VFA - 125 Strike Fighter Squadron 125 ( VFA - 125 ) , also known as the " Rough Raiders " , was a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore , California . The " Rough Raiders " were a Fleet Replacement Squadron flying the F / A - 18 Hornet . History . There have been three distinct squadrons known as the " Rough Raiders " . The first began as Reserve Attack Squadron FIFTY FIVE E ( VA - 55E ) , most likely established in 1946 but remaining in an inactive status until redesignated Reserve Attack Squadron NINE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE ( VA - 923 ) in January 1950 . This squadron was redesignated VA - 125 on 4 February 1953 and was disestablished on 10 April 1958 . The second squadron , originally known as the " Skylanchers " was established as Attack Squadron TWENTY SIX ( VA - 26 ) on 30 June 1956 . This squadron became a Replacement Air Group was redesignated as VA - 125 " Rough Raiders " on 11 April 1958 ( the day after the first VA - 125 was disestablished ) flying the F9F Cougar from NAS Moffett Field . In July 1961 , the squadron moved to Reeves Field , NAS Lemoore , California . From that point until the fall of 1969 , the squadron flew all models of the A - 4 Skyhawk , sending over 2 , 000 replacement pilots and 12 , 000 maintenance personnel to the Pacific Fleet . During this period , the squadron had over 100 A - 4 ' s and 1 , 400 officers and enlisted personnel assigned , making it the largest aviation squadron in the Navy . In September 1969 , the " Rough Raiders " received their first A - 7 Corsair II . The squadron trained more than 700 A - 7 A / B / C replacement pilots and 5 , 500 maintenance personnel . The end of the Vietnam air war caused a reduction in force which eventually led to the disestablishment of the squadron on 1 October 1977 . The current 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 disestablished as an F / A - 18 Fleet Replacement Squadron , and its aircraft and personnel were incorporated into VFA - 122 . It is planned that VFA - 125 will be reestablish as an F - 35 Lightning II training squadron in the future . Mission . Today , the " Rough Raiders " trained pilots to fill F / A - 18 billets throughout the Navy and Marine Corps . 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 NAF El Centro , California and NAS Fallon , Nevada , as well as aboard carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets . Every 6 weeks a class of between 8 - 12 newly - winged Navy pilots 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 . VFA - 125 averaged 1 , 500 flight hours monthly and trained approximately 120 pilots each year . Pilots from the United States Navy , the United States 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 have been 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 the Rough Raiders 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 F - 14 Tomcat and S - 3 Viking , to the Hornet . Aircrew returning from non - flying assignments underwent refresher training at VFA - 125 prior to returning to the fleet . Additionally , VFA - 125 ( with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit : CNATTTU ) trained maintenance personnel and provides replacement aircraft to fleet units . VFA - 125 ' s East Coast counterpart was VFA - 106 at NAS Oceana . Additionally , VMFAT - 101 at MCAS Miramar also trains Navy and Marine Hornet operators . On 1 October 2010 VFA - 122 was merged with VFA - 125 . The merger was intended to cut administrative costs and streamline training in anticipation of the F / A - 18C Hornet being replaced by the F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet and F - 35 Lightning II in the coming years . The ' merged ' squadron retained the VFA - 122 Flying Eagles insignia while the Rough Raiders of VFA - 125 were put into " hibernation " until a later date , when they will reestablish themselves as an F - 35 training squadron .