Training was conducted in aircraft previously assigned to and supported by NATTC Glynco until February 1973, when the squadron accepted 24 T-39 Sabreliners, 20 A-4C Skyhawks, 2 EC-121K Warning Stars, 12 TS-2A Tracker aircraft, and approximately 350 enlisted maintenance and support personnel from NATTC and NAS Glynco.

Following a decision to close NAS Glynco and deactivate TRAWING 8 as part of post-Vietnam War defense budget reductions, a Sabrehawk detachment was established at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in March 1974.

Today, VT-86's mission is to provide advanced flight instruction to Student Naval Flight Officers (NFO) destined for strike fighter, bomber and electronic warfare aircraft in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, as well as continuing training for international students destined for similar aircraft.

The squadron syllabus builds on that training previously received in the primary and intermediate NFO training squadrons, with additional emphasis on systems, instrument and radar navigation, radar intercept and attack, high-speed low-level flight, advanced aerial combat maneuvering and advanced communications.

Republic of Singapore Air Force WSOs fly the F-16D Fighting Falcon or the F-15SG Strike Eagle.

With the ever-changing strategy of national defense for the United States and that of its NATO and Allied partners, VT-86 will continue to train Navy, Marine Corps and international officers in preparation for flying the world's most advanced and complex tactical combat aircraft.

Since its inception in June 1972, VT-86 had logged more than 332,000 mishap-free flight hours and has the distinction of maintaining the longest documented accident-free period of any active flying squadron in Naval Aviation history.

This flight-hour total and cumulative time without mishaps also represents the longest mishap-free safety record in Naval Air Training Command history.

[6] CDR Zintak previously reported to the "Saberhawks" of Training Squadron (VT) 86 in November 2019 as the executive officer.

International students receive the wings of their nation/service and also report to follow-on training with either a U.S. Navy FRS or with an equivalent type unit with their nation/service.

Both syllabi at VT-86 utilize the Virtual Mission Training System (VMTS) with a synthetic radar in the T-45C Goshawk aircraft.

Upon graduation, the USN and USMC students also receive their wings as NFOs and report to their respective FRS for follow-on training in their particular Fleet aircraft.