Virginia Defense Force

Virginians Serving Virginians

VDF G5/7 Training Page Update – Working Draft

Soldier’s Path: Career Development & Promotion Requirements

This guide outlines the requirements for advancement within the Virginia Defense Force (VDF). Promotion is not automatic based on time; it requires superior duty, performance, and the completion of specific training milestones. While this list is intended to assist, there is no substitute for counseling from your NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers).

The Soldier’s Path

Click a rank to expand the requirements.

Promotion to Private 2nd Class (PV2 / E2)

Promotion Evaluation: Go/No-Go (Successful completion of all tasks)

Promotion to Private First Class (PFC / E3)
  • TIG: 6 Months | TIS: 1 Year
  • Training Objectives:
    • Basic Military Communications: Procedure Words (PRO-WORDS) and Phonetic Alphabet/Numbers.
    • Radio Operations: Handheld Radio usage and Direct Net/Free Net procedures.
    • Standard Message Format
    • Organizational Knowledge: Chain of Command and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Support Channel.
    • Rank Insignia: Recognition of Officer and Enlisted ranks.
    • EDRE: Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Response.
    • General Orders: Recitation from memory.
Promotion to Specialist (SPC / E4)
Lateral Promotion to Corporal (CPL / E4)

Note: This is a leadership rank for specialists in NCO billets.

  • Complete all E4 and E5 requirements.
  • Occupy an NCO Billet on the MTO (Modified Table of Organization).
  • Instruction: Serve as an AI (Assistant Instructor) at a UTA (Unit Training Assembly) or MUTA (Multiple Unit Training Assembly).
  • Knowledge: Introduction to OP ORDS (Operation Orders) and OP PLANS (Operation Plans).
  • SAD (State Active Duty): Process and response.
Promotion to Sergeant (SGT / E5)
  • TIG: 1 Year | TIS: 3 Years
  • PME: Basic Leaders Course (BLC), IDC (Instructor Development Course).
  • Leadership Tasks:
    • Instruct a training block at a UTA.
    • Understand Staff Functions: S1 (Personnel), S3 (Operations), S4 (Logistics), S6 (Signal/Cyber).
    • Knowledge: VDF History, Structure, and Mission.
    • Logistics: Management of Hand Receipts.
    • Advanced Skills: Soldier’s First Aid and Land Navigation.
Promotion to Staff Sergeant (SSG / E6)
  • TIG: 1.5 Years | TIS: 5 Years
  • PME: Advanced Leadership Course (ALC), PDC (Professional Development Course).
  • Administrative Tasks:
    • Maintain Radio Logs and Staff Journals.
    • Complete MMR (Monthly Morning Reports) and Promotion Packets.
    • Manage Duty Rosters and Command Prompts.
    • Specialization: Gain qualification in Emergency Response Management System (ERMS), Emergency Support Function 16 (ESF-16: Military Support), or Joint Operations Center (JOC) Augmentation.
Promotion to Sergeant First Class (SFC / E7)
  • TIG: 3 Years | TIS: 6.5 Years
  • PME: Senior Leadership Course (SLC), SOPC (VDF Staff Planning Course).
  • Operational Tasks:
    • FTX (Field Training Exercise) Leadership at the Unit Level.
    • Company Administration and daily formations.
    • Develop UTA Plans and REMOB (Readiness and Mobilization) procedures.
Promotion to Master Sergeant / First Sergeant (MSG/1SG / E8)
  • TIG: 3 Years | TIS: 12 Years
  • PME: IS-300.
  • Command Tasks:
    • Setup and operate a unit EDRE.
    • Conduct briefings and prepare yearly training schedules aligned with the CDR (Commander’s) Intent.
Promotion to Sergeant Major (SGM / E9)
  • TIG: 4 Years | TIS: 15 Years
  • PME: IS-400.
  • Special Projects:
    • Assigned a major project (e.g., improving promotion guidelines).
    • Coordinate teams, develop proposals, and brief command for execution.

NCO Education Checklists

Click a heading below to expand the specific checklist requirements.

Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course (NCOLD)

This course is a foundational requirement for junior enlisted personnel preparing to enter the NCO ranks.

Basic Leader Course (BLC) Checklist

I. Required FEMA Coursework

II. Administrative & Verification

  1. Submit FEMA transcripts to the 1SG (First Sergeant).
  2. Company verifies records in ACTDET (via S1, G1, and G3).
  3. Complete Self-Attestation verification test — Take Test Here

III. VDF Professional Courses

Final Step: Once Go/No-Go evaluations are complete, G3 will issue the BLC Course Completion.

Advanced Leader Course (ALC) Checklist

I. Required FEMA Coursework

II. Administrative & Verification

  1. Submit FEMA transcripts to 1SG.
  2. Verify record updates in ACTDET.
  3. Complete Self-Attestation (Step 1) — Take Test Here

III. VDF Advanced Courses

Senior Leader Course (SLC) Checklist

I. Required FEMA Coursework

II. Administrative & Verification

  1. Coordinate transcript submission with 1SG.
  2. Ensure S1/G1/G3 have updated ACTDET.
  3. Self-Attestation: Take Test Here (Step 1)

III. VDF Senior Courses

IV. Final Verification

  • G5/7 verifies above and issues SLC Course Completion.
Instructor Development Course (IDC)

Course Material: Instructor Development Course (IDC) Reference MaterialCertification Process:

  • Practical Application: At a home station UTA (Unit Training Assembly) or Force MUTA (Multiple Unit Training Assembly), the student will deliver classroom VDF instruction for a period of no less than twenty continuous minutes.
  • Assignment & Evaluation: The instruction topic will be assigned by the REGT Cdr (Regiment Commander) or their designee. The delivery must follow the principles of instruction set forward in the IDC course and will be evaluated by an authorized individual.
  • Final Verification: A Memorandum from the Regiment Commander, CSM (Command Sergeant Major), or S3 (Operations) denoting a successful evaluation and the evaluator’s name must be forwarded to the G3 (Operations & Training) section.
  • Completion: G3 will generate an IDC completion certificate for the individual and update their Regiment and Force-level personnel files.

Initial Entry Training (IET) Reference Materials

Use these materials for personal pre-drill preparation and reference. Click to expand.

IET Study Guides & Handouts

Note: PowerPoints are stored as PDFs. If using Acrobat Reader, (CTRL+L) will produce a full-screen effect.

VDF Orientation & Level IIA

These courses must be completed within the first six months of enlistment and prior to IET graduation.

Specialized Training & Operations

Civil Security & Support (CSS)

Training and Evaluations required.The successful completion of the Traffic course and exam, along with the practical training at Force MUTAs, is required for completion of Traffic Control Training certification. Completion of these courses is preferred prior to the practical field training.

NOTE: ALL EVALUATIONS REQUIRE A FINAL 100% CORRECT SCORE.

Communications (COM) Tracks

FEMA Reference Library

Quick links to required Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Independent Study courses. Check your Soldier’s Path above to see when these are required.

FEMA Course Directory

Advancement & Board Package Requirements

The following document presents both the promotion requirements as well as the package material required for advancement to E4 through E9.

Terminology Reference

  • 1SG (First Sergeant): The senior noncommissioned officer at the company level.
  • S1 / G1: Personnel staff sections (S-level is Unit; G-level is State).
  • G3: Staff section responsible for Operations, Plans, and Training. In the VDF, G3 is responsible for operations and G5/7 is responsible for Strategic Plans, Policy, and Training.
  • ACTDET: The automated system used by the VDF to track personnel records.
  • SOP (Standard Operating Procedure): Step-by-step instructions for routine operations.