Virginia Defense Force celebrates 35th anniversary

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Justin P. Carlitti, Sr., cuts a cake to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Virginia Defense Force April 18, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Joining Carlitti were Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, former VDF commanding generals Maj. Gen. (Va.) Forrest Tignor and Maj. Gen. (Va.) John Taylor, Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) Alan Grandis, the VDF CSM, and four VDF members with more than 30 years of service to the organization. Read Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution 864 commending the VDF on its 35th anniversary at go.usa.gov/xmjp3.

The VDF is authorized by the Code of the Virginia as the all-volunteer reserve of the Virginia National Guard and serves as a force multiplier integrated into all Guard domestic operations. Members of the VDF volunteer their time for training and community support and are only paid when called to state active duty by an authorization from the Governor of Virginia.

VDF history traces back to the Virginia Volunteers in World War I and the Virginia Protective Force and Virginia State Guard in World War II. The Virginia State Guard was formally reestablished on April 18, 1984, and is recognized as the birthday of the modern VDF. The Virginia General Assembly amended the Code of Virginia March 1, 1986, to change the name of the Virginia State Guard to the Virginia Defense Force.