After reading through all of this, I am completely of two minds on this one. On one hand I think "Well, we costume. It is for fun. We draw cute pictures on our armor and put stickers on it as well." On the other hand I think, "We have the honor for the past few years of leading the parade with an amazing color guard. We should set the standard for the Colonial Marines."

There is a time and place for everything. During a session at the pub a few cons ago, a few people came up with the idea of "Hey! Rebecca! Wouldn't it be funny if you did a Colonial Marine cheerleader? You know, shave the cheerleader save the world?" and in my drunken stupor, I think, "Ok, get me a set of torn up BDUs and I will do just that." So, Private Cheerleader was born.

However, come the following year, and all the talk of the color guard and the parade came around, I really didn't think that Private Cheerleader was appropriate enough for the parade. I felt it would have been wrong because it would denegrate all the amazing costumes and the time, effort, and money that everyone put into them to make them look so fantastic. That is how the female Charlie uniform came about. I did the best I could to match the men's uniforms, but was it screen acccurate? Hell no! There wasn't a female Charlie uniform to be seen in that movie. Hell, to this day I am still working on getting an actual Women's marine blouse and my name tapes are still on backwards? Do y'all fault me for that? Nope. You just laugh at me and move on.

The whole thing is a matter of perspective. Some people think Private Cheerleader is OK for the parade, others don't. Some aren't a fan of my Charlies and my white hat because it isn't the green one they use in the film. Oh well. Some like the HK armor, and other's don't. The fact of the matter is we just have to decide what is right and wrong for the parade. Any other time I am a full fan of "ALIENS IT UP!!! MAKE IT FUN!!" I myself, would LOVE to do a pin up, but haven't quite had the guts to do it yet. But I will say, it is probably not something I would personally wear in the parade. I can attest, walking the entire parade route even in the low heels I do is not much fun. That road is horrible!

But who am I to say anything. I am the one that begged Spat for 2 years to make me boob armor for Private Cheerleader for fun. To each his own, I guess.

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"It is a pulse rifle, not a purse."

Wait, Private Cheerleader is supposed to have boob armor? And here I was thinking it was something along the lines of the jumpball cheerleaders from Starship Troopers.

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"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Sorry I dropped off the thread

Tony, the others are correct, I was in no way refeering to the USCM, AL, etc about the parade... we rocked as we always do!! And no matter what costumes we have.

The parade this year overall was a piece of shit the size of Everest. I saw some of the Crappyiest costumes outside of a LARP I have ever seen in my life. The parade used to be the A game for the Con, that is no more judging by this year. Some of us were even discussing this as we were waiting for the parade to start. Starting with the silly Dragon I posted the picture of. Crap, Crap Crap, just to be in a parade.

I ithnk all of the groups are experienceing this problem though, I saw videos of several other groups with silly disco dancing sequined people in the parade.

On a complete side note, can we stop trying to "march" in lines? that is gone after 25 feet, I think we should go back to making it look more like a sweep, running around and interacting with the crowd.

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Rob Slater
A08/TQ2.0.42136E1

"THIS"!

I'm sure there is also something more dynamic that we could do to interact with the Aliens too - and it would distract the Xenos from causing small children to bang their head on solid items of street furniture (and have nightmares).

As a relative outsider Dcon wise, I'd say the honour guard should march in line and the rest do as they please.

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AKA: Simon

And what happened to all the Aliens? There were 3 wandering around on Wednesday night and then only 1 in the parade? What the what?!?!?

I think it's time we make the Parade a privilege and not a right. Make sure everyone signs up to march and check them off the list when they arrive. And deny people who are not part of the group who try to join us. Otherwise we're going to get people just "jumping in" with us because they think their costume is Aliens inspired.

As a group, we still allow everyone to join no matter what costume you might or might not have, but we have to make the parade the one time that we show our best side.

And we need more Bugs to abuse.

And an APC.

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-Spat

You've probably never noticed this, but normally I march a little ways behind you in the parade (not this year, because you were ALL the way in the back) and each time you lunge at the audience, I'd drop to a knee and get you in my scope, or draw my pistol, depending on how I was holding my rifle at that particular moment. Afterwards, usually when I walk by the people you scared, I'd reassure them with "I've got this completely under control." or "Hey, don't worry. Me and my squad will protect you." (Leaving out the "ultimate badasses" line for the kiddies.) Occasionally other marines do the same sort of thing, and the crowd eats it up.

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"Screen what? I wouldn't know screen accurate if it were driving a bus and ran me over during the parade."

LCpl. Av "Spectre" Taylor
Long Range Infantry Support

Did I see two younger kids in the parade with t-shirts and tiny shotguns in those videos? Who's got the guts to break their hearts and say "no" ..?

There were seven Aliens at D*Con, and I think there were a good few signed up for the parade. And I was nasty-proper-ill that morning so very nearly didn't make it myself ...



I haven't noticed; that's awesome - Abe's vision is good, but he can get rather tied up in doing his thing.

Spat does. I hear he's a very bad man.

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"Screen what? I wouldn't know screen accurate if it were driving a bus and ran me over during the parade."

LCpl. Av "Spectre" Taylor
Long Range Infantry Support

Well, it's become apparent that the Parade wristbands are really useless then. What exactly is the point of them if anyone can just walk up and jump into a group and march with them?

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-Spat

Having been a vet of being a reenactor at many 4th of July parades our club came to this same conclusion. Marching had us starting and stopping too much so we decided to go with a "patrol" aesthetic. Or route march if you will.

As for the general topic. I'd say good common sense and maturity will prevail. I cracked a joke about the Silkies and you know what? Probably be something for a night hours party I'm sure and I'd have laughs doing it. But you're damn right I want to show off a full costume for the parade!

I'd think along the lines of some of you all: Use some common sense and maturity and just drop a line about what you're up to. Chances are with the first two guidelines, no one is going to outright say no, but some could be on the fence about it whether they like it or dislike it.

Just the way things like this go I guess. But I'd say its been a pretty civil discussion and kudos to you AL'ers for that.

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"The worth and value of a man is in his heart and his will; there lies his real honor. Valor is the strength, not of legs and arms, but of heart and soul..." -Michel de Montaigne

Thanks for confirming Rob.
Friday afternoon, just leaving from work, tired and I wasn't reading into what you said enough. My apologies.

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Wow so much goin on in this thread. I myself have yet to make my CM but im one that luv's both practical and also fun costume's. Also being Part of the 405th i know how far some people can go with armor and the paint job. Like alot have said and not baggin on the 501st but do we really want to be Nazi's about what we wear. And then if you really think about it what they have in the Film goes against military regs. Cut off sleeves, and stuff painted and added to your armor. But for the parade there should be some STANDARDS to what is allowed and what is TAKEN TO FAR. the HK armor was kinda kool its Different but i cant say much one some1 having fun since i helped my Wife make a MLP ODST for PAX 2012. I think the list for what you want to wear for the parade is a good idea that way u dont show up and then get asked to leave doesnt happen and also you will know what you have before the con on where and what you have to put people. but thats my $.02.

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SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

Yes, but!

The screen used Colonial Marine uniforms, as well as the overall themes of the film, were inspired by the Viet Nam war. It was very common for Marines and soldiers to do any and all manner of unauthorized alterations to their field uniforms, including cutting off sleeves, graffiti-ing, wearing unauthorized insignia, and more. Heck, because of the heat and humidity in the jungle coupled with the tremendous amount of gear they had to carry, it was common for guys to go into the field and not wear part of the uniform, like the BDU shirt.

Nowadays, the professional volunteer military (as opposed to a force of conscripts/draftees) has a much tighter reign on uniform regulations and standards. Which is why you'll see GI's in a scorching hot desert, wearing 65lbs of gear, body armor, and weaponry, with their sleeves all the way down.

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Patrick "Scout" Gerrity

"I see you had another visit from the 'good idea fairy', Lieutenant..."

Shit, in the military today you can't even put an American flag patch on your flak if your CO really wants everyone to be uniform. BS

I'm not sure that can happen. We've had the organizers ask us if "so and so" can march with us, because they don't have anyplace to put them, I believe that's how the Predators came to join us.

And if people are just jumping in at the back, is this happening?? While we are marching? I've not seen it with us, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

This year there were groups of Super Heroes marching in the opposite direction and no one stopped them. They were obviously late and trying to get to their spot in the parade, but they were just walking down the street towards us while we were marching. It was very disorganized this year.

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-Spat

Well, the boob armor is what kinda started the whole thing. Instead, I ended up with the game recon armor.

Speaking of which, now that the game is coming out, are we going to draw the line at movies vs. video game? Just something to think about.

(OH! and the over all parade was shit. Atleast we rocked it!)

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"It is a pulse rifle, not a purse."

The video game is being considered Canon by Fox!

That's why I made the armor.

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-Spat

I'm 100% behind this, however the only problem I can foresee (Rex already mentioned it a bit)---

On the D-Con Parade website (is it still Yahoo Groups?), a single person (who is not an AL member) can sign up on their own and say their uniform is "from the movie Aliens" (despite whatever it might look like)- the Parade organizers are going to lump that person in the AvP/"Space Military" costuming section. I'm not sure how much things have changed since I was the liason, but I believe this includes "The AL board", "Predators", and more or less anyone with a costume that has a "space military" theme, but isn't Starship Troopers or HALO etc (they have their own respective places in the parade right?)

So the reality is that we can police ourselves, but have zero control over the "Powers That Be" sticking someone with us who is assigned to our section of the parade, because they listed their costume as being from the movie Aliens when they signed up on their own. Not really much that can be done about that.

However having "no" wristband (they stopped using the parade ribbon?) and walking in the parade is supposed to be strictly verbotin. Any schmoe who tries that should be pointed out to the parade organizers (however it sounded like a complete cluster fudge pack this year. In previous years if you were late, you weren't allowed to march).


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

So I can get a Stormtrooper costume like this:



Sign up for the parade as a Stormtrooper and then the 501st has to let me march with them?

I call shenanigans on you.

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-Spat

Bro, I'm dead serious. I'm not trying to be a goof. I'm just trying to remember how things worked back in my years doing this.

I don't know how it works with the 501st with their uber rules, but I believe the parade organizers simply have a blanket "Star Wars" costuming section. This would include the 501st, Rebel Legion, Jedi Assembly and then anyone who "thinks" they have a Star Wars costume.

So come to think of how it works, obviously mister terrible stormtrooper costume wouldn't be able to march with the 501st as they would chase him off, but might end up at the back? Or the front before the 501st?

So in relation to "us" I guess we "could" put our foot down that mister "not good enough USCM costume" couldn't be mixed among our ranks, but would end up at the back behind our group (possible behind the Predators... not the "back of the bus"... but "riding the rear fender").

But thank you Spat for keeping it real. Maybe Rex (or whomever is running the parade sign up for us this year) could ask the organizers how this would work- a costumer stuck in our parade section who we feel their costume is not up to our standards (which... aren't really strict or anything).


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Well any idea of a pinup is out for me in 2013, with any luck I will be in smart gunner gear

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"Chief Bartender for the Naughty Corner Bar"

Carpe Crustulum!! (seize the cookie!!)

For me, the goal would be to have it be The Aliens Legacy spot in the parade and have it be members only. Sadly, I don't know if we can do that.

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-Spat