Posted: 2/11/2015 8:59:05 PM EDT
I went to the Frost Fest in Richmond and saw a few of these guys. Local Militia?  BTW Buz and Ned's was excellent. |
|
Quoted:
Are you sure it wasn't the VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense League)? I looked at their site a while back, it gave off a Natl. Guard wannabe vibe. http://www.vdf.virginia.gov/ |
|
Quoted:
No the patch said Force. Old guys and a chubby girl. Wearing Woodland camo. One guy had a Warrant Officer pin on his collar. Quoted:
Quoted:
Are you sure it wasn't the VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense League)? Are you sure it was a girl? 
|
|
They are Virginia's State Guard unit. Read about similar units starting here.
Each state's State Guard (or Defense Force, etc.) is slightly different. Some take it very seriously, while others use it as a social club. My $.02... I served in the various forms of the Massachusetts State Guard for many years in between my regular (federal) military enlistments. Nearly all of the members were either veterans or young persons interested in getting a taste of the military before joining the federal service (as many did). During most of my time there, it was an extremely serious and well-supported endeavor. The brass in the MSG included the Governor's personal aide and tons of state and county-level political bigwigs...but that worked to a huge advantage. With a good state Adjutant General and a good Commander of the State Guard, at several points in my service the only, and I mean the only differences between us and the Army National Guard were that we were paid only when activated, and our CoC was the Governor. Many times the Infantry company we were "married" to would muster on Friday night, each MSG member would be paired off and become part of a National Guard team, and we would not see another MSG face until it was the end of the drill weekend. Every single activity the federal NG soldiers did, we did as well, using the same equipment, same standards, etc.. After a few hours of dirt on the uniforms, it was impossible to tell a MSG soldier from a NG soldier. Contrast that with other states I've seen, where rank is handed out like candy and their idea of a "drill" is sitting around watching hunting videos while wearing lots of flashy insignia. |
| Maryland also has a defense force, of which I am a member. My group provides pro bono legal services to deployed National Guard. Until recently, we provided pro bono services to any active duty military. The engineers routinely inspect state buildings, and the medical corps provides medical services at large public gatherings. We have trained in vehicle maintenance with the NG people. The NG is getting pared to the bone, and there is a role for the MDDF in backing them up. |
|
I am sure they have good intentions but every experience I have had with members of the force while in their official "duties" has been... odd.
I got a call many years ago from a friend who was a member wanting to recruit me. He talked, I listened, the more he talked the more concerned I got. Filling in for the National Guard when they are deployed, I understand. But the rest just made my skin crawl at the time. Then it hit me and I asked my friend if he knew what day it was. He said he had no clue. It was April 19th. I let that sit for a minute and he still did not make the connection. I had to point out to him that he was trying to recruit me for what was basically the state militia on the anniversary of the end of the Waco siege and the Oklahoma City bombing. The later of which gave militias a big black eye in the years that followed. I told him that I was not comfortable being involved in such organizations. We never discussed it again and I think he has since left the organization. I did get in the truck today and heard conversation between a couple hams on the local repeater about wanting to get more VDF members involved in ham radio and maybe working more closely with them. I am curious as to how that will turn out. |
| Here is a typical peace time call up for them. Winter Storm Response |
|
VDF is the Commonwealth's organized militia.
In addition to some disaster relief operations, they also support National Guard facilities when those units have been activated and mobilized. Their chain of command does not extend into the US Army and the National Guard Bureau, and their CiC is the Governor. |