Echo Company, 23BN, Blackhorse Brigade, VDF

The Mission of the Virginia Defense Force is to support the Virginia National Guard at the following times:

·         Assume control of National Guard facilities during their deployment

·         Assist in National Guard Mobilization

·         Support the National Guard Family Assistance Program

·         Perform all tasks currently performed by the National Guard to protect life and property upon their deployment out of country

·         Perform tasks unique to the Post Mobilization Environment

The Virginia State Defense Force, with a targeted membership of at least 1,200, is organized within and subject to the control of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs.

When called to state active duty, the mission of the Virginia State Defense Force is to (i) 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; (ii) assist in the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard; (iii) support the Virginia National Guard in providing family assistance to military dependents within the Commonwealth in the event of the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard; (iv) provide a military
force to respond to the call of the Governor in those circumstances described in §44-75.1.

Nothing in this article shall be construed as authorizing the Virginia State Defense Force or any part thereof to be called, ordered or in any manner drafted by federal authorities into the military service of the United States. However, no person by reason of his enlistment or appointment in the Virginia State Defense Force shall be exempted from military service under any law of the United States.

Members of the Virginia State Defense Force may serve in either of the following duty statuses:

"Training duty," which is the normal service and training performed by the Virginia State Defense Force in order to be prepared for state active duty, and which includes but is not limited to organization, administration, recruiting, maintenance of equipment and training.

"State active duty," which is the performance of actual military service for the Commonwealth when called by the Governor or his designee to active duty in service of the Commonwealth in accordance with Article 7 (§ 44-75.1 et seq.) this chapter.

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History

The Virginia Defense Force (VDF) is an all volunteer formal military organization working specifically to assist local and state public agencies throughout the Commonwealth whenever and wherever the help is needed. Our mission is to assist the Virginia National Guard in performing in-state missions as specified by the Governor of the Commonwealth. Additionally, to assume the mission of the Virginia National Guard (VANG) should they be deployed out of state or country; the VADF assists in securing VANG armories upon their deployments out of country, work with family assistance and other missions until their return to CONUS.

The VDF is the state's only military force that is independent of federal control. The force is much more than a military organization. With units located throughout the Commonwealth the force can move into stricken areas quickly to interact with and assist local authorities and restore community integrity as soon as possible. We are a volunteer force, somewhat like your volunteer firefighters and rescue squad personnel. The VDF is called to assist with conditions during natural disasters to include blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes and other situations. VDF personnel have become familiar faces working in towns and cities to bring aid and comfort to their neighbors.

If you want to be part of a satisfying path of service; learn new skills; and exercise leadership while working closely with your neighbors and community; why not consider joining the Virginia Defense Force? Giving back to your Commonwealth and to your community is quite satisfying and rewarding too. The VDF gives volunteers have the opportunity to network with the finest people in Virginia and along the way volunteers learn new skills, put their current skills to work and thus, gain great satisfaction from giving of time and talents for a common cause.

The Virginia Defense Force takes volunteers from age 16 (with written consent of parents/guardian) through age 65. Volunteers can have prior military service and we also accept volunteers with no military service. The Virginia Defense Force is an organization of volunteers who buy their own uniforms, pay for their transportation to and from each monthly drill, but, in doing so they gain so much valuable life experience and give so much back to their communities and to the Commonwealth.

The VDF has three Brigades located throughout the Commonwealth with the Division Headquarters being located in Richmond, Virginia. The Highland Brigade covers Western Virginia; the Black Horse Brigade covers North of Richmond and the Lafayette Brigade covers the Eastern part of Virginia. There are VANG armories located in all these areas where the VDF holds monthly training drills.

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