I've always wondered who makes the decision of what units get deactivated and then later possibly reactivated. What factors determine what unit to cut?

Specifically I think back to the early 90's when VF-84 Jolly Rogers and VF-111 Sundowners were deactivated. I heard that deactivating two of the most well known units was intended as a form of punishment following the Tailhook scandal but I have nothing to base that on and it sounds kind of childish. (But, for all I know maybe that's how the military works?)

Later VF-103 Sluggers gets permission from whom to take on the Jolly Rogers name? Who/how was it decided to reactivate the Sundowners as VFC-111?

These things I wonder.

David Rezabek
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
USA

Seems like a complete mystery lacking any sense at all in a lot of cases.
I'm guessing the final decision is made at the SecNav level (with concurrence of NAVAIR and CNO).

Unfortunately it is usually Political...There is some input on CNO parts and Naval adminstrators but it is usualy mandated from DoD...The OMINPRESENT BUDGET

CNO and Sec Nav I'd say decides what actual squadrons get the ax. The decision to decommission squadrons is based on budget, structure of the military etc, I'm sure and done at a higher level and joint decision.

I don't think it is after the fact that someone realizes "gee, those were some pretty traditional units we got rid of...maybe we should keep the name and assign it to some other squadron" Purely for tradition and moral purposes.

Timing: The squadrons go through a 12 to 18-month cycle, roughly speaking, of decompressing after deployment, reorganization/re-equipment, training, workup with the air group, and deployment. When budgets dictate the date for a cutback, some squadrons are at the points in the cycle that make the decision to shut them down a no-brainer relative to others nearer to deployment in the cycle.

David Rezabek
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
USA

There is also the simple fact that if a Sqeuadron is flying something that is being withdraawn from serivce, i.e., F-14s, it's a pretty obvious choice to make.

A lot of what has been said is true but there are the "legacy squadrons" those with a long and significant history. Squadrons like VMA 214 Blacksheep squadron has remained, as well as VF/VFA Red Rippers for the navy and TFS 555 for the Air Force are examples of squadrons that have never been decommissioned, at least on a permanent basis. There are eight Marine squadrons that have never been decommissioned since WWII even though their designation or squadron number has been changed, i.e. from fighter to attack to fighter/attack, VF-4 to VF 11 for the Red Rippers. The Navy has maintained 10 (could have changed by now) legacy squadrons and the Air Force quite a few, but I don't keep track of the zoomies much since they can't land on carriers (although the F-15 reserve squadrons consistently grease the top guns every year at Red Flag and the reserve F-16 guys drop bombs better than the jar heads) but I digress. What the budget cuts have produced is a bunch of old and dangerous aircraft (the Marines are barely keeping their F-18's together, and the Air Force as well as the Marines have to raid/recycle parts from clapped out aircraft) that make flying much more hazardous for the pilots.
Cheers