VT - 4 VT - 4 Training Squadron 4 is a training squadron of the United States Navy . Initially established as Basic Training Group NINE ( BTG - 9 ) in the 1950s , the squadron was redesignated as Training Squadron FOUR ( VT - 4 ) on May 1 , 1960 and based at Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida . History . Its original mission was providing flight instruction for US Navy and US Marine Corps Student Naval Aviator s in the basic jet training syllabus utilizing the T - 2A version of the T - 2 Buckeye aircraft . In 1965 , Training Squadron FOUR transitioned to the T - 2B aircraft and its mission was modified to become the Naval Air Training Command ' s sole site for providing student pilots with basic jet flight instruction in aerial gunnery and carrier qualification . In 1971 , Training Squadron FOUR transitioned to the T - 2C aircraft . The squadron mission was changed once again , to provide flight training in all phases of the basic jet syllabus . In September 1972 , Training Squadron FOUR acquired the TF - 9J providing flight instruction in both basic and advanced jet training . This mission was unique in the Naval Air Training Command in that student pilots experienced their first flight in a jet aircraft in VT - 4 and remained aboard to be subsequently designated Naval Aviators . November 1973 saw the introduction of the TA - 4J to replace the aging TF - 9J for advanced flight training . Beginning in December 1975 , VT - 4 had the added mission of providing flight instruction for allied foreign military pilots . Flight training has been given to student pilots from Kuwait , Spain , Singapore and Indonesia . In addition to pilot training , VT - 4 has had two other significant missions . From 1973 to 1978 , VT - 4 provided summer jet orientation flights for midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps . From 1975 to 1979 , VT - 4 was also responsible for the training of Naval Flight Surgeons . In December 1985 , VT - 4 ’ s mission was changed from strike training to the sole site of E - 2 / C - 2 intermediate training in CNATRA . In this role , the squadron carrier qualified Student Naval Aviators from the multiengine training pipeline , informally called the " prop ppipeline , " who we selected to eventually fly the E - 2 Hawkeye and C - 2 Greyhound aircraft in the Fleet . Graduates of VT - 4 would receive their wings and designations as Naval Aviators and proceed to the Fleet Replacement Squadron . In January 1992 , VT - 4 ’ s mission became the E - 2 / C - 2 advanced training site . To accomplish this mission VT - 4 flew the T - 2C . During 1996 , VT - 4 underwent significant change . From a small all Navy Advanced E - 2 / C - 2 pilot training squadron with a student throughput of 36 per year , it became a joint Primary and Intermediate Naval Flight Officer / Navigator training squadron with an annual student throughput of 450 . Instructor ranks grew from fourteen Navy pilots to 71 Navy , Marine Corps and Air Force pilots and NFO / Navigators . The squadron transitioned from flying the T - 2C to flying the T - 34C Turbo Mentor and T - 1A Jayhawk . VT - 4 also instructs student navigators from Germany , Italy , Saudi Arabia , Norway and Denmark . From April to September 1996 the squadron had primary NFO / NAV and advanced pilot training being conducted simultaneously . Following the final CQ detachment in September , the mission converted entirely to NFO / NAV training . On 30 September 1996 , the last VT - 4 Naval Aviators earned their wings . In January 2003 , VT - 4 initiated instructor orientation flights in the T - 6A “ Texan II ” , the joint Air Force / Navy platform slated to replace the T - 34C as the Primary phase syllabus trainer . The T - 6A “ Texan II ” is a single engine , two - seat trainer which is fully aerobatic . It features a pressurized cockpit , a G - tolerance enhancement system and dual zero - zero ejection seats . The T - 6A utilizes a state - of - the - art digital cockpit to help familiarize students with what they will encounter in their fleet tours . In August 2003 , VT - 4 marked its first training flight in the T - 6A “ Texan II ” . In April 2005 , VT - 4 completed the transition to the T - 6A “ Texan II ” and flew its last T - 34C “ Turbomentor ” student sortie . In December 2010 , VT - 4 officially became a part of Training Squadron 10 . All VT - 4 instructors and students became a part of VT - 10 and the squadron officially answers to the VT - 10 Commanding Officer . Since its commissioning , VT - 4 has amassed over 600 , 000 flight hours . The squadron has logged 42 , 000 carrier landings .