 While at VAW-126, he made deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean aboard USS John F. Kennedy.In 1986, Sanders returned to VAW-120 as a flight instructor and served as the squadron’s flight standardization officer, E-2C model manager and commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic E-2C evaluator.He transitioned from active duty in July 1987 and affiliated in the Naval Reserve in a flight status with VAW-78.