Troop 980 was established in May 1964 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Annandale, Virginia, by Mrs. Brown, who wanted to provide a scouting opportunity for her two sons while her husband, Colonel Ben Brown, was on duty overseas. The troop initially comprised six boys, including Colonel Brown's sons and two other sets of brothers, with Colonel Brown serving as the Scoutmaster. By July 1964, the troop attended summer camp at Camp Wilson, now part of Pohick Bay Regional Park. Unfortunately, Colonel Brown was deployed again in 1965, and Charles L. Smith II, an Eagle Scout and church member, took over as Scoutmaster from 1965 to 1969.

Under Smith's leadership, the troop grew and became more adventurous, attending Camp Wilson and the newly opened Goshen Scout Reservation. Notably, Ben Brown, Jr. became the troop's first Eagle Scout. In the early 1970s, the troop expanded its activities under the leadership of various Scoutmasters, including Commander Mason and Lieutenant General Jacobsmeyer, who introduced more challenging backpacking trips. Major William McDonald later took over and further developed the troop's outdoor programs, including trips to the Lenhok'sin Trail and Philmont.

By 1978, the troop faced a charter change from St. Barnabas to St. John's United Methodist Church, and eventually, Ravensworth Elementary School took on the charter in 2022. Throughout its history, Troop 980 has been led by several Scoutmasters, including Buell L. Brown, Lt. Col. William McDonald, Gen. J. Jacobsmeyer, and John S. McCallum, who served a notable twenty-year term. As of January 2019, Carl Smith, a former Scoutmaster, has returned to lead the troop.