Virginia State Defense Force - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Virginia Defense Force (VDF) is the official state defense force

State Defense Forces

State defense forces in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are partially regulated by the National Guard Bureau but they are not a part of the Army National Guard of the United States...

of Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, a component of Virginia's state military along with the Virginia National Guard

Virginia National Guard

The Virginia National Guard consists of the Virginia Army National Guard and the Virginia Air National Guard. It is part of the Government of Virginia though the National Guard across the United States is mostly funded by federal monies. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges...

, with a current enrollment of over 900 troops. The VDF is the descendant of the Virginia State Guard and is headquartered at the historic Old City Hall

Old City Hall (Richmond, Virginia)

Old City Hall, known formerly as City Hall, is the former city hall of Richmond, Virginia that was designed by Elijah E. Myers. It served as City Hall from its completion in 1894 through the 1970s. The building occupies its own city block in downtown Richmond, bounded by 10th and 11th Streets to...

in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...

. State law allows up to 7,800 troops to be activated in the VDF when necessary. The VDF is all-volunteer unless activated to "State Active Duty" status by the Governor of Virginia

Governor of Virginia

The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....

Mission

The mission of the VDF is by the Code of Virginia § 44-54.4 to support the Virginia National Guard at the following times :

1. Provide for an adequately trained organized reserve militia to assume control of Virginia National Guard facilities and to secure any federal and state property left in place in the event of the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard.
2. Assist in the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard.
3. Support the Virginia National Guard in providing family assistance to military dependents within the Commonwealth in the event of the mobilization of the National Guard.
4. Provide a military force to respond to the call of the Governor in those circumstances described in § 44-75.1.

As of August 2006, the VDF Commander is Major General John D. Taylor. The senior NCO and Division Command Sergeant Major is CSM Andy Stevens.

Uniforms

Members of the VDF wear a modified Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and a modified Class A dress uniform with a black beret and distinctive VDF flash in red with gold trim and the letters VA in gold. The modifications are brass/gold rank, the Virginia state flag and Distinctive Unit Insignias’s on the chest pocket. The VDF is authorized by Section 44-54.4 of the Virginia Code. The VDF can now wear OD green name tags with black lettering, as well as subdued division patches.

The VDF no longer uses the abbreviation VaDF.

Functionality

The creation of a state defense force by a state is authorized by 32 USC 109 (c).
Title 44-54 of the Virginia Code sets the targeted membership of the Virginia Defense Force at 1,200 members. Activation is by an Executive Order of the Governor in the event of an emergency.

Title 44-54.12, although providing for the use of armories and other state lands for Defense Force purposes, specifically prohibits members of the Defense Force from training with firearms, without the specific instruction/authorization of the Governor.

The Defense Force provides training in military related specialties such as communication teams and unarmed security missions. VDF Companies and Battalions are self training. Many of the VDF members have passed online FEMA NIMS ICS courses as well as meeting the requirements of SGAUS.

The Virginia Military Advisory Council is the Defense Force's link to a higher authority.

For 2010 the budget passed by the Virginia Legislature allocated to the Virginia Defense Force was about $240,000.

Units

The VDF's numerous units altogether make up the George Washington Division, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
Most units comprising the VDF are battalion or brigade-sized units. The units of the VDF are: