Virginia Defense Force

Virginia Defense Force Virginians serving Virginians. This is the only Official Virginia Defense Force page. Today that spirit still thrives in the citizen soldier.

The Virginia Defense Force is a service for the common good and has a proud Virginia heritage (see our History page at www.vdf.virginia.gov). Born in the earliest days of our nation’s history, voluntary services by and for the citizens of Virginia was a cornerstone upon which our nation was built. Bringing diverse professional skills and talents, Virginians continue to unselfishly answer the call

of their fellow citizens in times of crisis, disaster, emergency or need as members of the Virginia State Defense Force.

The Virginia Defense Force continued to build its new health and fitness program with fitness assessments during drill h...
07/14/2026

The Virginia Defense Force continued to build its new health and fitness program with fitness assessments during drill held May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. This strategic initiative is designed to enhance the readiness and overall wellness of its members.

“The readiness and well-being of our troopers are paramount,” said Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force. “This fitness initiative is not just about meeting a standard; it’s about cultivating a culture of comprehensive wellness and resilience. A fit force is a capable force, ready to be a true force multiplier for the Virginia National Guard.”

~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/4fuf7593

The Summer 2026 issue of “The Bugler” Virginia Defense Force newsletter is copied below and available for download in PD...
07/09/2026

The Summer 2026 issue of “The Bugler” Virginia Defense Force newsletter is copied below and available for download in PDF format at https://vdfpio.info/2p83kz38.

In this issue:

VDF provides support to VNG weather response
Members of the Virginia Defense Force on state active duty provided administrative, logistical and operations center augmentation support to Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from Jan. 23 to 28, 2026, at VNG facilities across the Commonwealth to support the response to the significant winter impacting Virginia.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/3e73yjkt

VDF continues to emphasize health, wellness with voluntary fitness program
The Virginia Defense Force continued to build its new health and fitness program with fitness assessments during drill held May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. This strategic initiative is designed to enhance the readiness and overall wellness of its members.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/4fuf7593

Commander’s 2026 Independence Day Message
It is with profound gratitude that I address each of you as we celebrate our nation’s 250th celebration of independence. Your unwavering commitment to service embodies the very spirit of patriotism that our forebears fought to secure on July 4, 1776.
~ Read online at https://vdfpio.info/yc5zcsnt

Decades of service recognized at VDF retirement ceremony
Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, recognized the decades of dedicated service of three personnel during a retirement ceremony May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Diddams presented the VDF Distinguished Service Medal to Col. (Va.) Mark Kenton “Kent” Brinkley and Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) John H. Clatterbuck Jr., and he also presented the VDF Meritorious Service Medal to Staff Sgt. (Va.) Edward Jacobson.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/yy3kpzxu

Virginia Defense Force Headlines

VDF supports Memorial Day Ceremony
Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to provide guest services and es**rt support at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 25, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/ycky88dp

New VDF directorate launched for strategic plans
The Virginia Defense Force kicked off 2026 with the creation of a new G5/7 Strategic Plans, Policy and Training Directorate.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/ycxs6m3m

VDF supports VNG-hosted Safer Skies conference
Members of the Virginia Defense Force provide registration and access control support for the Virginia National Guard-hosted Safer Skies conference April 27, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/4zb5tsuf

Weekend training hones VDF leader skills, readiness
Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted lane training to hone leadership skills and operational readiness March 14, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
~ Read more at https://vdfpio.info/2p879syd

VDF Commander’s Independence Day 2026 MessageTo the members of the Virginia Defense Force:It is with profound gratitude ...
07/04/2026

VDF Commander’s Independence Day 2026 Message

To the members of the Virginia Defense Force:

It is with profound gratitude that I address each of you as we celebrate our nation’s 250th celebration of independence. Your unwavering commitment to service embodies the very spirit of patriotism that our forebears fought to secure on July 4, 1776.

The Virginia Defense Force stands as a vital force multiplier for the Virginia National Guard, and a ready reserve of citizen-soldiers dedicated to the defense and support of the Commonwealth. Whether supporting citizens during mobilizations, providing emergency response capabilities, or supporting state operations, your volunteer service ensures Virginia remains resilient in the face of any challenge. In an era of increasing uncertainty, your readiness, professionalism, and selfless dedication provide the Governor and the citizens of Virginia with an essential layer of protection and support. You are the guardians of our communities when they need it most — Virginians serving Virginians.

This Independence Day, we draw special inspiration from the legacy of George Washington, who answered the call to defend the Commonwealth and support the emerging American cause with unyielding faithfulness. He endured the harshest trials yet never wavered in his devotion to liberty and to the people of Virginia. His steadfast leadership not only secured our independence but set the enduring example of citizen-soldiers placing duty above personal comfort. Today, as members of the Virginia Defense Force, you walk in that same noble tradition. Your service honors Washington’s legacy of sacrifice, integrity, and commitment to the Commonwealth he loved.

Let us reflect with gratitude on this heritage of courage, unity, and resolve. The freedoms we enjoy today were purchased by the blood and determination of patriots like Washington and those who stood with him. You carry that torch forward, strengthening the foundations of liberty for future generations of Virginians.

I encourage each of you to celebrate this Independence Day safely with family and friends, to recharge your spirits, and to rededicate yourselves to our vital mission. Know that your efforts matter deeply—to your fellow Citizens, to the Commonwealth, our Country, and to me personally.

God bless you, your families, and the great Commonwealth of Virginia.

Semper Fidelis,

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams
Virginia Defense Force
Commanding General

Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteer their time to provide guest services and es**rt support as Virginia’s s...
06/05/2026

Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteer their time to provide guest services and es**rt support as Virginia’s senior leaders honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 25, 2026, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Abigail Spanberger and First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, and retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and his wife Cheryl Williams, placed memorial wreaths to honor the fallen. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, provided remarks to the crowd. View more photos on the VNG Flickr site at https://vdfpio.info/2p9x7mxc.

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, recognizes the decades of dedicated service of t...
06/04/2026

Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, recognizes the decades of dedicated service of three personnel during a retirement ceremony May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Diddams presented the VDF Distinguished Service Medal to Col. (Va.) Mark Kenton “Kent” Brinkley and Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) John H. Clatterbuck Jr., and he also presented the VDF Meritorious Service Medal to Staff Sgt. (Va.) Edward Jacobson.

Brinkley joined the VDF in 1985 as one of its earliest members. He served in a wide array of leadership positions and was activated for state active duty six times including response operations for Hurricane Fran, a statewide snow emergency in 1996 and the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for history enriched the organization’s institutional knowledge and preserved the VDF’s legacy. He was commended for visionary leadership, emphasis on teamwork and professional development and his unwavering dedication to help professionalize and strengthen the VDF as a ready reserve component for the Virginia National Guard.

Clatterbuck joined the VDF in February 1991, and he progressed through numerous high-level noncommissioned officer leadership billets of increasing responsibility at the company, battalion and brigade level culminating as the senior enlisted leader for the VDF’s 1st Regiment. He was commended for sustained leadership across line and specialized units that greatly enhanced training, readiness, recruiting and operational effectiveness in the VDF.

Jacobson join the VDF in May 2012 where he initially served in the aviation unit before transferring to communications and then logistics. During the COVID-19 response, he served on state active duty for more than 19 months, one of the longest mobilizations in VDF history. He mobilized for seven additional state missions for logistics support from January 2022 through October 2025 where he ensured reliable sustainment and operational readiness. He earned a meritorious promotion to staff sergeant in recognition of his outstanding performance.

Members of the Virginia Defense Force provide registration and access control support for the Virginia National Guard-ho...
06/04/2026

Members of the Virginia Defense Force provide registration and access control support for the Virginia National Guard-hosted Safer Skies conference April 27, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The VDF also assisted with planning and working group facilitation for the event where federal, state and local partners discussed joint counter-unmanned aircraft systems operations. State, local, tribal and territorial partners from across Virginia, as well as federal stakeholders, attended the two-day conference and tabletop exercise focusing on joint operations and capabilities defending against small UAS threats in planned and unplanned scenarios. The Safer Skies Act was passed into federal law in December 2025, expanding the authority for the use of C-UAS technologies to state and local governments, under federal oversight. View more photos on the VNG Flickr site at https://vdfpio.info/4cet9p6n.

Members of the Virginia Defense Force conduct lane training to hone leadership skills and operational readiness by synch...
05/04/2026

Members of the Virginia Defense Force conduct lane training to hone leadership skills and operational readiness by synchronizing cadre, organizing high-quality lanes and delivering hands-on instruction March 14, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, during their semiannual Multi-Unit Training Assembly. Through concurrent classroom blocks and rotational stations, the VDF conducted training on skills sets often used during domestic response operations in support of the Virginia National Guard like communications, logistics distribution, site security and administration. Leaders improved their experience in using the military 5 paragraph operations order format, strengthened key civil-response skills and demonstrated decision-making under realistic time constraints to improve unit readiness.

Happy 42nd Birthday Virginia Defense Force!With roots going back to the Virginia Volunteers in World War I and the Virgi...
04/18/2026

Happy 42nd Birthday Virginia Defense Force!

With roots going back to the Virginia Volunteers in World War I and the Virginia Protective Force and Virginia State Guard in World War II, the VDF was formally re-established April 18, 1984, and now serves as the all-volunteer reserve to the Virginia National Guard.

Read more VDF history at https://vdfpio.info/32c9msf8 and read the VDF commander’s Winter 2025 update at https://vdfpio.info/4hmxbwfm.

The VDF observed their 40th birthday in 2024 with a ceremonial cake cutting, and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presented Brig. Gen. (Va.) Richard Diddams, the Commander of the Virginia Defense Force, with the Governor of Virginia proclamation celebrating the VDF’s 40th birthday.

Read the proclamation at https://vdfpio.info/2p9y6ejf.

“As the Virginia Defense Force continues to evolve and grow its mission set to maintain a strong alignment with the need...
03/12/2026

“As the Virginia Defense Force continues to evolve and grow its mission set to maintain a strong alignment with the needs of the Virginia National Guard, it is absolutely critical we have the right staff organization to keep a strategic mindset towards future plans, develop policies that keep the VDF headed in the right direction and ensure our training programs meets the needs of all of our personnel,” said Brig. Gen. (Va) Rich Diddams, commander of the VDF. “Creating the G5/7 Strategic Plans, Policy and Training Directorate is an important step in securing the VDF’s future, and it is stated with strong leaders who have my utmost trust and respect. I look forward to working with them and the rest of the VDF’s command and staff team to continue to build on the momentum we have built over the last two years."

Read more at https://vdfpio.info/ycxs6m3m.

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5001 Waller Road
Richmond, VA
23230

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