@darthrevan627
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Hi Robert,
Perhaps this is because of my autism, I’ve personally never felt like there is an inherent voice in written text. I believe this is why written messages can be so easily misunderstood; there is no physical way to know exactly how the tone is meant to be received. I have experienced this countless times over the years and have often had to explain my messages to others who misunderstood my intent.
In terms of AI, I haven’t personally tried any of the tools yet, despite how many are available now. Written communication is something I struggle with greatly and have to work hard to improve. However, I have seen others use AI assistants to organize their thoughts. In those cases, the results were surprisingly good—the AI didn’t change the context, it simply organized the information so it flowed well while still sounding like the individual.
Personally, I prefer to talk in-person, over the phone, or via voice chat whenever possible, though I know many people prefer text or email. Given my struggles with written communication, I am not opposed to giving an AI assistant a try.
I can see these tools being especially beneficial for those with processing impairments like myself. While I wouldn’t feel the need to use one for every one-on-one message, it could be a significant help on days when I am feeling overloaded and unable to process information well enough to type a clear message.
Hi Robert,
First off, thank you for bringing this up—it is a great topic and one that many people prefer to avoid. I’m no different, and my answer is quite embarrassing. While I know that in a perfect world one should react in a calm and collected manner, my reality is often a mix of that, and sometimes it’s not the case at all.
To provide some context, I’ve realized that the behaviors witnessed during childhood and adolescence can leave a heavy imprint. Having grown up watching volatile reactions to unfavorable situations—and being unknowingly autistic at the time—those behaviors were passively engraved into me. Additionally, I was pushed to strive for perfection, which added another layer of pressure.
To answer your question, I had several catastrophic costume failures with my Vader kit in 2025. One of the worst was realizing, two hours into a three-hour drive, that I had forgotten the entire helmet. My nervous system felt like it was struck by lightning. While in my vehicle, I certainly had a few choice words before making the crushing decision to drive all the way back home and message the Point of Contact to say I wouldn’t make the first day of that event.
The second day wasn’t much better. I had two separate failures—stitching on my thumb coming undone and a shin guard straps failing—within five minutes of each other while surrounded by the public. I felt frustrated and angry, but I kept my mouth shut, signaled my handler, unplugged my sound system amd microphone, and headed backstage to de-kit and process what happened.
The most embarrassing moment, however, was at a very popular troop where I discovered my chest box strap system had fallen apart. Because I was running late due to traffic and was away from the main group at my vehicle, I was verbally expressing my frustration quite loudly. Once I regained my wits, I realized at least 20 members were just around the corner. I believe you remember this, Robert, as I was in a “calm-ish panic” when I informed you of the failure. Fortunately, someone found zip ties for a temporary fix, but the situation left me feeling very embarrassed. It is a constant internal battle to remain calm when overstimulated and trying to keep those imprinted behaviors from triggering.
So, that is the “ugly” side of how I handle things when they go horribly wrong. I feel I do a good job of remaining calm most of the time, but I do have my moments—I just make sure they never happen in front of the public.
Best regards,
Trevor
Hello Christina,
I view a Squad Leader as someone who should be a beacon of inspiration to other members within both the Squad and Garrison. A Squad Leader is someone whose presence on an event sign-up list hopefully creates an encouraging feeling that motivates others to participate. I believe a Squad Leader should be moderately to highly active to demonstrate their drive, and should always keep an eye and ear out for children’s hospitals, charities, and event organizers that could benefit from the Legion’s presence.
Over the past two years, I have supported fellow squad members by reaching out to check in on them during tough times. I have also worked to build the confidence of new members at their first troops, encouraging them to walk or interact alongside me to make their first public experience feel more natural.
Regarding delegation, while I feel the opportunities can be limited, I have helped manage large-scale troops by suggesting pairings or groups to optimize public interaction. When I have had to back out of a troop, I have delegated the Point of Contact (PoC) role to members with strong communication skills. Additionally, I reach out to members who live near certain events or who enjoy specific types of troops to ensure they don’t miss an opportunity.
For most events I participate in, I take on the PoC role. I ensure that all logistical information is secured as far in advance as possible and share those details via group chats to keep everyone informed. I also do my best to keep the squad Facebook page updated to ensure our region’s activities are visible and to encourage attendance.
While I haven’t been a perfect Squad Leader and have made mistakes over the past few years, I have learned from them and improved. I constantly strive to better myself as a Legion member so I can be the best Squad Leader for Crimson Sky Squad.
I hope this answers your questions. If you would like more information or have further questions, please feel free to ask.
Best regards,
Trevor
Hello Steven,
I believe that all members should be held to a high standard of kindness and courtesy, especially when interacting with the public while in costume.
Clear and polite communication is essential, whether it is through digital messaging or in-person interactions. At events, members should maintain a professional yet cordial demeanor to foster a sense of camaraderie. Displaying ill temperaments while in costume can deter people from interacting with us and ultimately hurt our reputation as a fun and welcoming community.
Regarding how to address situations where these expectations are not met, the appropriate response depends on the specific circumstances:
– Minor Conflict: If members are bickering, a fellow member should either calmly attempt to mediate or ask a squad leader or another member for help to diffuse the situation.
– Serious Incidents: In more drastic situations, whether between members or with the public, the priority should be to separate the individuals involved. The squad leader, guards, or Command Staff (CO/XO) should then be informed to handle the matter.
– Professionalism Lapses: If a member is in costume and mic’ed up but begins using profane or inappropriate language, a fellow member should politely remind them that they are still audible to the public and ask them to dial back the language until they are out of costume.While there are countless possible scenarios, I feel that a simple and direct approach is often sufficient to correct behavior. However, in rarer, more extreme cases, involving higher-ranking members of our garrison is necessary to ensure the situation is resolved and does not recur.
I hope this answers your question. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this more, please feel free to ask.
Best regards,
Trevor Peters
Hello Logan,
Over the past two years, I have secured at least 20 event requests for the Garrison. Most of these have been for charities, hospitals, or community events, including one convention-style gathering.
Specifically, several organizers have re-requested the Garrison due to our ongoing communication, including Duke’s Children’s Hospital, the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, the Fuquay-Varina Duck Duck Jeep Club, The Miracle League, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and Raleigh Retro Gamers.
Here are a few highlights from these partnerships:
– Duke’s Children’s Hospital: After months of coordination in 2025, our debut troop was a success, and they have already expressed interest in seeing us several times in 2026.
– Fuquay-Varina Police Department & Duck Duck Jeep Club: We have supported several fundraising events for the NC Special Olympics as well as general community events.
– The Miracle League: While managing multiple locations was a significant learning curve, we had successful visits in Wilmington, Cary, and Charlotte. All three locations expressed interest in having us return for at least one of their two seasons per year.
– Raleigh-Durham International Airport: Due to our logistics planning and community interaction in 2025, they have re-requested us for May 4th.
– Raleigh Retro Gamers: Following several successful events in 2025, we were one of the first groups invited to their first convention at the Raleigh Convention Center. The CEO is a massive fan of the 501st and values our community engagement.It was not easy at first, but over the last two years, I have formed strong relationships with these organizations and established a solid connection between them and the Legion. I strive to continue this work by looking for new charities, hospitals, and conventions to support.
I believe my track record demonstrates my ambition and dedication to the Legion’s goals. By bringing the community together through costuming and supporting charitable causes, we fulfill our mission. Furthermore, participating in conventions remains vital as it allows us to connect with people interested in joining our community and learning how to build their own costumes.
Best regards,
Trevor Peters
