Re: Did you know- about the "Virginia Defense Force" ?
Date: August 28, 2017 12:52PM
This thread is rather amusing, especially for how long it's remained active. The hardon some of you have for this organization makes me think some psychiatric services are in order. Seriously, that level of obsession is pretty unhealthy. Might wanna see about getting something done about that.
I've only ever seen the VDF at the Apple Blossom parade in Winchester, so I don't really know if that's an adequate baseline to judge them by. As a vet, I'm certainly not impressed by them in that regard, nor any of these other "State Defense Forces" I've run across.
All in all, I suppose I'm in a few different minds about them. On the one hand, such organizations do have a fair number of retired LEOs and military who simply wish to continue serving, and are willing to do a lot of it out of pocket. Okay, cool.
On the other... the one which really stands out in my mind is the North Carolina State Defense Militia, which has been stood down since 1996, supposedly over a workman's comp issue, but, let's be real... it doesn't take 21 damn years to get that sorted out. They had a pretty ill repute... the original commander of the NCSDM was Bo Thorpe, who ended up being forced to resign his post after a racist remark he made publicly (of course, this was also around the same time he talked about arming his 'special forces' to raid marijuana fields). The NCSDM had a bunch of run-ins with both the federal military and the National Guard - leaving armories trashed, blatantly disrespectful behavior towards actual SMs (including a militia "Major" making a big show of chewing out a real paratrooper for not saluting him), etc. They were kicked off of Fort Bragg, as the post commander had threatened to cease allowing both the NCSDM and the NC National Guard to use the facilities on post if the governor didn't reign in the NCSDM... they basically ran around making asses of themselves. Two private organizations formed in the wake of the NCSDM being stood down, both of which effectively serve as pressure groups to have the NCSDM stood back up.
The one in Alaska was suddenly disarmed for reasons not specified explicitly, but the writing's kinda on the wall there. I think it was in Tennessee where one member of theirs was arrested trying to illegally convert AR-15s to select fire rifles... doesn't really say glowing things about these organizations.
Ran across a post someone had made on a social media site which advocated standing the NCSDM back up. While I'm not necessarily against the idea of SDMs, I had to disagree with his stance regarding the NCSDM - especially with the way that organization tarnished its own reputation.
So, what ideas do I have in mind for such organizations?
1: Less chiefs, more Indians. Right now, they have the opposite problem. I mean, it seems like for everyone wearing E1 through E3 on their collars, you have 10 NCOs. And this is hardly exclusive to Virginia's SDM. While the military rank structure makes sense, they way they use it does not. What can seven senior NCOs in a 'company' of about 20 people really do?
2: Tone it down. A lot of these organizations are named as "defense forces" - let's be real - nobody's invading the USA, nor any state within it. No member of the SDF will be defending anything. Which isn't to say they can't have a purpose - certainly they can. But let's go a route which makes it clear what that is. Perhaps you'll get a better quality candidate out of doing such, as well. BDUs are good uniforms.. they're a work uniform, the temperate uniforms are lightweight and dry out quickly, and they're comparatively inexpensive. But do we really need these people running around in M81, UCP, and whatever the 'official' names for Scorpion and MultiCam are (I've been out for a while - more than long enough the predate the latest Army uniform change)? Absolutely not. A solid color - one not intended to be camouflage - would be better, especially given the piss poor associations given to militias after the 90s. LA Police Gear offers a knockoff of the 5.11 tactical pant in a number of solid colors for about $20/ea. and they're pretty hard wearing. Perhaps flat chevrons, like used on ROTC rank insignia, would be in order. And even a similar - but distinctively different - rank insignia for officers. Something designed specifically for auxiliaries (because I don't think SDFs, the CAP, or the Merchant Marine, et. al. should be running around wearing the same uniforms and rank insignia of the regular military).
3. Streamline. I read on here that the VDF is ~1000 personnel. You're not going to take a number like that and have them serve in every function imaginable. Reduce their number of functions, have them do it better. Communications and logistics support is a good way to go. Give up on titles such as "Military Police", restructure it into something you'll actually use.
4. In the case of the North Carolina State Defense Militia and other such organizations which have dragged their own reputation through the mud, give it a rest. Drop the military aspect of it altogether. Form an organization of a purely civilian nature - yeah, it'll be harder to recruit on account of not drawing in the wannabes, but if those people make it to where you can't use the organization in its stated intent and purpose, having them does you no good anyhow.
Just my $.02 worth.