VDF leaders gather for annual conference

Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Maj. Gen. (Va.) John D. Taylor, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, address attendees at the annual Virginia Defense Force Commander's Conference Feb. 5 at Fort Pickett. The conference brought together approximately 150 senior officer and noncommissioned officer leaders from the VDF's division headquarters, brigades, battalions and companies to discuss the way ahead for the next twelve months. Among the many topics discussed were how the organization can better support the missions of the Virginia National Guard with trained, capable and available response force packages for state active duty missions. The Virginia Defense Force is an all-volunteer force authorized by the Code of Virginia and organized under the Virginia Department of Military Affairs reporting to the Adjutant General of Virginia and currently has approximately 1,070 members.