On August 24, 2024, legal professionals from the Virginia Defense Force (VDF) participated in the Virginia Army National Guard (VaARNG) Judge Advocate General (JAG) Conference at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The event gathered more than 20 full-time and traditional JAG officers and enlisted personnel from the VaARNG, three VDF officers, and several guest speakers, including Major General Joseph A. DiNonno, Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division. The two-day conference covered topics such as ethics, contract and fiscal law, domestic operations, and career management. The VDF played an active role in planning the event and contributed speakers on legal ethics for military lawyers and military attorney wellness and stress mitigation, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the broader military legal community.
The Virginia Defense Force, like other State Defense Forces, maintains a dedicated legal department comprised of lawyers, paralegals, and other legal professionals who provide crucial services to the National Guard. When the National Guard prepares for overseas deployments, these Defense Force lawyers assist in developing wills, verifying emergency information, and preparing other essential legal documents to ensure readiness and support for service members before they deploy. This collaboration highlights the important role State Defense Forces play in supporting National Guard operations both domestically and abroad.
Virginia Defense Force legal professionals attend the Virginia Army National Guard Judge Advocate General Conference Aug. 24, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. More than 20 full time and traditional VaARNG JAG officers and enlisted personnel joined three Virginia Defense Force officers and a number of guest speakers, including Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno, Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division, for the two-day conference. Topics included ethics, contract and fiscal law, domestic operations and career management. VDF personnel had active role in conference planning and supplied a speaker on legal ethics for military lawyers and a speaker on military attorney wellness and stress mitigation.
Source: Virginia Defense Force