VFA-125

Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), known as the "Rough Raiders," was originally established on November 13, 1980, at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. It served as the U.S. Navy’s first F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and maintenance crews on the F/A-18 aircraft. VFA-125 was deactivated in 2010, but reactivated in 2017 to become the Navy’s first F-35C Lightning II Fleet Replacement Squadron, training the next generation of carrier-based stealth fighter pilots. Throughout its history, VFA-125 has played a key role in advancing naval aviation and supporting fleet readiness with cutting-edge aircraft.