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COL Robert Spencer
BDE Commander
Norfolk, VA

WEB PAGE MODIFIED: 21 July 2008

New Contents in Photo Gallery"

Volunteer with the VaDF

From the first days of the history of our nation up to the present, citizen soldiers have been making it their mission to serve the people of the State of Virginia. Our country was founded on the principal of service to our fellow citizens. That spirit is alive and well today in the selfless service of hundreds of men and women who volunteer their time, skills and diverse talents to serve their fellow Virginians as members of the Virginia Defense Force.
As a member of the Virginia Defense Force you will be able to get training in several emergency response skills that will enable to help your fellow Virginians in time of natural or man-made emergencies. (Click on the "Recruiting Info" link for more information.)

- First Aid/CPR
- Radio Communications
- Emergency Management
- Security Operations
- Force Management & Leadership
- As well as several other positions within the VaDF

Virginia Defense Force's Mobile Communications Platform

The Virginia Defense Force has a new domain name for website
The new domain name for The Virginia Defense Force is http://www.vdf.virginia.gov.
All members are requested to update their internet browser bookmarks with this new address.

NETCOM
9th Army
Signal Command

Military Affiliate Radio System

MARS is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as a separately managed and operated program by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The program consists of licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in military communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.

Members of the VaDF assisting a victim during
CERF-P support for the VNG and VaNG at Fort Pickett

Lafayette Brigade News

The VaDF Mission

The Virginia Defense Force (VaDF) is an all volunteer, formal military organization, and is the state's reserve to the Virginia National Guard.
Our mission is to assist the Virginia National Guard with in-state missions as directed by the Governor and the Adjutant General of the state of Virginia. As the Governor's Militia, the Virginia Defense Force is also tasked with assuming the missions of the Virginia National Guard should they be deployed outside of the state or country. The VaDF is similarly tasked with securing armories, offering assistance to Virginia National Guard families, and assuming other duties until the Guard members return home.

"Virginians Helping Virginians"

BDE Shop Info

S-1 Personnel/Admin:    CPT R. Thompson
S-2 Intelligence:            MAJ T. Collins
S-3 Ops/Training :     LTC    L. Conners
(Acting S3) 1LT C. Bobby
S-4 Logistics:            SFC E. Love
S-6 Communications:    2LT S. Lilly

See "Contact Us" link to email above listed personnel

OUR VALUES

Fort Pickett, Blackstone, VA

Lafayette Brigade worked closley with the Virginia Army National Guard (VaNG) to provide support for the CERF-P exercises held n September 21-23, 2007. The VaDF provided the Guard with members who acted as "victims" during the joint exercise. Victims were made up by VaNG personnel to make injuries look as realistic as possible as they presented in triage and decontamination tents..
The VaNG also took advantage of VaDF member expertise by utilizing the Communication, Security, and Aviation sections of the state's volunteer Virginia Defense Force members. (See "Photo Gallery" link for additional photos.)

Members of the VaNG and VaDF working together in a decontamination exercise for the CERF-P

HQ Members Participate in CERT Training

Ten members of Lafayette Bde HQ participated in a two day CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class hosted by the Norolk Department of Emergency Preparedness. (Follow this link for further information.)

VaDF Performs Record 8 Active Homeland Security Missions, Provides $1.3 Million Free Man-hours during 2006
"VaDF Commanding General Major General (VA) John D. Taylor, PhD today released final statewide statistics for calendar year 2006, showing that Virginia's Title 32 state military reserve forces performed a record number of state homeland security missions. Taylor says that even more significant than the sheer number of missions completed is the diversity of agencies engaged by the Force".