Virginia Guardsmen Run Local Militia: Patriots or Dangerous Radicals?

Two Virginia National Guard members, Staff Sergeants Daniel Abbott and Alexandra Griffeth, are facing scrutiny for their involvement in what has been called an anti-government militia. Both top-performing soldiers in the Guard run the Campbell County Militia (CCM), which operates in rural Virginia. Their dual roles as soldiers and militia leaders have sparked concerns, as their militia, according to military.com, is known for its anti-government rhetoric and preparations for possible violent conflict with authorities.

According to military.com, whose reporters listened to several hours of recordings of meetings of the militia, they claim Abbott stated the following:

“Our own government is the greatest threat to our safety and security. Power is akin to force. I would argue there are only two forces man has direct access to. One of those is violence …(and) the threat of violence.” 

I’d like to note here that I have not personally seen or heard any anti-government rhetoric come from the group and I have a request pending to interview both Abbott and Griffeth. I have, however, found the video below which is essentially one of their new members meetings. They also run a publically accessible website featuring what you might expect…photos of members doing group activities, a news and events section and even an online store.

This is a county-approved militia. Campbell County, Virginia’s board of supervisors, in 2020, took a vote and it was six to one in favor of recognizing the organization as “a barrier against tyrannical government.”

Abbott, who was named the Virginia Guard’s noncommissioned officer of the year in 2023, has reportedly openly discussed the possibility of using force to oppose what he perceives as government overreach. The militia was officially recognized by the Campbell County Board of Supervisors despite its controversial stance. Both Abbott and Griffeth hold leadership positions in the militia, with Griffeth responsible for tactical training, including marksmanship.

This situation highlights the tension between their roles as National Guard soldiers, where they have access to military resources and their participation in a militia that purportedly espouses anti-government views. Army regulations explicitly prohibit soldiers from engaging in extremist activities, and the Virginia National Guard has stated it will investigate reports of such involvement. The question is, are they engaging in extremist activities? I hope to review some of the source materials for myself before drawing a definitive conclusion on that point of view.

The rise of militias like the Campbell County Militia reflects broader trends in Virginia, where increased diversity and political shifts have fueled the growth of far-right groups. Abbott and Griffeth’s involvement in this movement raises questions about extremism within the ranks of the military.

In June of this year, the Army put into place a new policy stating that soldiers are barred from participating in anti-government activity and other radical causes. It specifically prohibits advocating, engaging in, or supporting the overthrow of the government…by force or violence, or seeking to alter the forms (of government) by unconstitutional or other unlawful means, such as sedition.” This policy came about in light of the January 6, 2020 Capitol protests.

Abbott, in an interview with the New York Times, is adamant in stating his organization does not harbor extremist ideologies. He states their reason for existence is to stop governments from “being able to impose their will on people who didn’t want their will.”

As you can tell, dear SOFREP reader, I’ve worded my article very carefully today. I’ve submitted a request to interview both Abbott and Griffeths. I’ll do more digging. I want to be fair and collect as much information as possible before forming a more solid opinion.

So, what do you think? Are they patriots or dangerous radicals? Or, perhaps, neither?

I’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.