the break-up of the Soviet Union. The destroyer attained the highest standards of battle readiness, receiving the Battle Efficiency “E” award and Command Excellence Awards for Maritime Warfare during that year. O'Bannon remained in dry dock at the Charleston Naval Shipyard from 1 January-7 July 1993. On 18 November, the destroyer went smoke free, banning smoking within the skin of the ship and allowing it on the weather deck only. After a regular overhaul from 1 January-1 April 1994, O'Bannon participated in New York City's Fleet Week 94. Her homeport shifted from Charleston, S.C., to Mayport, Fl., on 1 October. From 3 March-22 August 1995, O'Bannon steamed to the Mediterranean for a six-month deployment. On 1 September, she was detached from DesRon 8 and reassigned to DesRon 24 as part of the reorganization of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Spending most of January–December 1998 moored at her homeport of Mayport, O'Bannon sortied out on 11 June to participate in Sea-Launched Attack Missile Exercise (SLAMEX) 33–98, and remained underway for sea trials from 24 to 26 June. From 1 to 18 December, O'Bannon got underway with DesRon 14 to participate in patrol duties in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, before steaming to San Juan, P.R., for a port visit from 9 to 11 December. In January 2000, while acting as flagship for DesRon 14, O'Bannon spearheaded a group sail involving several maneuvering, weapons, and tactical exercises. From 9 to 14 June, she participated in an antisubmarine warfare exercise. On 15 December, O'Bannon’s 22nd birthday, she steamed from Mayport to commence her U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) deployment, later transiting the Panama Canal before entering the Pacific on 26 December to commence counter-narcotics operations. Continuing her counter-narcotics operations into February 2001, O'Bannon returned to her homeport on 1 March before transiting up the St. John's River to the Atlantic Dry dock facility to complete emergent repairs for a week. From 2 to 4 May, the destroyer participated in a bilateral exercise with the Peruvian Navy and Coast Guard, consisting of boarding operations and maritime interdiction. From October–December, O'Bannon received repairs in the Atlantic Dry dock Facility, and spent the holidays at her homeport. After a two-week upkeep period from 1 to 17 January 2003, O'Bannon deployed to the Caribbean for the rest of the month. The destroyer participated in counter-narcotics operations in the western Caribbean from February–July, before steaming out