Welcome
Bravo and Charlie Companies
Welcome to the home of Bravo and Charlie Companies, 23rd Battalion, Blackhorse Brigade, Virginia Defense Force (VDF). Our companies represent Virginians serving Virginians and are based at the Fredericksburg, Virginia and Bowling Green, Virginia National Guard Armories.
Serving the Commonwealth of Virginia, Bravo Company is based in Fredericksburg and Charlie Company is based in Bowling Green, with both companies often training together during their monthly cycles, with additional activities regularly taking place at both Ft. Pickett and Ft. A.P. Hill.
Bravo and Charlie Companies are actively recruiting new soldiers, both prior military and current civilians to join our ranks to help serve our local communities. Please see our Recruiting Page to contact the company commander nearest to you regarding opportunities in our units.
We are the reserve to the Virginia National Guard, and are legally authorized authorized under Title 32 US Code Section 109 and Virginia State Code article 44, and under the overall command of the Virginia Adjutant General, Major General Robert B. Newman, Jr.
Unlike the National Guard, VDF troops are reserved for in-state duty to ensure Virginia is never left without adequate military forces in the event of partial or full mobilization of the Virginia National Guard to federal service. VDF also performs specific additional missions at the call of the Adjutant General while in reserve status to help meet the increased homeland security needs of the Commonwealth due to the ongoing War on Terror following 9-11.
VDF personnel do not receive pay for monthly training or annual field exercises, but are paid by standard Department of Defense pay grade and years of service, if called to state active duty. VDF is organized under state law as a light infantry division with three brigades, along with aviation, military police, and signal detachments.
Virginia is one of 25 states and U.S. territories that maintain these federally-authorized military reserve forces. VDF is actively seeking new personnel for expanded homeland security assignments. Postings are available statewide for both prior and non-prior service recruits between the ages of 16-64. For more information see the recruitment section of this website.
OUR MISSION
Assume Control of National Guard Facilities
Assist In National Guard Mobilization
Support the National Guard with Family Assistance
Perform All Tasks Currently Performed by the National Guard to Protect Life and Property
Perform Tasks Unique to the Post Mobilization Environment
Legal Authority
Federal Statute
32 U.S.C. Section 109.
Sec. 109. Maintenance of other troops
(a) In time of peace, a State or Territory, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the District of Columbia may maintain no troops other than those of its National Guard and defense forces authorized by subsection (c). (b) Nothing in this title limits the right of a State or Territory, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the District of Columbia to use its National Guard or its defense forces authorized by subsection (c) within its borders in time of peace, or prevents it from organizing and maintaining police or constabulary. (c) In addition to its National Guard, if any, a State or Territory, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the District of Columbia may, as provided by its laws, organize and maintain defense forces. A defense force established under this section may be used within the jurisdiction concerned, as its chief executive (or commanding general in the case of the District of Columbia) considers necessary, but it may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces.
Title 10, Section 311, United States Code, Armed Forces, as revised September 2, 1958.
The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except, as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are commissioned officers of the National Guard. The classes of the militia are (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and Naval Militia; and (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or Naval Militia.
National Guard Bureau State Defense Force Regulations:
http://www.ngbpdc.ngb.army.mil/pubs/10/ngr10_4.pdf
Virginia Statute
§ 44-1. Composition of militia.
The militia of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of all able-bodied citizens of this Commonwealth and all other able-bodied persons resident in this Commonwealth who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, who are at least sixteen years of age and, except as hereinafter provided, not more than sixty-five years of age. The militia shall be divided into four classes, the National Guard, which includes the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, the Virginia State Defense Force, the naval militia, and the unorganized militia. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+44-1
§ 44-54.4. Organization; definitions.
The Virginia State Defense Force with a targeted membership of at least 1,200 shall be organized within and subject to the control of the Department of Military Affairs. When called to state active duty, the mission of the Virginia State Defense Force shall be to (i) provide for an adequately trained organized reserve militia to assume control of Virginia National Guard facilities and to secure any federal and state property left in place in the event of the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard, (ii) assist in the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard, (iii) support the Virginia National Guard in providing family assistance to military dependents within the Commonwealth in the event of the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard, (iv) provide a military force to respond to the call of the Governor in those circumstances described in § 44-75.1. Nothing in this article shall be construed as authorizing the Virginia State Defense Force or any part thereof to be called, ordered or in any manner drafted by federal authorities into the military service of the United States. However, no person by reason of his enlistment or appointment in the Virginia State Defense Force shall be exempted from military service under any law of the United States. Members of the Virginia State Defense Force may serve in either of the following duty statuses:
1. "Training duty," which is the normal service and training performed by the Virginia State Defense Force in order to be prepared for state active duty, and which includes but is not limited to organization, administration, recruiting, maintenance of equipment and training.
2. "State active duty," which is the performance of actual military service for the Commonwealth when called by the Governor or his designee to active duty in service of the Commonwealth in accordance with Article 7 (§ 44-75.1 et seq.) of this chapter. (1989, c. 414.) http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+44-54.4
§ 44-75.1. Militia state active duty.
A. The Governor or his designee may call forth the militia or any part thereof to state active duty for service in any of the following circumstances:
1. In the event of invasion or insurrection or imminent threat of either;
2. When any combination of persons becomes so powerful as to obstruct the execution of laws in any part of this Commonwealth;
3. When the Governor determines that a state agency or agencies having law-enforcement responsibilities are in need of assistance to perform particular law-enforcement functions, which functions he shall specify in his call to the militia;
4. In the event of flood, hurricane, fire or other forms of natural or manmade disaster wherein human life, public or private property, or the environment is imperiled;
5. In emergencies of lesser magnitude than those described in subdivision 4, including but not limited to the disruption of vital public services, wherein the use of militia personnel or equipment would be of assistance to one or more departments, agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;
6. When the Governor determines that the National Guard and its assets would be of valuable assistance to state, local or federal agencies having a drug law-enforcement function to combat the flow of or use of illegal drugs in the Commonwealth, he may provide for the National Guard or any part thereof to support drug interdiction, counterdrug and demand reduction activities within the Commonwealth, or outside the Commonwealth under the National Guard Mutual Assistance Counterdrug Activities Compact. In calling forth the National Guard under this section, the Governor shall specify the type of support that the National Guard shall undertake with state, local or federal law-enforcement agencies. Once called forth by the Governor, the National Guard is also specifically authorized to enter into mutual assistance and support agreements with any law-enforcement agencies, state or federal, operating within or outside this Commonwealth so long as those activities are consistent with the Governor's call. All activities undertaken by the National Guard in the areas of drug interdiction, counterdrug and drug demand reduction shall be reported by the Adjutant General's office to the Governor and reviewed by the Governor no less frequently than every three months; and
7. When the Governor or his designee, in consultation with the Adjutant General, determines that the militia or any part thereof is in need of specific training to be prepared for being called forth for any of the circumstances expressed in subdivisions 1 through 6 above. Such training may be conducted with a state or federal agency or agencies having the capability or responsibility to coordinate or assist with any of the circumstances set forth in subdivisions 1 through 6 above.
B. The Virginia National Guard shall be designated as a state law-enforcement agency for the sole purpose of receiving property and revenues pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 981(e) (2), 19 U.S.C. § 1616a, and 21 U.S.C. § 881(e) (1) (A).
(1988, c. 352; 1993, c. 932; 1995, c. 49; 1996, cc. 71, 805.)
"Uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point in our circumference where an enemy may choose to invade us, the only force which can be ready at every point and competent to oppose them, is the body of neighboring citizens as formed into a militia. On these, collected from the parts most convenient, in numbers proportioned to the invading foe, it is best to rely, not only to meet the first attack, but if it threatens to be permanent, to maintain the defence until regulars may be engaged to relieve them." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Annual Message, 1801. ME 3:334