The unit transferred from Phantom to F-14A early 1976, with a first cruise aboard the USS Nimitz. They were the first to receive the TARPS pods in 1979 and were considered pioneers on this part. During the early 80s they stayed in the Mediterranean in assistance to the Iranian hostage crisis and the failed attempt to rescue them. In 1983 they were positioned near the coast of Lebanon after the hijacking of TWA flight 847.

December 1990, VF-84 joined Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Air patrols and escort sorties were made as well as TARPS missions to assess bomb damage. In total 468 combat missions were flown. After the Gulf War, the unit made 111 sorties under operation Provide Comfort, to defend Kurds fleeing Northern Iraq.

The unit was rewarded with four CNO aviation safety awards for 36 months of accident free operation. In 1977 the unit was split. VF-101 continued with the F-14, while the unit still occupied with training pilots on the F-4J was re-designated VF-171.

In 1986 the unit completed three years without incidents, when they started to transfer to the F-14A+ (later called F-14B). Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s the unit was focused on training and weapons training in particular. A wide range of weapons was used, like: general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, laser-guided bombs, air-launched decoys, and JDAM. In 1994 a detachment was created at NAS Miramar to supply crew and ground-personnel training. In 1996 this detachment was disestablished.

In 1996 the unit once again transferred to the latest F-14D update. 30 September 2005 the unit was deactivated in a ceremony at NAS Oceana. (See photo's from the last VF-101 F-14D airshow apperance at NAS Oceana)

The squadron was deployed aboard the USS America participation in NATO exercises in the European theater North of the UK. During this deployed they encountered Tu-95s on many occasions. In 1983 they moved to the Indian Ocean flying TARPS mission over Somalia. During one of these missions two VF-102 F-14As were fired upon by SA-2 SAM and AAA guns. The aircraft returned without damage.

March 1986 the unit was deployed to the Gulf of Sidra aboard the USS America, joining the USS Saratoga and USS Coral Sea. A VF-102 F-14 was the first to be fired upon by a Libyan SA-5 while patrolling the so called Line of Death, during Operation Attain Document. A month later the unit flew cover for the bomber attack during Operation El Dorado Canyon.

Late 1990, VF-102 joined operation Desert Shield in the Red Sea, logging over 1400 combat hours. In 1991 the unit remained deployed in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. August 1993 during the third deployment in the Mediterranean, the unit joined operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight of the coast of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In that busy year two more combat missions would follow, October Operation Restore Hope, a UN mission to provide humanitarian aid for Southern Somalia, and mid December Operation Southern Watch, Iraq.

June 1994, the unit returned to NAS Oceana to transfer to the F-14B. The first cruise with the new Tomcats was made to the Mediterranean during 1995-96. The unit was involved in Operation Deliberate Force, NATO interventions in Bosnia. After that they proceed to the Persian Gulf to assist in Operation Southern Watch, before going back in December to support US ground forces in Bosnia.

In 1997, while redeployed on the USS George Washington, they sailed for the Persian Gulf again, at the time Saddam Hussein was blocking UN weapon inspectors from entering the country. Before it escalated the unit returned to Norfolk.

In 1999 they returned for Operation Southern Watch, with VF-102 attacking AAA- and radar sites and conduction TARPS missions. September 2002 they joined Operation Enduring Freedom (also known as the War on Terror), in which they flew 5000 combat hours, dropping 680 bombs. With this they hold the record of most hours flown and most bombs dropped of any squadron during the War in Afghanistan.

October 1995, VF-103 took over the name and insignia of the then disestablished VF-84, Jolly Rogers unit. This to prevent the famous “Jolly Rogers” from fading away from the US Navy.

In 1995, the unit evaluated the LANTIRN targeting pod for use with the F-14. The pod was adopted and the unit was the first to use it during the next deployment aboard the USS Enterprise in 1996. The pod radically improved the F-14s strike capability.

In 2002, fighting 103 supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. Enduring Freedom, also known as the war on Terror. Close Air Support, Forward Air Controller and TARPS missions were flown over Afghanistan to support coalition forces. After returning home, VF-103 returned to the Persian Gulf with the USS John F. Kennedy. They directly joined the 2nd Gulf war bombing insurgent positions and in October 2004 participated in the battle for Fallujah.

April 1977 the unit began transition to the F-14A. May 1979 they were deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk where they assisted after the seizure of the US embassy in Iran and the following hostage crisis. They operated in the Indian Ocean patrolling the Iranian coast before being relieved by the USS Nimitz.

During the 80s several tours were made aboard the US Kitty Hawk and especially USS Carl Vinson. The 90s were pretty much uneventful as well when it comes to combat operations. The unit was involved in Operation Restore Hope, Somalia and Southern Watch, guarding the no-fly zone over Iraq.

After a last deployment to the Pacific in 1994, the unit was disestablished 31 March 1995, with its aircraft transferred to other units.

15 December 1975 the unit transferred to the F-14A, followed by the first Western Pacific deployment aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. 1979 a cruise was made aboard the USS America to the Mediterranean.

1982, VF-114 aboard the USS Enterprise participated in the largest naval exercises since World War II, together with the USS Coral Sea and USS Midway. More exercises followed, before moving to the Gulf of Sidra, Libya in 1986. The unit flew combat air patrol mission for two months.

1987 the unit was back on dry land, training at NAF El Centro and NAS Fallon. In 1988 they returned to the Persian Gulf participating in Operation Praying Mantis. A retaliation attack in Iranian territorial waters for mining the Persian Gulf and subsequently damaging a US frigate. 1989 the unit made an around the World cruise aboard the USS Enterprise.