Virginia National Guard > News - Category Virginia Defense Force

VDF conducts statewide communications exercise
February 27, 2017 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a communication exercise at multiple locations across the commonwealth Feb. 25, 2017, to test their ability to use multiple systems for voice and data communications... MORE

Va. Guard displays capabilities, commended by state leaders
January 20, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force displayed some of the Guard’s warfighting and domestic operations capabilities Jan. 19, 2017, outside the Virginia General Assembly building in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. hosted a reception in the morning, and the Virginia National Guard Association and Virginia Guard Enlisted Association hosted a legislative reception in the evening at the Library of Virginia. Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen and VDF troopers were recognized in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, and throughout the day Governor Terry McAuliffe, First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and members of the General Assembly commended the Virginia Guard for the organization’s service to commonwealth and country throughout the year... MORE

Virginia National Guard assists with winter storm response in Hampton Roads
January 11, 2017 — Nearly 200 members of the Virginia National Guard were on duty and ready to assist with the state’s multi-agency response to heavy snow Jan. 7-9, 2017, throughout the Hampton Roads area. Soldiers were staged and ready the morning of Jan. 7 with less than 12 hours notification, and their assistance included recovering a fire truck in Newport News and helping Virginia State Police clear abandoned vehicles in Accomack County... MORE

VDF serves as technical lead for ongoing cyber assessment mission
December 19, 2016 — Cyber security experts from the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Defense Force continued their weeklong vulnerability assessments Dec. 13-16, 2016, and for the first time a member of the VDF served as the technical lead for the mission. The first assessment was conducted in March 2016 after Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe authorized funds to put Virginia Guard personnel on state active duty to conduct a series of assessments aimed at improving network security in the state, and this was the seventh conducted since March... MORE

VDF supports WWII commemoration event in Richmond
December 10, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to support University of Richmond Police with traffic control and assisting veterans at the Virginia World War II 75th Anniversary Commemoration Tribute to Veterans Dec. 8, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

VDF exercise tests commo systems, response capabilities
November 7, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force tested multiple communications systems and response capabilities Nov. 5, 2016, in Lynchburg, Virginia, during Forward Guardian 2017, a multi-state, multi-agency communication exercise. VDF troops deployed to locations across the state to operate multiple systems and response capabilities including high frequency radio, Statewide Agencies Radio System, incident management assistance and operation of Mobile Communications Platform trailers... MORE

VDF trains, evaluates communication teams
September 26, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted training and evaluation on multiple communications systems Sept. 24, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to ensure they are ready to provide support to the Virginia National Guard during domestic operations. VDF troops organized into response teams provide capabilities like high frequency radio, Statewide Agencies Radio System, incident management assistance and operation of Mobile Communications Platform trailers, and all of those capabilities were evaluated... MORE

Virginia National Guard breaks ground on new state headquarters
August 18, 2016 — Senior officials from state government, the Virginia National Guard, Defense Supply Center Richmond and the Guard’s construction partners broke ground on the new state headquarters facility Aug. 16, 2016, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The 102,000 square foot facility will be built on a 13.6-acre site in the northern section of DSCR, cost approximately $30 million and construction should be completed by February 2018. It will provide workspace for the Adjutant General of Virginia, the Virginia National Guard Joint Staff and Air National Guard Staff currently located at Mullins Readiness Center in Sandston... MORE

Va. Army Guard, VDF cyber specialists continue network assessments
August 15, 2016 — Virginia Army National Guard cyber experts assigned to the Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit completed their fourth weeklong vulnerability assessment Aug. 12, 2016, and members of the Virginia Defense Force joined the team for the first time to help a Virginia locality strengthen its network security. The first assessment was conducted in March 2016 after Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe authorized funds to put Virginia Guard personnel on state active duty to conduct a series of assessments aimed at improving network security in the state... MORE

Va. Defense Force continues to build communications expertise
June 28, 2016 — Virginia Defense Force units across the commonwealth took part in the United Resolve communications exercise which brought together multiple state defense forces, emergency communications professionals and amateur radio operators June 25, 2016, to share knowledge and improve their capabilities to communicate using a variety of systems... MORE

Virginia Defense Force supports law enforcement for Winchester festival
May 3, 2016 — Nearly 100 members of the Virginia Defense Force assisted local law enforcement keep traffic moving during the 89th Apple Blossom Festival April 29-30, 2016, in Winchester, Virginia. VDF troops from each of the four regiments came together to form Task Force Shenandoah and volunteered their time by operating traffic control points and providing mission command support at the event... MORE

Historical, archaeological archives move into new digs at Fort Pickett
April 20, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard Historical Collection and archeological collection both moved into a new building with some help from members of the Virginia Defense Force March 28-31, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VDF training focuses on individual skills
April 5, 2016 — More than 125 members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in training to improve their individual skills in the areas of interoperable communications, incident management, traffic control and chaplain support April 1-3, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VDF conducts 24-hour communications exercise
March 12, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a 24-hour communications exercise March 4-5, 2016, in multiple locations across Virginia. Operating in their Mobile Communications Platform trailers in Richmond, Winchester, Lynchburg and Pulaski, VDF members used high frequency radios as well as other systems for voice and data communications to communicate with civilian amateur radio operators. The 24-hour exercise was designed to test the VDF’s ability to conduct continuous operations in the event of incident that degrades normal communications capabilities... MORE

Va. Guard provides mobility assistance during winter storm
January 27, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard returned to routine operations Jan. 27, 2016, after having more than 400 Soldiers on state active duty supporting Virginia State Police and local first responders as they assisted citizens after a historic snowfall blanketed the commonwealth... MORE

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