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| Strike Fighter Squadron 125 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 13 November 1980 – 1 October 2010 and 12 January 2017 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Introduce the Super Hornet to the fleet, train replacement personnel to fly and maintain the aircraft |
| Part of |  Joint Strike Fighter Wing |
| Garrison/HQ |  NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname(s) | "Rough Raiders" |
| Mascot(s) | "Chuckie" |
| Decorations | CNO Aviation Safety Award |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | CAPT. Daniel D. Kuitu |
| Executive Officer | CDR. Troy H. Vantrease |
| Command Master Chief | CMDCM. Apryl R. Nanney |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F/A-18C Hornet F-35C Lightning II |
Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), also known as the "Rough Raiders", is aUnited States Navy strike fighter squadron based atNaval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Rough Raiders" are aFleet Replacement Squadron flying theF-35C Lightning II.
There have been three distinct squadrons known as theRough Raiders. Thefirst VA-125 was established in 1946 as Naval Reserve Squadron VA-923. It was activated for service in the Korean War on 20 July 1950, redesignated VA-125 in February 1953 and was disestablished on 10 April 1958. Thesecond VA-125 was established on 30 June 1956 as VA-26 and redesignated VA-125Rough 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 atNAS Lemoore, California, becoming the Navy's firstF/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.[1] 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 intoVFA-122.
The "Rough Raiders" trained F/A-18 pilots for the U.S. Navy, pilots andnaval flight officers for theU.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 toNAS Key West, Florida;NAF El Centro, California; andNAS Fallon, Nevada, as well as aboard aircraft carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Every 6 weeks, a class of between 8 and 12 newly winged USN and USMCnaval 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 and night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Hornet squadrons. More senior USN and USMC officers attended shorter training courses on their way to assignments in leadership roles in squadrons and higher-echelon organizations.
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, theRoyal Air Force, theCanadian Forces (nowRoyal Canadian Air Force), theSpanish Air Force, theRoyal Australian Air Force, theHellenic Air Force, theKuwait Air Force, and theFinnish 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 theCNO Aviation Safety Award. By January 1998, it was the first fleet readiness squadron to surpass 100,000 mishap-free flight hours.[2]
VFA-125 was also responsible for transitioning experienced naval aviators from other aircraft, such as theA-6 Intruder,F-14 Tomcat, andS-3 Viking, to the Hornet as those earlier aircraft were retired from operational squadrons. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments also underwent refresher training at VFA-125 prior to returning to flying assignments. Additionally, VFA-125 (with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, CNATTTU) trained maintenance personnel and provided replacement aircraft to operational units. VFA-125's East Coast counterpart wasVFA-106, initially atNAS Cecil Field until late 1999, and then atNAS Oceana. Additionally,VMFAT-101 atMCAS El Toro and later atMCAS Miramar also trained Navy and Marine Corps Hornet operators.
_off_Southern_California_on_18_October_2017_(171018-N-BL637-0024).jpg)
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 replacement of the F/A-18A+, F/A-18C, and F/A-18D Hornet by theF/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II in the coming years. The merged squadron continued operations as the VFA-122Flying Eagles while the use of the VFA-125Rough Raiders name was suspended until January 2017.
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 4 aircraft on 25 January 2017.[3] The aircraft were transferred fromVFA-101, which became the first F-35C FRS in May 2012.[4]
| Electronic Attack (VAQ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) | |||||
| Strike Fighter (VFA) | |||||
| Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) | |||||
| Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) | |||||
| Fleet Logistics Support (VR) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) | |||||
| Patrol |
| ||||
| Unmanned (VUP) | |||||
| Training (VT) | |||||
| Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) | |||||
| Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) | |||||
| Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) | |||||
| Helicopter Training (HT) | |||||
