VDF members visit Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, deepen their awareness of America’s military heritage

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Members of the Virginia Defense Force’s Bravo Company, 11th Signal Battalion, 1st Regiment, visited the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir on June 4, 2022, as part of the Fairfax-based unit’s regular weekend training. The purpose was to increase their overall understanding of Army history as well as their own role as part of the nation’s “organized militia.”

Owned and operated by the U.S. Army, the museum “preserves and honors the accomplishments, sacrifices, and commitment of American Soldiers” and reflects Soldiers’ seven core values: “Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage.” Learn more at https://www.thenmusa.org/

The Museum is managed by the nonprofit Army Historical Foundation.

First Lt. (Va.) Mark Royce, Bravo Company commander and a political science professor at Northern Virginia Community College, said the visit gave VDF personnel a unique opportunity to learn more about the Army’s decisive role in U.S. history and the significance of both the active and reserve forces in maintaining readiness. 

“Such shared experiences also boost morale,” Royce said. “They help personnel return to their training with broadened awareness and stimulated imagination.”

Royce’s senior NCO, 1st Sgt. (Va.) Alnita V. Baldon, agreed. 

“Getting to see history, and how the military, uniforms, equipment, supplies, and other ways of living have changed over the years, gives an interesting and better understanding of the Army and VDF history,” she said. 

Baldon, a former U.S. Army Reserve drill instructor who joined the VDF in 2008, recently concluded her tour with Bravo Company and now serves as command sergeant major of the 11th Signal Battalion.

The VDF personnel started by watching Of Noble Deeds, a short film that portrays Army history through the framework of the seven core values. The title comes from a speech given after the Civil War by Joshua Chamberlain, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at Gettysburg. 

With these words in mind, Bravo Company members then explored the exhibits.

Sgt. (Va.) Fei Guan said the colonial warfare exhibit, “Founding the Nation,” was the most touching because of units’ small size and limited equipment compared to the U.S. Army today. Despite these limitations, he said, the organized militia has played an “indispensable role” in American history. 

Cpl. (Va.) Peter Emcheff added that the exhibit holds “a very strong and direct tie to the history of the VDF,” as the Continental Army was founded partly with colonial militia, including Virginia troops.

What impressed Spc. (Va.) Nicholas Dwuma were displays showing the numbers of Americans who have served in the Army over the years. He noted that more than 11 million served during World War II alone.

Spc. (Va.) Teresa Malone appreciated the technology displays, which showed how the capabilities of an Army signals unit have changed over the years, from World War I aircraft radios to modern software-based communications systems.

For Pfc. (Va.) Darryl Potter, the “Founding the Nation” exhibit provided a basis for understanding how America’s Army has transformed the world over the centuries. The “Changing World” exhibit, focusing on the post-Cold War era, shows that today’s Soldiers are fighting for the same values as their Revolutionary War counterparts. “They’re still fighting for what we’re trying to become. One nation.”

The VDF is authorized by Title 44 of the Code of Virginia as the all-volunteer reserve of the Virginia National Guard, and it serves as a force multiplier integrated into all Guard domestic operations. The VDF reports to the Adjutant General of Virginia as part of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs along with the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Air National Guard. Members of the VDF volunteer their time for training and are only paid when called to duty by an authorization from the Governor of Virginia.