¶ Welcome
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the Hornet and looking for some new wingmen, or new to DCS and interested in trying out the F/A-18C, VFA-45 can accommodate! Cockpit familiarization, administrative flight procedures, and tactical weapons employment are part of the multitude of missions the Hornet can tackle—and you can be sure to learn something and have a fun time doing it with the Spartans. We focus on flying together, so you’ll be able to learn your own systems and have a capable flight lead to take care of your six at the merge. Interested in taking it further? Our squadron’s command cadre will teach you how to lead the jets in your flight to successfully execute your mission and bring your team back home to the boat safely. Fly, strike, win!
¶ Squadron Leadership
¶ Commanding Officer (CO)
| Commanding Officer | LCDR H. “Wedge” Collins |
The CO is an individual with the paygrade of O-4 or higher, responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the squadron.
Current responsibilities include:
- Setting squadron policy
- Setting training and readiness standards
- Management of documentation
- Management of VFA-45 liveries
¶ Executive Officer (XO)
| Executive Officer | LCDR B. “Tofu” Jupp |
The XO is an individual with the paygrade of O-4 or higher, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the squadron.
Current responsibilities include:
- Management of the roster and related functions
- Enforcing training and readiness standards
- Maintenance of checkride missions
- Managing member promotion eligibility
¶ Pilot Standards
¶ Minimum Qualifications
The minimum qualifications required to fly in a mission will be the Basic Type Rating (BTR) checkride and CASE I Recovery Qualification (CV1). All new Officer Candidates (OC) will have sixty (60) days to pass the BTR and CV1 or they will be removed from the active roster.
The intended qualification to lead a Section will be the Lieutenant (LT) checkride. All LTJGs with the minimum required Cumulative Score (CS) for LT can attempt the checkride after approval by squadron leadership.
The intended qualification to lead a Division will be the Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) checkride. All LTs with the minimum required Cumulative Score (CS) for LCDR can attempt the checkride after approval by squadron leadership.
If a suitable amount of qualified individuals are not present for a mission, a lower rank may be tasked with greater responsibility.
¶ Minimum Participation
Spartans are required to fly in official Saturday operations, in an F/A-18C, with the squadron once every 60 days. Failure to communicate with squadron leadership during an absence longer than 90 days may result in disciplinary action, including removal of active status and/or rank.
As a courtesy to our mission designers and flight planners, it is important that you make your attendance selection by the end of Friday night. If you fail to make a selection by the end of Friday night, your attendance will be marked as “no reply,” and an accumulation of unexcused absences will result in you being removed from the group.
If you have marked attending and on Saturday find yourself unable to attend the operation, you must to reach out to a senior member informing them you can no longer attend. It is not important that you provide a reason, just that you let someone know you can no longer attend so that you can be marked “Excused”. If you fail to notify someone of your change in attendance, you will be marked as “no show,” which may also result in you being removed from the roster/group.
¶ Leave of Absence
If you know you are going to be absent for greater than 30 days please inform squadron leadership in the VFA-45 Discord server. No reason is necessary.
While on LOA, it is not required to mark your attendance for operations.
For absences in excess of 90 days, members may be automatically placed into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Roster.
¶ Membership Status
To maintain active status on the roster, Spartans must attend 1 operation in a span of no greater than 60 days while continuously marking attendance for Saturday operations (whether it be “Attending/VFA-45 Spartans” or “Not Attending”) in #attendance.
If an operation has not been attended in a span of 60 days or a Spartan has not been continuously marking attendance, command will reach out and remind the member of the attendance standards listed above. If a member has disregarded this warning or has not attended an operation in a span of 90 days, they may be removed or placed on IRR.
Spartans may request to be, or may be forcibly moved into the IRR roster. Placement on this roster does not mean removal from the unit. Spartans on IRR may still fly and attend operations as normal. However, placement on the IRR roster does come with drawbacks:
- No assigned modex
- May not promote
If Spartans wish to no longer participate in the unit, they can asked to be removed from the roster entirely. Removed members do not retain any privileges of membership. Members who ask to be removed will keep a favorable status, and may rejoin the unit at any time—though, they must start at OC and must complete the beginning qualifications before attending any operations.
Spartans forcibly removed from the unit due to attendance, behaviorial, or other issues will be asked to seek membership elsewhere.
Spartans in favorable status who wish to retire may ask the Commanding Officer to consider their case. Retirement is granted on a case-by-case basis, and the retired member maintains the same perks as IRR.
Spartans wishing to take a leave-of-absence may ask leadership for one if they shall be gone for a period of less than 90 days. If a member wishes to remain in good standing, but take an absence of more than 90 days, they may ask to be put on the IRR roster. Exceptions to this policy may be made.
¶ Promotion Requirements
¶ Basic Type Rating (BTR)
The BTR is intended to be taken within the first month (30 days) of joining the squadron. The BTR can be attempted as many times as required for the candidate to pass all qualifying items. Specific instructions for this qualification can be found below.
Objectives
- Show basic understanding of weapons employment in the F/A-18C
- Show basic understanding of navigation in the F/A-18C
- Show basic understanding of sensors
¶ CASE I Qualification (CV1)
The CASE I Recovery Qualification (along with the BTR) is meant to be taken within the first month (30 days) of entry to the squadron. This qualification will ensure new members are able to safely operate in and around carrier airspace during large operations using the standard CV-1 procedures.
The qualification requirements and rubric are outlined below.
Reference material for standard radio communications procedures and approach pattern can be found here.
Officer Cadets will be eligible to participate in official operations only after these minimum competencies are met.
| Required CS (in grade) | Required TIG (days) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 0 |
¶ Wingman
After passing both your CV1 and BTR, you are eligible to attend all normal Saturday CSG-8 events. You will be automatically promoted to ENS after attending your first official operation.
¶ CASE III Recovery Qualification (C3)
Once at this rank, members are eligible to receive the CASE III Recovery Qualification. This allows Spartans to attend operations where CASE III recoveries are performed. The CASE III qualification is not required for operations where only CASE III departures are performed (and participants are expected to perform a CASE I recovery), but it is recommended that the CASE III procedures are reviewed here.
| Required CS (in grade) | Required TIG (days) |
|---|---|
| 12 | 60 |
¶ Qualified Combat Wingman
In the Spartans, being a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) means you are a Qualified Combat Wingman. The resources below are provided to assist in preparing for your combat wingman checkride and knowledge check interview. It is expected that you know the information contained in the resources below.
Members of this rank form the core of the squadron, and are expected to be well-versed in the technical operation of their aircraft, the Standard Operating Procedures, and the CVW-1 F/A-18C Standard Contract. LTJGs do not hold any responsibility to train other members, nor are they under any expectation to aid in squadron administration.
Once at this rank, members are eligible to receive other voluntary qualifications, including some of those below.
- Airframe cross qualifications (e.g. F-14B, F-16C, etc.)
- CATCC qualifications (including LSO and ATC)
- AIC qualification
- OPFOR checkride
| Required CS (in grade) | Required TIG (days) |
|---|---|
| 24 | 120 |
¶ Qualified Section Lead
In the VFA-45 Spartans, being a Lieutenant (LT) means you are qualified as a section lead and are willing to take on some junior leadership responsibilities. Lieutenants form the backbone of the squadron, and are expected to proctor carrier qualifications and LTJG checkrides, conduct trainings, respond to training assistance requests from junior members, lead sections in official operations, and lead divisions if required.
| Required CS (in grade) | Required TIG (days) |
|---|---|
| 36 | 180 |
¶ Qualified Division Lead
Reserved for the most dedicated of vCSG-8 members who consistently participate in the betterment of the squadron and/or group at large. This rank is presented by a squadron’s Community Admins based on needs or exceptional merit. Being a Lieutenant Command (LCDR) in the Spartans means you are qualified as a division lead, and are also willing to take on senior leadership responsibilities.
¶ Group 1 - Competency
The member must hold all of the following qualifications.
- CASE III
- All of the member’s squadron’s relevant aircraft competency checkrides
¶ Group 2 - Support Roles
The member must be proficient in at least one of the following support role qualifications.
- Air Intercept Controller (AIC)
- Landing Signal Officer (LSO)
- Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
- Airborne Forward Air Controller (FAC(A))
¶ Group 3 - Administrative Duties
The member must participate in at least two of the following administrative duties, in either their squadron and/or vCSG-8 at large.
- Schedule and host group training nights, or consistently produce training products
- Roster administration, including attendance, event flight composition, and promotion chart
- Recruitment administration
- Mission making or regular CAOC participation
- Systems administration
¶ Group 4 - vCSG-8 Values
The member must demonstrate all of the following values.
- Actively helps those that seek assistance with their aircraft, training, technical issues, or questions
- Upholds all vCSG-8 rules and helps to present vCSG-8 in a mature and welcoming light
- Drives discussions about the group’s current state and future state and is an active voice in the group
¶ Proctoring and Checkrides
Any individual with the rank of Lieutenant (O-3) or higher, with the pre-requisite qualification, can proctor any given checkride. If a checkride requires more than one proctor, the proctor and candidate can utilize any other member O-1 or higher to facilitate the checkride.
Each checkride or qualification will have rubric or criteria attached for proctors to grade and evaluate candidates. The proctor is ultimately responsible for making the decision to pass or fail a checkride or qualification, and may waive minor discrepancies if debriefed appropriately.
¶ Discord
VFA-45 retains a Discord server separate from the main CSG-8 Discord server.
Attendance must still be marked on the main CSG-8 Discord server—however, many of the same functions of the CSG-8 Discord server are available on the VFA-45 Discord server.
¶ Important Channels
| Channel | Purpose |
|---|---|
#welcome-to-vfa45 |
Landing page with a link to helpful resources and next steps. |
#announcements |
VFA-45-specific announcements. |
#general |
General chat channel available to all patrons of the VFA-45 Discord server. |
#spartan-den |
General chat channel available only to Spartans. |
#checkride-requests |
Please post here if you need to schedule a checkride or qualification. |
VFA-45 also maintains a ready room on the CSG-8 Discord server. Spartans are encouraged to use the ready room on the CSG-8 Discord server to promote an amicable relationship with the rest of CSG-8.
| Channel | Purpose |
|---|---|
 VFA-45 Ready Room |
VFA-45’s primary ready room on the main CSG-8 Discord server. |
¶ Resources
¶ vCSG-8 Resources
- vCSG-8 Roster Flight Compositions, Attendance Sheet, and Promotion Charts
- vCSG-8 Standard Operating Procedures
- vCSG-8 Carrier Procedures Deck Operations, CASE I, II, & III
- vCSG-8 Intelligence Library
- Radio Brevity
- VFA-45 Standard Operation Procedures
- VFA-45 Training Resources Library
- VFA-45 Wiki Aviation Education Readiness Initiative (Deprecated)
¶ Community Resources
¶ Founding Members
The following members are hereby recognized and honored for their unwavering loyalty, dedication, and exceptional service as founding members of the Spartans. Through their vision, sacrifice, and commitment, they have forged the foundation upon which this squadron stands today. Their enduring contributions have shaped our proud legacy, strengthened our warrior spirit, and inspired future generations of Spartans to carry our name forward with pride, honor, and courage.
¶ Active & Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR)
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| LCDR | H. “Wedge” Collins |
| LT | T. “Nugs” Nguyen |
| LT | B. “Money” Monette |
¶ Retired
| “Razgriz” Bradham | “Gramps” Hendricks |
| “Cournoyer” Brick | “Slasher” Myers |
| “Mojo” Campo | "Responder "O’Friel |
| “Blaze” Frable | “Wrecker” Reep |
| “Ironside” Friolet | “Bogeydope” Smith |
| “Professor” Genge | “Hoax” Sondhi |
| “Buddy” Kilborn | “Verbal” Sytsma |
| “Easy” Kregdale |