on 501st.com) first to the Legion Membership Officer (LMO), who will make sure the costume qualifies and does not encroach upon any existing detachment costume coverage.

The LMO will then submit the approved application to the Legion Commanding Officer and Legion Captain of the Guard for review and posting to the Council for a vote. The detachment is bound by the same probationary restrictions as other new units. A review of their probationary period will be held on the Council and a final poll taken to make the unit permanent.

Formal membership, voting rights, and eligibility for office in a detachment requires that a Legion member be active, own a qualifying costume as represented by the detachment, and have the corresponding costume designation in his/her profile. The approval of said costume is, however, still the purview of the LMO. Ownership of a qualifying costume is verified annually as part of the Legion census. Membership in a detachment is optional, and you can be a member of more than one detachment. Membership is initiated by the Legion member when the above criteria is met and they register on the detachment's forum. Active status is maintained by logging onto said forum once a year. Failing this, the member becomes an inactive member of the detachment. All that is required to be reactivated is to once again log in.

Section 6: Co

[Tango Fett]

What would be the time expected for the creation of the detachment?. What are the next steps in this process of decision whether create or not the new detachment?.

[danrodjr]

Well, I would like to bring it to a vote, and if we then move forward we would fill out the request for the creation of the detachment, and wait for the Legion council to vote on it, after the vote, if its approved, then we begin as a detachment.

[midniterider]

Has this been brought to the attention of Blizzard Force (or its command staff), the 501st Legion, or the Legion Membership Officer (LMO)?

[CloudStrife7]

I think if we vote the options should be:
-Move GM to Clone Detachment
-Create GM Detachment
-Stay Blizzard Force Detachment

I think moving them back to their home - CTN would be the best option. We are clones after all.

[midniterider]

Apr 21, 2016 18:12:02 GMT -5 CloudStrife7 said:

I think if we vote the options should be:
-Move GM to Clone Detachment
-Create GM Detachment
-Stay Blizzard Force Detachment

I think moving them back to their home - CTN would be the best option. We are clones after all.

With all due respect, as the XO of Blizzard Force and a member of its command staff, I will not support or endorse a move from Blizzard Force back to the CTN. As stated previously, I have no issues if the GM's would vote to form a new detachment and break off into its own entity, and I would assist in any way I could.