Virginia Defense Force

Virginia Defense Force
Virginia Defense Force Insignia
Active	1607–1754 (Virginia Militia) 1754–1901 (Virginia Regiment) 1917–1921 (Virginia Volunteers) 1941–1947 (Virginia State Guard) 1985–present (Virginia Defense Force)
Country	United States
Allegiance	Virginia
Type	State defense force
Role	Defense support of civil authority
Size	275[1]
Part of	Virginia Department of Military Affairs
1st Regiment, VDF	Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Engagements	French and Indian War American Revolutionary War War of 1812 Mexican–American War American Civil War Spanish–American War
Website	Virginia Defense Force
Commanders
Commander in Chief	Governor Glenn Youngkin
State military leadership	Major General James W. Ring - Adjutant General, DMA Brigadier General Richard Diddams - VDF Commanding General
Colonel of the Regiment	Colonel Michael K. Lawson LTC Randy A. Thompson
Command Sergeant Major	CSM Christopher Frederick, Sr
Notable commanders	George Washington (1754–1758) Robert E. Lee (1862–1865)

The Virginia Defense Force (VDF) is the official state defense force of Virginia, one of the three components of Virginia's state military along with the Virginia National Guard which includes the Virginia Army National Guard, the Virginia Air National Guard, and the unorganized militia. As of 2023, the VDF has approximately 275 personnel.^[1] The VDF is the descendant of the Virginia State Guard, the Virginia Regiment, and ultimately the Colonial Virginia militia of the Virginia Colony.

The Virginia Defense Force Command is headquartered at the historic Old City Hall, but drills out of the Waller Armory in Richmond, Virginia. State law allows the command to grow to as many as 7,800 troops to be activated in the VDF when necessary by a call out by the Governor. The VDF is all-volunteer unless activated to "Active Duty" status and augmented by unorganized militia draftees by the Governor of Virginia. The federal government authorizes purely state-level forces under 32 U.S.C. § 109 which provides that state forces as a whole may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces of the United States, thus preserving their separation from the National Guard. However, under the same law, individual members serving in state-level forces are not exempt from service in the armed forces by nature of serving in a state defense force. But, under 32 USC § 109(e) "A person may not become a member of a defense force if he is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces." However, officer or soldiers placed on the retired roll of the Active Army or Reserve components, are eligible, with prior approval from the Governor, to transfer their commission to a military command within that State, and continue to serve at present or higher rank.^[2]