By Chris Fetner Special to the Rappahannock News Michael

By Chris Fetner

Special to the Rappahannock News

Michael Harden, a successful business consultant and college professor, had just settled into work at his office in his home in Sterling - hot coffee at his side. As was his practice, the former Army Ranger and infantry officer tuned his television to cable news. He poked away on the computer, formulating plans for his business clients. A flash in his peripheral vision captured his pictures of an American Airlines plane hitting the North Tbwer of the World Trade Center. Harden, awestruck, watched as United Airlines Flight 175 punched the South Tbwer. By the time American Airlines Flight 77 rocketed into the Pentagon, Harden’s coffee had gone cold, but his anger and disbelief were percolating. The 50-year old veteran spent a couple of weeks deciding how his background and skills might be put to use making the country safer and more prepared for subsequent attacks.

“My initial thought was to try and get back into the Army, but my age was a disqualifying factor. I was looking at other opportunities to serve and heard a radio ad for the Virginia Defense Force (VADF). I went to the open house at the armory, met some of the officers and joined on the spot,” said Harden.

Hardenlike many of Virginia’s military veterans, has found a new way to serve the country through its state defense force. As the official reserve force to the Virginia National Guard, the Virginia Defense Force (VADF) has many potential missions; the most likely being support of Army National Guard units during natural or man-made disasters. Other possible missions include; assuming control of National Guard facilities during their deployment, assisting the National Guard to mobilize for deployment, supporting family members of National Guard troops for the duration of their deployment, and performing other functions that would normally be carried out by the Guard.

In other words, a backup to the backup.