Title 44, Military and Emergency Laws

For the necessary expenses of the maintenance of the National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force, to include the providing of one flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the next of kin of any individual, upon his death, who was serving in, or honorably served for a period of 2…

All matters relating to the organization, discipline and government of the Virginia National Guard, not otherwise provided for by law or by regulations, shall be decided by the custom and usage of the United States army, air force or navy, as appropriate. In addition, all members…

The officers of the Virginia Military Institute, the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College, the Fishburne Military School, the Massanutten Military Academy, the Randolph-Macon Academy, and the Commandant of Cadets and Assistant Commandants of Cadets of…

There shall be a retired list of officers, warrant officers and enlisted persons of the Virginia National Guard. The following persons, upon their written applications through regular military channels to the Adjutant General, may be placed on the retired list of the Virginia Nat…

It shall be unlawful for any person, not an officer, warrant officer or enlisted person in the armed forces of the United States, to wear the duly prescribed uniform thereof, or any distinctive part of such uniform, or a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part …

Virginia military medals and decorations shall be made in the United States. Existing stocks of Virginia military medals and decorations which are of foreign origin may be consumed without violating the provisions of this act. All Virginia military medals and decorations shall ha…

There is hereby established the Commonwealth's Twenty marksmanship award to recognize the top 20 marksmen in Virginia. These top 20 marksmen shall be chosen from the Virginia state residents who compete at the annual Virginia State Championship matches sanctioned by the Virginia …

This chapter may be cited as the "Military Laws of Virginia." 1930, p. 973; Michie Code 1942, § 2673(107).

The National Guard Mutual Assistance Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the Commonwealth of Virginia with all other states legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows: NATIONAL GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE COMPACT Article I. Purposes. The purposes…

Upon presentation of a claim therefor by an appropriate authority of a state whose national guard forces have aided this State pursuant to the compact, any liability of this State pursuant to Article III (f) of the compact shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the Department…

In accordance with Article III (h) of the compact, members of the National Guard forces of this Commonwealth shall be deemed to be in state service at all times when engaged pursuant to this compact, and shall be entitled to all rights and benefits provided pursuant to this title…

All members of the Virginia Defense Force on training duty or state active duty shall be subject to military discipline. Infractions of military discipline by members of the Virginia Defense Force on training duty or state active duty shall be punishable under the provisions of §…

Upon expiration of the term of service for which appointed or enlisted, a member of the Virginia Defense Force shall be entitled to a discharge. However, no member shall be discharged by reason of expiration of his term of service while on state active duty. A member of the Virgi…

The Virginia Defense Force, to the extent authorized by the Governor and funded by the General Assembly, shall be equipped as needed for training and for state active duty. The Adjutant General, by regulation or otherwise, may authorize the use of privately owned real and persona…

The Virginia Defense Force with a targeted membership of at least 1,200 shall be organized within and subject to the control of the Department of Military Affairs. When called to state active duty, the mission of the Virginia Defense Force shall be to (i) provide for an adequatel…

The organization and composition of units and force structure shall be as prescribed by the Adjutant General.

The age limitations of § 44-1 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Virginia Defense Force shall consist of: 1. Such volunteers who of their own volition agree to service in conformity with regulations prescribed by the Adjutant General who are (i) residents of the Commonwealth or…

Recruiting, enlistment, retention, organization, administration, equipment, facilities, training, discipline, discharge, dismissal, wearing of the uniform, appearance and standards of conduct shall be governed by regulations prescribed by the Adjutant General in conformity with t…

All commissioned officers of the Virginia Defense Force and such other persons or officials as the Adjutant General prescribes are hereby authorized and empowered to administer oaths and affirmations in all matters pertaining to and concerning the Virginia Defense Force, includin…

The Virginia Defense Force shall be uniformed and shall conform to standards of dress and appearance in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Adjutant General. The uniform and insignia of the Virginia Defense Force shall include distinctive devices identifying it as a sta…

All orders from the federal government or any of its officers, agencies, or departments to the state militia of Virginia, including the National Guard and the unorganized militia, that relate to the call, induction, or drafting of Virginia state troops of any type or description …

If the Adjutant General of Virginia, or during his absence, any of his assistants, or anyone else in the Department of Military Affairs of the Commonwealth of Virginia, either in a civilian or military status, shall receive an order of the nature required in § 44-114.1 to be tran…

If the Adjutant General or anyone else in the Department of Military Affairs should receive such a message of the kind referred to in § 44-114.1 and fail to notify the Governor immediately, and subsequently transmits such orders, for the purpose of having such orders executed, to…

Nothing in this article shall prevent the Governor from drafting all citizens into the state military service if he may so desire in accordance with the military laws of Virginia.

As used in this chapter, unless otherwise provided, the meaning of "armory" shall include training or logistical support facilities, such as, but not limited to, maintenance facilities, training areas, facilities at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and th…

A. All those lands and improvements thereon constituting the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States formerly known as Fort Pickett, Virginia, shall specifically include but not be limited to those lands licensed by the Department of the Army to the Vir…

There is hereby established within the Department of Military Affairs the Fort Pickett Police Department. The Fort Pickett Police may exercise within the limits of the Fort Pickett Reservation and, when assigned to any other property owned or controlled by the Commonwealth or any…

The Adjutant General may acquire for and in the name of the Commonwealth, by gift, grant, appropriation, purchase such real or personal property as is necessary for the maintenance of, the training and administration of, the logistical support of, and the safeguarding of property…

The governing body of any county, city or incorporated town, wherein a unit or units of the Virginia National Guard have been, or may hereafter be established, may either severally, or acting jointly with each other, or with the Adjutant General, construct or acquire by purchase,…

Any municipality or county owning lands on which no permanent building has been actually constructed whether such lands constitute part of a park or site for some public structure, is authorized to convey the same to the Commonwealth for use as a site for an armory for the Virgin…

All property actually used for armory and military training purposes, as hereinabove defined, shall be exempt from all taxation, impost or assessment. 1932, p. 760; Michie Code 1942, § 2673(114); R. P. 1948, § 44-131.

The power of condemnation herein granted to the Adjutant General and to counties, cities and incorporated towns, shall be exercised in the manner prescribed in the Code of Virginia. 1932, p. 760; Michie Code 1942, § 2673(115); R. P. 1948, § 44-132.

The Adjutant General shall be responsible for the general management and care of armories and drill and training areas, and shall have the power to adopt and prescribe such rules and regulations for the management and government and for the guidance of the organizations occupying…

Each armory erected or provided by the Commonwealth under the provisions of this chapter, excepting those armories or logistical support facilities provided for by license agreement with the United States, shall have an armory control board appointed by the Adjutant General to co…

When the Adjutant General shall receive information from the Governor of the disbandment of an organization of the National Guard occupying or using an armory provided by the Commonwealth under the direction of the Adjutant General, he shall determine whether such armory shall be…

Every city and county in the Commonwealth having an active National Guard or Virginia Defense Force organization or organizations is authorized to render such financial assistance as it may deem wise and patriotic to such organization or organizations, either by donating land or …

In order that there shall be provided maintenance funds for armories and other buildings erected, and areas provided for drill and training and other military purposes under the provisions of this chapter, the Adjutant General is authorized to draw a voucher for such funds, to be…

In the event that any real property is donated, deeded, or otherwise conveyed for a nominal sum to the Commonwealth, Department of Military Affairs, Virginia National Guard, Virginia Army or Air National Guard, Virginia Defense Force, or a subordinate element of any such entity u…

This chapter shall be liberally construed in favor of its purposes. 1932, p. 762; Michie Code 1942, § 2673(123); R. P. 1948, § 44-140.

Whenever a state of war exists between the United States and any foreign country and at the request of the chief executive of any county, city or town in this Commonwealth the head of any other fire department may, or if so ordered by the Governor shall, detail, assign and make a…

Whenever all or any part of the regular fire-fighting forces of any county, town or city in this Commonwealth are engaged in rendering services pursuant to this chapter, the officers and members of such fire-fighting forces shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges a…

The county, town or city in which any equipment is used pursuant to this chapter shall be liable for any loss or damage thereto and to the supplies therefor and shall pay any expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance thereof, including the cost of all materials and suppl…

Neither the Commonwealth nor the political subdivision of the Commonwealth whose fire-fighting forces are engaged pursuant to this chapter shall be liable or accountable in any way for or on account of any act or omission on the part of an officer or member of such forces while e…

The political subdivision in which aid or assistance is given pursuant to this chapter shall reimburse the political subdivision furnishing such aid and assistance for any moneys paid for the salaries or other compensation of employees furnished under this chapter during the time…

Whenever all or any part of the regular fire-fighting forces of any county, city or town in the Commonwealth are engaged in rendering aid and assistance, pursuant to this chapter, substitute fire fighters, not exceeding the number of regular fire fighters engaged in rendering suc…

The Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to prescribe all necessary and reasonable rules and regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter. 1942, p. 370; Michie Code 1942, § 2673(143).