VFC-12 or VFA-12?

In "Air Forces Monthly" Cdr Burgess wrote in his article about Navy
Reserve, that, as a result of ongoing force transformations and
reorganizations, VFC-12 is going to provide pilots to fleet squadrons
when a need arises (crisis response, surge deployments etc.), and there
are RUMOURS it might be ven redesignated to VFA.

Quite similarly, Naval Institute "Proceedings" wrote about an
air-to-ground training of VFC-12 (a bit unusual for an adversary
squadron), that took place in April 2004. Nobody knows what is gonna
happen, and when it happens we will see.

But that is an opportunity to ask - what is the real difference between
F/A-18C-operating VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) and F/A-18A/B-flying
VFC (Fighter Squadron Composite)? Those names itself for me don't tell
the difference... The aircraft is basically the same... And there were
several adversary squadrons in the past that wore simple VF or VFA
designations... VFA-201 and VFA-204 also sometimes perform as
adversary, but they are still VFAs...

Kind regards,

Jacek Zemlo


P.S. By the way, creating a new VFA-12 (IF happens) would be an
interesting case for NavAir historians - whose traditions the new
squadron should carry on - VFC-12's, or VA-12's which existed in the
past? Would that end up with something like VF-103 Sluggers/VF-84 Jolly
Rogers designation/tradition merge?