Karl Dha'Werda was born and raised mostly Correllian. My sidearm is a modified BlasTech DL-44, still has a tender meaning for my home planet and has never let me down in a fight. I haven't really been in contact with the folks, sort of went my separate way around the age of 17 and never looked back. Around age 23, I met my now wife Kritika. Which reminds me I need to ask her where she originated from. We now live in my ship (still working on make and model), hopping between jobs and planets. It really depends on how many credits we have and where Kritika wants to site see next. When we work, it is as a team and the job gets done quicker with two.
Comments Off on 2026 Verd’ika Corps Staff Reporting for Duty
Welcome to the Verd’ika Corps website and program!
We would like to introduce the Verd’ika Corps staff:
Shriekhawk Battalion (age 4-8)
Training Sergeant = Rhea Atin, Vhett Manda Clan
Strill Battalion (age 9-12)
Training Sergeant = Baash Ahkahn, Ne’tra Vhipir Clan
Mythosaur Battalion (age 13-17)
Training Sergeant = Verd Solus, Cin’Ciri Verda Clan
Battalion Commander
Rhea Atin, Vhett Manda Clan
These three Official Members of the Mando Mercs Costume Club will answer emails weekly, post new content on our Verd’ika Corps Facebook page, and help battalion members with questions about their monthly challenges.
The Education Officer, Xon Drall supports content creation and coordinates with other cabinet officers to maintain the website and contents.
How to get started?
Please check out the website, Submit Your Costume to join and check out the first Challenges for your Battalion!
Parents, if your verd’ika has graduated to a new battalion (because they are older now) please contact their new training sergeant and let them know.
Comments Off on Announcement – 2026 Monthly Challenges
Challenges for 2026 will be live starting in January. These Verd’ika Corps challenges are based on the Mandalorian Resol’nare. Each month a new challenge for each of the battalions will be posted. If you are not a member of Verd’ika Corps (VC), you can join by Submit Your Costume here on our website. Requirements to join below:
Mandalorian Name
Age
Country of Residence
Photograph of child wearing their mandalorian costume (a mask or helmet, at minimum)
What is Resol’nare? The Resol’nare are the central basics of mandalorian life. Each month brings a new challenge from life as a mandalorian from cuisine to technology to craftsmanship to community. Each month of the year represents something new and different to shape our little warriors or Verd’ika into future mandalorian leaders. Challenges are geared towards each battalion age group and will have the option of three difficulty levels; Novice, Journeyman, and Expert.
When submitting a challenge please include your mandalorian name, which challenge you completed, and either a response to the challenge and/or photos. We ask that our Verd’ika Corps members wear their mask or helmet for photos. Oya!
Comments Off on Then and Now, Past Verd’ika Corps Member Interview 2
Name: Evren Jaira
Verd’ika Corps Member: 2015
Official Member of MMCC: May 28, 2022
Question 1:
Q: When did you join Verd’ika Corps (VC)? And what age were you?
A: I joined the Verd’ika Corps in 2015, at the age of 13 – just after Celebration Anaheim 2015, in fact! My history with the Mando Mercs goes back a lot earlier than that, though – it’s deeply intertwined with how I found Star Wars and grew my love for it. Around 2010, my parents took me to Disneyland for the very first time – a long trip from Australia! – and I saw the Jedi Training Academy, and decided I desperately wanted to be IN Star Wars myself! From there, after a lot of searching online, I found both the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, and though I fell in love with them too I wanted to make my own little part of Star Wars – and when I found the Mando Mercs, it felt like I had found a new home. I was too young for a forum account of my own at that age, though, so I joined up almost as soon as I could! Celebration was the first time I met any other mercs in-person – and with fresh motivation and feedback, I finished my first kit before our local convention in June that year and did my first invasion with Sandhawk Clan!
Question 2:
Q: Why did you join VC?
A: Joining the Verd’ika Corps meant that I had a lot of incredible opportunities available to me – from invading comic-cons to charity events, to even getting the chance to see preview screenings of new Star Wars by Disney Australia! It meant that even though I couldn’t go through the challenge of approvals for a few years yet, I could still be a member of the club – and over the five years I spent as Verd’ika before turning 18, I even got my parents into the hobby with me! My mother has a Jawa costume with our sister clubs and is currently working on an Ursa Wren to go with my (slowly-rebuilding) Sabine, and my father is slowly working on a Captain Rex from Star Wars Rebels. My Star Wars family grew beyond my blood family, too – as they say, family is more than blood! – and I was lucky enough to meet people from around the world who I love dearly to this day. It’s weird to start thinking of things in decades (I feel old!), but I wouldn’t have been able to meet the people I have in the last decade without the Verd’ika Corps.
Question 3:
Q: Do you think VC shaped you into the mando you are now? If so, how?
A: The Verd’ika Corps not only shaped me into the mando I am now, but the person. For one, I get to make everyone around me feel old by reminding them I’m all grown up and responsible now (though I still seem to get adopted by the local clan whenever I travel)! What it really did for me though is that it gave me the space to be a Merc while learning what I wanted that to look like – the room to experiment with my kit and learn new skills (especially new technical skills!) in an easier environment than what a regular Foundling gets. I had five (and a bit) years to look at the costumes around me and make and remake things as I wanted, to learn the CRLs (and BRLs), to be as nitpicky and perfectionist about my own costume as I could be – to trust that when I put in my costume application, I had done work that I could be proud of, and then when I got feedback I knew what to do with it! Sometimes, being a Mythosaur Battalion member can feel a little weird – you’re not quite an adult, but you’re also not a kid anymore. You’re here, building your costume and learning these skills and trooping events because you want to, not because your family have brought you along while they troop. The Verd’ika Corps gave me a way to learn alongside adult foundlings while also recognising that there are unique challenges that come with being a teen!
Question 4:
Q: Was there a particular challenge you really enjoyed doing? One you didn’t like as much?
A: I’ll admit, I was never the best at finishing the challenges set for us! Between time zones and school and a few other things, I forgot about them more often than not. Having said that, one thing I’m really proud of is that for my final high school ‘major project’, I completely rebuilt my armor from the ground up – I experimented with resin casting and coldcasting techniques, with new (at the time!) 3D printing techniques and software, and made my flightsuit from the ground up – with custom-drafted patterns! Of course, I wasn’t satisfied with it after I finished and I later remade a lot of it, but having a solid understanding of a lot of basic technical skills going into the class from what I’d learnt in the Mercs and as Verd’ika, I could begin to learn more advanced techniques!
Question 5:
Q: When you turned 18-year-old, when did you submit your application to join the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club?
A: I turned 18 in November 2019, and I think we all remember how 2020 went! Unfortunately, I also was very sick throughout the end of 2019 and continued to struggle against then-undiagnosed chronic illness until midway through 2022 – and this delayed my application to the Mercs a lot. In the end, I was approved in April 2022 about two weeks after I had gotten out of a hospital stay – at Celebration Anaheim 2022, in fact!
Question 6:
Q: If you could go back in time would there be anything you would have done differently?
A: Applied earlier! In hindsight, I likely could’ve applied end of 2019 with the kit I had then – but I wasn’t satisfied with it and knew I could do better, so I spent the next few years making changes and upgrades when I could.
Question 7:
Q: What is your favorite piece of your mandalorian costume?
A: I have a little mesh goodie bag that I keep trophies in on my belt – credits, gemstones, that sort of stuff. Within it I also keep a few momentos that are important to me – a green gemstone shaped and polished into the shape of a kar’ta beskar I made with my ori’vod when visiting one year, a painted chest diamond I got as a gift from another ori’vod, and a few other things I’ve collected over the years that remind me of the people who make this club so incredible.
Question 8:
Q: What roles have you served in to help other mandos?
A: I’m currently the Ruus’alor Sol’yc of Sandhawk Clan! I first stood for the role in 2023 – less than a year after I was approved! – and I’ve held it since! When I was younger, I also wanted to join both the Tech Team and the App Team – and while I’d still like to get more involved with the club as a whole, I want to give all of my energy to my clan at the moment so we can keep growing!
Question 9:
Q: If you could give any advice to the foundlings of the future what would it be and why?
A: Trust yourself. Trust the knowledge you have and trust that you will never stop gaining more, that you will never stop learning – and trust that that’s the case for everyone around you too, and that they can also learn from you! It can be tempting to rush straight to approvals – and truly, a kit is never finished and always has something new you can do with it! – but it’s okay to not be happy with what your kit looks like now and want to redo parts. At the same time, be proud of yourself and your work! This isn’t an easy hobby, and you’re running ahead of the curve here – remember, there are members a lot older than you struggling with the exact same stuff. Foundlings are the future, and it sure is cute to see a little kid in a bucket and armor – but you, here and now, are the next generation of the club and we can’t wait to see you join us as full-fledged members.
Comments Off on Then and Now, Past Verd’ika Corps Member Interview 1
Name: Dresdon Acacin
Verd’ika Corps Member: May 7th, 2013
Official Member of MMCC: May 17th, 2014 (4 days after turning 18)
Question 1:
Q: When did you join Verd’ika Corps (VC)? And what age were you?
A: I joined the VC as soon as it went up. I was actually the first person to apply but they wanted confirmation on my age so I ended up being member #3, I believe I was 16 at the time.
Question 2:
Q: Why did you join VC?
A:I joined the Verd’ika Corps because it was the closest thing I could be to an OM at the time. MMCC still provided a sense of fraternity and belonging but the VC was like a junior role for me it felt like.
Question 3:
Q: Do you think VC shaped you into the mando you are now? If so, how?
A:I think some of my traits were already present but the VC helped me focus them and gave guidance. Much like starting your first kit if you don’t have a plan and path picked out, you’re sort of chasing your own tail.
Question 4:
Q: Was there a particular challenge you really enjoyed doing? One you didn’t like as much?
A: Its been so long I don’t remember many but one I remember was about building a blaster prop for one of the challenges. I don’t remember what I made, I’m pretty sure I sold it after so it must have been decent enough. I was already on my 4th suit by this point so it wasn’t a daunting task. I had some confidence going into it and that helped me because I’ve always had a habit to undersell myself.
Question 5:
Q: When you turned 18-year-old, when did you submit your application to join the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club?
A: We took my app pictures the day before my 18th birthday and I submitted them at midnight. I remember being extremely nervous that I wouldn’t pass my app. The photographer who took my app pictures is one of our foundlings today and has been our photographer at troops going on 12+ years now, as I had been trooping events before I was old enough to be official.
Question 6:
Q: If you could go back in time would there be anything you would have done differently?
A: If I could go back in time I would definitely avoid some people and be a better friend to others, but hey that’s what they call character development. I would put greater effort into my physical health, because a warrior is more than their armour. I would also pull a Back to the Future 2 and use my knowledge of the future to capitalize on lotteries and sports betting and investments but wouldn’t we all.
Question 7:
Q: What is your favorite piece of your mandalorian costume?
A:My favourite piece of my Mandalorian Costume is my beskad. I still have my original beskad that I made way way back in the day when I was I think 14 years old. Ive refinished it 2 dozen times mind you, but its still the same piece of 3/4″ plywood.
Question 8:
Q: What roles have you served in to help other mandos?
A: I think I have served in a number of helpful roles in the community – such as a vendor (Acacin Armouries) as an example and in more recent years as an ICC Minister. I’m always helping folks with their builds though regardless of what position I hold. Every time I’ve gone to a Star Wars Celebration I have helped people perform major on-site repairs to their kits as well.
Question 9:
Q: If you could give any advice to the foundlings of the future what would it be and why?
A: Being someone that had extremely bad self esteem, from bullying, a bad home life, depression ect… I say this to anyone who is willing to listen. NEVER stop striving to be your BEST. NEVER become sated on the quest for KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS,
Your goal should be to constantly work on improving no matter what aspect, every day of your life. This can be health/fitness, mental faculties, or your crafting skills. You need to have the mindset of a winner in all aspects of life. Winners win, losers lose. Believe that you can do it and you need to want it. Until death, defeat is only in your own mind. Once you and your mind are on the same team you’ll be unstoppable.
We extremely excited to announce that Verd’ika Corps members will now be able to get trading cards.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CARDS:
You MUST be an official member of the Verd’ika Corps. If not official, please Submit Your Costume
All pictures must have a helmet on including back photo for card.
Character name on card MUST be your character name, no real names will be allowed.
INFORMATION NEEDED:
Email your battalion sergeant with the information below:
Mandalorian Name
Battalion Name (example Shriekhawk Battalion)
Short mandalorian bio with a couple sentences. Please keep Star Wars, no real name or information.
Action photo for front
Either photo link or attached image to email (please no images embedded to email we have no way to extract the images without losing the images resolution quality)
Helmet photo for back
Either photo link or attached image to email (please no images embedded to email we have no way to extract the images without losing the images resolution quality)
All Official Trading Card may be printed with local or online vendors. Once your artwork is approved, it will be sent to you directly print-ready.
Trading card specs. You may use any finish or cardstock, just make sure it is an appropriate thickness for longevity:
Size – 2.5 x 3.5 in (63.5 x 88.9 mm). Bleed has been built in to the template, your printer will thank you
Paper – 14 pt. Gloss / 130# Gloss Cover is recommended
UV Coating if available, gives the card a durable finish
Comments Off on Exciting News – Tangible Items and Patches Coming Soon!
We are thrilled to share that tangible items such as patches will be available to purchase in the coming months.
Here’s how it works:
Account Registration:Parents or guardians must create an account on the Mando Mercs Costume Club (MMCC) website to browse and access the storefront. If you already have a forum account on the MMCC you do not need to create another account.
Secure Ordering:Once registered, you’ll soon be able to explore the options available and order through a secure platform.
The safety of your child’s data is our top priority. Any information collected will remain confidential and will not be shared with third parties.
Stay tune for more details about the launch date and when you can order Verd’ika Corps patches and other tangible items.
Notes: Registration will be required for parents/guardians to place orders.
On another related topic VC members can complete monthly challenges which focus on the Resol’nare or the core values of Mandalorian life. Each battalion has age appropriate unique challenges for growth and development in our mandalorian culture. These challenges can range in difficulty from easy (novice) to hard (expert), but they are designed to teach as well as encourage positive attitudes, creativity, knowledge, and volunteerism.
Tangible awards are planned for end of the year with completion of these challenges. Members are encouraged to complete as many challenges as they can. Any monthly challenge posted on this website can be completed within the year.
