In addition, the squadron routinely conducted strike and fighter detachments to NAS Key West, Florida; NAF El Centro, California; and NAS 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 USMC naval 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.

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.

The merged squadron continued operations as the VFA-122 Flying Eagles while the use of the VFA-125 Rough 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.