Virginia National Guard > News - Category Virginia Defense Force

VNG, DMA bills pass during 2020 Virginia General Assembly session
March 25, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — A number of bills impacting the Virginia National Guard have passed the Virginia General Assembly during the 2020 legislative session, including bills aimed at increasing tuition assistance, increasing pay for Soldiers on state active duty for emergency response, and increasing the maximum age for Virginia Defense Force…... MORE

AG shares legislative priorities with JLC, GA Military Caucus

VDF Cyber Detachment swears in new warrant officers
February 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Five members of the Virginia Defense Force’s new Cyber Detachment were sworn in as warrant officers Feb. 1, 2020, in Richmond, Virginia. “I can’t tell you how important this is that you gentlemen have stepped up into this very critical position,” said Col. (Va.) David James, VDF…... MORE

VDF consolidates regimental organization
October 3, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Defense Force stood down its three existing regiments and stood up a single regiment during a ceremony held Sept. 29, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The regimental will oversee six companies stationed across the state focused on providing civil support security and communications capabilities to the Virginia National Guard... MORE

VNG among public safety organizations recognized on Virginia First Responders Day
September 8, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard is among the organizations recognized by Virginia House Resolution 646 designating September 11, 2019, as First Responders Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The resolution calls for the designation to continue each succeeding year... MORE

Virginia Defense Force Life Saving Medal presented at SMR
August 4, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Spc. (Va.) Nathaniel R. Hollis received the Virginia Defense Force Life Saving Medal Aug. 3, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. First Lt. (Va.) John Neiland, commander of the VDF’s Delta Company, 2nd Regiment presented the award in recognition of the actions Hollis took during a fire in his neighborhood... MORE

VDF chaplains provide support at Fort Pickett chapel during annual training season
August 2, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia Defense Force chaplains are volunteering their time to conduct Sunday services at the Fort Pickett Bulla Chapel through the summer to provide religious support to Soldiers conducting training on the installation. The partnership between the Virginia National Guard Chaplain Corps and the VDF Chaplain Corps opens the chapel every Sunday from June 2 through Aug. 25, 2019... MORE

Virginia Defense Force conducts communications, security training in Lynchburg
June 13, 2019 — LYNCHBURG, Va. — Members of the all-volunteer Virginia Defense Force conducted training on the communications systems and security capabilities they could use during emergency response operations in support of the Virginia National Guard July 13, 2019, in Lynchburg, Virginia. VDF personnel trained on high frequency radio employment for voice and data messaging and security capabilities like access control... MORE

Bedford ceremonies mark 75th anniversary of D-Day
June 7, 2019 — BEDFORD, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen greeted World War II veterans and acted as military escorts during a roll call honoring their service at the observation of the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6, 2019, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band performed ceremonial music, and members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to assist local law enforcement with traffic flow, parking and pre-security checks before the event... MORE

VDF supports law enforcement at Apple Blossom Festival
May 19, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force operated traffic control points and provided mission command support May 3-5, 2019, at the 92nd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Members of the all-volunteer VDF from units across the state assisted local law enforcement in keeping traffic moving and operated TCPs during a variety of events. The VDF also took advantage of the mission to train on multiple communication systems and rehearse administrative, mission command and logistics procedures they would use if they were called to state active duty to augment the Virginia National Guard... MORE

VDF supports law enforcement at Apple Blossom Festival
May 5, 2019 — WINCHESTER, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force operated traffic control points and provided mission command support May 3-5, 2019, at the 92nd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Members of the all-volunteer VDF from units across the state assisted local law enforcement in keeping traffic moving and operated TCPs during a variety of events. The VDF also took advantage of the mission to train on multiple communication systems and rehearse administrative, mission command and logistics procedures they would use if they were called to state active duty to augment the Virginia National Guard... MORE

Virginia Defense Force celebrates 35th anniversary
April 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Defense Force celebrated its 35th anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony April 18, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. With historical roots dating back to World War I, the modern Virginia Defense Force was formally reestablished in 1984, and Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution 864 commends the VDF on its 35th anniversary... MORE

Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution commends VDF on its 35th anniversary
April 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — With historical roots dating back to World War I, the modern Virginia Defense Force was formally reestablished April 18, 1984, and Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution 864 commends the VDF on its 35th anniversary... MORE

VDF conducts communications, security training
March 21, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Members of the all-volunteer Virginia Defense Force conducted communications and security operations training March 15-17, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Nearly 200 personnel participated in security training focused on a vehicle inspection and traffic control, and communications training featured classroom instruction and hands-on high frequency radio employment for voice and data messaging... MORE

VDF takes part in statewide amateur radio exercise
January 25, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in the “Perfect Storm” statewide amateur radio emergency communications exercise Jan. 19, 2019, in Richmond and Lynchburg, Virginia, and the VDF was among the nearly 80 amateur operators and agencies registered for this annual event. In Richmond, VDF personnel trained on amateur radio systems and built partnerships with amateur radio operators who support the Virginia Department of Emergency Management at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. In Lynchburg, VDF members used the equipment in their mobile communications platform trailer to make contact the operators across the state... MORE

VDF conducts point of distribution exercise, continues to evolve to meet new challenges
November 15, 2018 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a point of distribution exercise Nov. 3, 2018, in Blackstone and Crewe, Virginia, during a multi-day training assembly based at Fort Pickett... MORE

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