Among other things the Virginia Milita exists to provide a "military" appointment for VMI staff that do not otherwise have active or retired military status. It has also been used at VT - when Colonel Acuff retired from the Army as the Professor of Military Science at VT in 1974, he was appointed the Commandant of Cadets for the VTCC. Some of the powers that be felt that the VTCC should have a general as Commandant, so the state appointed him a a Brigadier General in the Virginia Milita. The insignia on his Army uniform changed from "US" to "VA". Word was that Col/Gen Acuff didn't feel that he needed the appointment and would have been fine remaining a US Army Col (retired), but others felt it was important for the prestige of the University and VTCC. Col Earl C. Acuff was a very impressive individual - look him up.