In The Clone Wars series, we’ve learned how to spot the differences between clone troopers—like in the 501st Legion, it’s easy to recognize Commander Rex compared to the standard troops. His armor, gear, and presence clearly mark him as the leader.
But what about Commander Bly and his 327th Star Corps? Every time they appear on screen, there’s something visually different about them. Almost every trooper in the unit wears pauldrons, kamas and even carries DC-17 blaster pistols in side holsters. That’s not something we usually see across other battalions.
So, why does the 327th stand out so much in terms of armor and gear?
As it turns out, we actually have an explanation for this unique loadout—and it ties directly into their role, command structure, and battlefield experience.
The Reason 327th Battalion Armor Stands Out
The reason we see Bly and his troopers wearing pauldrons, kamas, and even carrying DC-17 blaster pistols is directly tied to Bly’s background. As a Marshal Commander with ARC trooper training, Bly had the authority and experience to shape his unit’s gear and combat style. Because of that, the entire 327th was allowed to wear more specialized armor pieces like pauldrons and kamas—equipment normally reserved for commanders or elite units.
As confirmed by Wikipedia, “Due to Marshal Commander Bly’s ARC training, the 327th’s clone troopers were allowed to don pauldrons and kamas.”
However, the 327th only started wearing pauldrons and kamas after they transitioned to Phase II clone armor. Back when they were still using Phase I armor, the 327th looked just like any other battalion—standard gear with no major modifications. It wasn’t until the upgrade to Phase II that their armor began to reflect their growing experience and elite status.
Even though the troopers in the 327th wear pauldrons and kamas, it’s important to remember that only Commander Bly had ARC trooper training. The rest of the unit were still standard clone troopers, not ARC troopers or commanders—so don’t mistake their appearance for their rank or training.
327th Star Corps Had One of the Most Battle-Hardened Records
Among all the clone battalions, the 327th Star Corps stood out as one of the most experienced units in the entire Republic army. According to Star Wars Insider issue 84,
“The 327th Star Corps fought at the Battle of Geonosis and have remained active ever since. Their name was derived from the actions they engaged in on the Outer Rim. The 327th has seen action on New Holstice, Honoghr, Felucia, Anzat, and Dromund Kaas.”
This wasn’t a unit that sat on the sidelines. They were in the thick of battle from the very beginning of the Clone Wars and stayed active until the very end.
We also get to see glimpses of their experience throughout The Clone Wars series. In Season 1, Bly appears alongside Aayla Secura in “Jedi Crash” and “Defenders of Peace”, where the 327th helps evacuate wounded Jedi and fights off Separatist forces on the planet Maridun. Later, in the final days of the war, they’re deployed to Felucia, a chaotic jungle world where they carry out search-and-destroy missions—one of which leads to the tragic execution of Aayla Secura during Order 66.
One detail I really like, which might also explain why many of the 327th troopers wore pauldrons like clone officers, comes from that same magazine. It states: “Clone Commander Cody and others allowed their assistants and honored soldiers to wear ARC armor as well. These ARC commanders also instituted battlefield promotions to reward bravery and loyalty, and maintain troop morale.”
This tells us that battlefield promotions and visual honors like ARC-style gear weren’t limited to high-ranking clones—they were also used to recognize troopers who had proven themselves in combat. And considering how active the 327th was across the Clone Wars, it makes perfect sense. These clones weren’t just surviving—they were winning battles across the galaxy. It’s possible many of them were rewarded for those victories with gear upgrades like pauldrons and karmas, handed down from commanders like Bly as a mark of honor and distinction.