Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal wrote:

[...]
Most F-14 squadrons are getting full transitions from Tomcat to F/A-18E/F.
Of course, some aviators are always left on the table during the transition.

But is it so simple now, in the times of Fleet Response Plan?

Actually, the F/A-18E/F FRSes (VFA-122 or VFA-106) get the first Super
Hornets with markings of those new squadrons (VF becoming VFA) some
weeks before the squadron is back from their last F-14 deployment.
Right, those birds are formally assigned to the FRS then. But later on,
when the cruise ends, the squadron has to remain in readiness for any
surge deployments for some time.

For example, when VF-11 and VF-143 returned from ther last Tomcat
deployment, F/A-18E/Fs with VFA-11 or VFA-143 markings were already
flying, but F-14Bs were still seen at Oceana, as the "surge deployment
readiness" asset.

So, sorry, but this is still unclear to me - which were the real
squadron staffs - these still flying Tomcats, or those already
transitioning to Rhinos? I guess the latter was finally replacing the
former, so indeed, not all aviators were transitioning...

Kind regards,
Jacek