# VT-22

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Training Squadron 22 VT-22 Logo Active 13 June 1949 - Present Country United States of America Branch United States Navy Type Advanced Jet Strike Training Part of Training Air Wing Two Garrison/HQ NAS Kingsville Nicknames "Golden Eagles", ATC callsign "BLAZER" Colors Gold and Blue Commanders Current commander CDR Nathan O'Kelly, USN Aircraft flown Trainer TV-1 F9F-88/8T Cougar TA-4J Skyhawk T-45A/C Goshawk

Military unit

**Training Squadron 22 (VT-22)** or **TRARON TWO TWO**, known as the *Golden Eagles*, callsign "Blazer", is a [U.S. Navy](/source/U.S._Navy) strike jet training squadron stationed aboard [Naval Air Station Kingsville](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Kingsville), flying the [T-45C Goshawk](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_T-45_Goshawk). The Golden Eagles are one of four [strike jet training squadrons](/source/United_States_Naval_Aviator#Strike_syllabus) in operation today, and are under the command of [Training Air Wing Two](/source/Training_Air_Wing_Two).

## History

TAF-8J Cougar on display [KAI Aerospace Museum](/source/KAI_Aerospace_Museum) in [South Korea](/source/South_Korea) originally assigned to VT-22

A VT-22 TA-4J Skyhawk on the flight deck of [USS *Kitty Hawk*](/source/USS_Kitty_Hawk_(CV-63)) in 1983

Crew aboard [USS *Harry S. Truman*](/source/USS_Harry_S._Truman) direct a VT-22 T-45C Goshawk during carrier qualification in 2014

Training Squadron 22 began as Advanced Training Unit 6 (ATU-6), formed on 13 June 1949 at [Naval Air Station Corpus Christi](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Corpus_Christi), entrusted with training newly designated Naval Aviators transitioning to jets. ATU-6 flew the [TV-1](/source/Lockheed_T2V_SeaStar) trainer aircraft, and was the first unit to train Naval Aviators in jet aircraft. That same year, ATU-6 was relocated to [Naval Air Station Whiting Field](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Whiting_Field) in [Milton, Florida](/source/Milton%2C_Florida), and redesignated as Jet Transitional Training Unit 1 (JTTU-1). JTTU-1 was tasked with not only training new Naval Aviators, but fleet aviators as well, including the [Blue Angels](/source/Navy_Flight_Demonstration_Squadron) during their transition to jet aircraft in the 1940s.

In 1951, JTTU-1 relocated again to the newly formed Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville (now [Naval Air Station Kingsville](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Kingsville)), where it was re-designated as Advanced Training Unit 3 (ATU-3), and then later in 1952 as Advanced Training Unit 200 (ATU-200). The mission of ATU-200 was training newly designated naval aviators in jet familiarization, formation tactics, instruments, and navigation. ATU-200 was again re-designated as Advanced Training Unit 212 (ATU-212), expanding its training to include all-weather training as well. In 1958, ATU-212 began transitioning from the TV-1 trainer aircraft to the newly procured [F9F-88/8T Cougar](/source/Grumman_F-9_Cougar). With the new aircraft, the training of ATU-212 expanded to include ordnance delivery and carrier qualification.

In 1960, ATU-212 was re-designated to its current name, Training Squadron 22 (VT-22). In 1970, VT-22 began transitioning to the Navy's new jet trainer, the [TA-4J Skyhawk](/source/Douglas_A-4_Skyhawk). VT-22 functioned as the advanced training squadron at NAS Kingsville, training student naval aviators in the final areas of training before transitioning to fleet assignments. In 1994, VT-22 began transitioning to the current trainer aircraft in use, the [T-45A Goshawk](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_T-45_Goshawk). With the change in aircraft, VT-22's training role changed from solely advanced training, to include intermediate training and familiarization flying in jet aircraft. More recently, several upgrades were made to the trainer aircraft, resulting in its re-designation as the T-45C.[1]

## Mission

Today, VT-22's mission is to train future U.S. Navy and Marine [Student Naval Aviators](/source/Naval_aviator), along with aviators of allies of the United States. Navy and Marine students are selected from top performing students who have completed primary flight training in the [T-6B](/source/T-6_Texan_II) at either [Naval Air Station Whiting Field](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Whiting_Field) or [Naval Air Station Corpus Christi](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Corpus_Christi). After joining VT-22, students are trained in the T-45C over a 12 month long syllabus consisting of over 130 flights in the aircraft, accumulating over 160 hours. The training syllabus culminates with carrier landing qualification or basic fighter maneuvering ("dogfighting"). Upon completion of the training syllabus, Student Naval Aviators assigned to VT-22 are designated as Naval Aviators and earn their "Wings of Gold" and receive follow-on assignments with Fleet Replacement Squadrons before their first fleet tour.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Squadron History"](https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw2/vt22/history.asp). *VT-22 Golden Eagles*. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 8 January 2018.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw2/vt22/)

## See also

- [History of the United States Navy](/source/History_of_the_United_States_Navy)

- [List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons](/source/List_of_United_States_Navy_aircraft_squadrons)

v t e United States Navy Leadership Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4-star admirals 3-star admirals 1864–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 since 2020 2-star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower Structure Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine Units Active ships Future ships Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Commander Pacific Fleet Commander Naval Forces Europe and Africa Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Navy Reserve Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Naval Supply Systems Command Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Naval Safety Command Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Navy Working Capital Fund Fleets Second Fleet Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A–B C D–F G–H I–K L M N–O P Q–R S T–V W–Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Registered civilian vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats Torpedo retrievers Unclassified miscellaneous vessels Yard and district craft Personnel and training People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief Deputy Chief Explosive ordnance disposal Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps JAG DJAG NCIS Boatswain's mates Hospital corpsman Naval aviator SEALs Seabees Master-at-arms Operations specialist SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit Officer Candidate School STA-21 NROTC Naval University System (Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Academy, Naval Community College, Marine Corps University) BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Equipment Uniforms Awards and decorations Badges Current fleet Future fleet Reserve fleet Current aircraft Weapons Naval reactors History and traditions History 600 ship navy "Anchors Aweigh" Blue Angels Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line-crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Ceremonial Guard Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Navy Weeks Revolt of the Admirals Sailor's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Ship naming conventions Tingey House USS Constitution WAVES Wetting-down United States battleship retirement debate Category

v t e Naval Air Training Command Chief of Naval Air Training: RADM James Bynum Commands Blue Angels Training Air Wing ONE Training Air Wing TWO Training Air Wing FOUR Training Air Wing FIVE Training Air Wing SIX Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 Naval Air Stations Corpus Christi Kingsville Meridian Pensacola Whiting Field

v t e Active United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons Category:Aircraft squadrons of the United States Navy Electronic Attack (VAQ) 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 209 Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) 113 115 116 117 120 121 123 124 125 126 Strike Fighter (VFA) 2 11 14 15 22 25 27 31 32 34 37 41 81 83 86 87 94 97 102 103 105 106 113 115 122 125 131 136 137 143 146 147 151 154 192 195 211 213 Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) 1 3 4 7 Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) 12 13 111 204 Fleet Logistics Support (VR) 1 46 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61 62 64 Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) 30 40 Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) 30 40 50 Patrol VP 1 4 5 6 8 9 10 16 22 23 24 26 30 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 60 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 90 91 VPU 1 2 Unmanned (VUP) 19 Training (VT) 4 6 7 9 10 21 22 27 28 31 35 86 Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) 14 15 Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 14 15 21 22 23 25 26 28 84 85 Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 35 37 40 41 46 48 49 50 51 60 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 Helicopter Training (HT) 8 18 28

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VT-22](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT-22) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT-22?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.