Va. Defense Force supports JFHQ-VA communication exercise

Members of the Virginia Defense Force support a Joint Force Headquarters - Virginia communication exercise Sept. 26, 2015, at Fort Pickett, Va. During the event, they successfully communicated with the Virginia National Guard’s Joint Operations Center in Sandston using a variety of systems including high frequency radios and the Statewide Agencies Radio System used by law enforcement agencies in Virginia. The exercise was designed to test the VDF’s ability to communicate if there was an incident that degraded systems like mobile phone networks.

Providing interoperable communications is one of the many different missions sets the VDF provides as the all-volunteer auxiliary to the Virginia National Guard. VDF members also conducted other training during the weekend including ICS-300 Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents.

Learn more about the Virginia Defense Force at www.vdf.virginia.gov/