44-54.4 - Organization; definitions.
§ 44-54.4. Organization; definitions.
The Virginia State Defense Force with a targeted membership of at least 1,200shall be organized within and subject to the control of the Department ofMilitary Affairs.
When called to state active duty, the mission of the Virginia State DefenseForce shall be to (i) provide for an adequately trained organized reservemilitia to assume control of Virginia National Guard facilities and to secureany federal and state property left in place in the event of the mobilizationof the Virginia National Guard, (ii) assist in the mobilization of theVirginia National Guard, (iii) support the Virginia National Guard inproviding family assistance to military dependents within the Commonwealth inthe event of the mobilization of the Virginia National Guard, (iv) provide amilitary force to respond to the call of the Governor in those circumstancesdescribed in § 44-75.1.
Nothing in this article shall be construed as authorizing the Virginia StateDefense Force or any part thereof to be called, ordered or in any mannerdrafted by federal authorities into the military service of the UnitedStates. However, no person by reason of his enlistment or appointment in theVirginia State Defense Force shall be exempted from military service underany law of the United States.
Members of the Virginia State Defense Force may serve in either of thefollowing duty statuses:
1. "Training duty," which is the normal service and training performed bythe Virginia State Defense Force in order to be prepared for state activeduty, 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 servicefor the Commonwealth when called by the Governor or his designee to activeduty in service of the Commonwealth in accordance with Article 7 (§ 44-75.1et seq.) of this chapter.
(1989, c. 414.)