Military

Fighter Attack Squadron VFA-204 (VFA-204)

VA-204 is a reserve squadron established on 01 July 1970 as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. It is the first squadron to be assigned the VA-204 and VFA-204 designation. In May 1972 the squadron participated in exercise Exotic Dancer V, designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization. In February 1980 VA-204 participated in a combined NATO forces exercise conducted near NAS Bermuda called Safe Passage. It was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR (VFA-204) on 1 May 1991.

Naval Air Reserve Tactical Air Squadron VFA-204 deployed in October 1998 to provide adversary role support to active Navy squadrons VF-101 and VFA-106 as they train Navy pilots and flight crews. In early 2000, the "River Rattlers" of Reserve squadron VFA-204 flew 8,000 miles to provide critical air-to-air tactics training for Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5). Deployed to Atsugi, Japan, CVW-5 requested support from VFA-204 for air-to-air tactical weapons training. Eight F/A-18 Hornets and 90 personnel from VFA-204, with two Air Force KC-10s, transited the Pacific Ocean enroute to Guam to support the active duty Navy wing-stopping at March AFB, Hickam AFB and Wake Island. Over 1,000 Sailors and aviators from CVW-5 and VFA-204 descended upon Andersen Air Force Base AFB, Guam, to participate in the training. "River Rattlers" flew adversary role missions to provide extensive training for CVW-5's air crew. The Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program is a rigorous, standardized program administered by the Strike Fighter Weapons Schools Pacific and Atlantic-using VFA-204 and other CVWR-20 assets in adversary roles.