Virginia Militia

The Virginia Militia is a semi-official organization of the state of Virginia which is a private citizens force under the control of the state governor for the purposes of state disasters and emergencies. The Virginia Militia was established in Article 13, Section 1 of the Virginia State Constitution which reads:

Related Topics:
Virginia - Governor

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::"That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power."

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Since the Virginia Militia is a mandate of the state constitution, it is not connected with paramilitary groups of similar names, such as the Michigan Militia. The first use of the Virginia Militia was during the War of 1812 and again in the Civil War. During the Civil War, Virginia Militia units were primarily used for Home Guard service and were also merged into state volunteer units of the Confederate Army.

Related Topics:
Michigan Militia - War of 1812 - Civil War - Confederate Army

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In the early 20th century, the Virginia Militia became an auxiliary of the United States National Guard and remains so to this day. Members of the Virginia Militia were used as support troops to National Guard units which were mobilized in World War I and again in World War II. Some Virginia Militia members also served in the Korean War but not the same extent as earlier conflicts.

Related Topics:
20th century - United States National Guard - World War I - World War II - Korean War

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In the modern age, the active Virginia Militia is known as the Virginia Defense Force and are considered government employees of the state of Virginia and a reserve to the Virginia National Guard. The Virginia Militia is also connected with the state?s two military academies, that being Virginia Military Institute and the Cadet Corps of Virginia Tech.

Related Topics:
Virginia Defense Force - Virginia Military Institute - Virginia Tech

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The inactive, or "unorganized" Virginia Militia, comprises every able bodied male of the state of Virginia. A provision of the Virginia Militia charter also states that all cadet graduates from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets are automatically granted commissions as Second Lieutenants in the Virginia Militia.

Related Topics:
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets - Second Lieutenant

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The inactive Virginia Militia has not been called into service since the Civil War. The only conceivable modern day use of the force would be in the event of a major war involving an invasion of the United States of America.

Related Topics:
Major war - United States of America

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