There have been three distinct squadrons known as the Rough Raiders. The first VA-125 was established in 1946 as Naval Reserve Squadron VA-923. It was activated for service in the Korean War on 20 July 1959, redesignated VA-125 in February 1953 and was disestablished on 10 April 1958. The second VA-125 was established on 30 June 1956 as VA-26 and redesignated VA-125 Rough Raiders on 11 April 1958, one day after the first VA-125 disestablished. That second VA-125 was disestablished on 1 October 1977. The VFA-125 "Rough Raiders" were established on 13 November 1980 at NAS Lemoore, California, becoming the Navy's first F/A-18 squadron. Often, a new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of earlier squadrons, but officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. VFA-125 received its first aircraft in April 1981, and by March 1985, had amassed over 30,000 mishap-free flight hours in the Hornet. On 1 October 2010, VFA-125 was deactivated as an F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron, and its aircraft and personnel were incorporated into VFA-122.
Mission
The "Rough Raiders" trained F/A-18 pilots for the U.S. Navy, pilots and Naval Flight Officers for the U.S. Marine Corps, and pilots and weapon systems officers for various NATO and Allied nations. Flight training was supplemented by the latest state-of-the-art computer flight simulators and computer based academic instruction to enhance understanding and performance in the Hornet. In addition, the squadron routinely conducted strike and fighter detachments to NAS Key West, Florida, NAF El Centro, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada, as well as aboard aircraft carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly winged USN and USMC Naval Aviators began the 9-month training course in which they learned the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Hornet squadrons. In shorter training tracks, they were augmented by a smaller cohort of Lieutenant Commanders and Majors returning for squadron Department Head and Marine squadron XO assignments, command-screened Commanders and Lieutenant Colonels returning for squadron XO/CO and CO assignments, and Captains and Colonels en route to Strike Fighter Wing Commodore, Carrier Air Wing Commander and Marine Aircraft Group Commanding Officer assignments. VFA-125 averaged 1,500 flight hours monthly and trained approximately 120 pilots each year. Pilots from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Air Force, the Canadian Forces, the Spanish Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force, the Kuwait Air Force, and Finnish Air Force were trained at VFA-125. By May 1996, VFA-125 had amassed over 70,000 mishap-free flight hours in the Hornet, and was recognized for this milestone with the CNO Aviation Safety Award. By January 1998 they were the first Fleet Readiness Squadron to surpass 100,000 mishap free flight hours. VFA-125 was also responsible for transitioning experienced naval aviators from other aircraft, such as the A-6 Intruder, F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking, to the Hornet as those earlier aircraft were retired from the Fleet. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments also underwent refresher training at VFA-125 prior to returning to the Fleet. Additionally, VFA-125 trained maintenance personnel and provided replacement aircraft to Fleet units. VFA-125's East Coast counterpart was VFA-106, initially at NAS Cecil Field until late 1999, and then at NAS Oceana. Additionally, VMFAT-101 at MCAS El Toro and later at MCAS Miramar also trained Navy and Marine Corps Hornet operators. On 1 October 2010, VFA-125 was deactivated and its aircraft and personnel were merged into VFA-122. The merger was intended to cut administrative costs and streamline training in anticipation of the F/A-18A+, F/A-18C, and F/A-18D Hornet being replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II in the coming years. The 'merged' squadron continued operations as the VFA-122 Flying Eagles while the Rough Raiders of VFA-125 were put into "hibernation" until a later date pending reactivation as an F-35 training squadron. The squadron was re-activated at NAS Lemoore on 12 January 2017 as the west coast F-35C Lightning II FRS. It received its first aircraft on 25 January 2017. The aircraft were transferred from VFA-101 which became the first F-35C FRS in May 2012.
