spent 108 consecutive days at sea before USS Forrestal anchored at its first liberty port, Naples, Italy. 1990s During the 1990s, the squadron deployed aboard USS John F. Kennedy, , , and . Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, several squadron aircraft were deployed with VA-72 in support of Operation Desert Shield. On 31 October 1990, the squadron flew their last official sortie in the A-7E Corsair II. This ended a 25-year association in which over 115,000 flight hours and 25,000 arrestments were flown. On 28 November 1990, VA-37 was redesignated Strike Fight Squadron Thirty Seven (VFA-37) and began flying the F/A-18 Hornet. From October 1992 to April 1993, VFA-37 deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and participated in Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq and Operation Provide Promise in the airspace near the former Yugoslavia. In 1994 the squadron flew missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) and later over Bosnia in support of Operation Deny Flight. The squadron also participated in major exercises with the Kuwaitis, Saudis, and Israelis, as well as with many NATO allies. In November 1996, the squadron flew in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Deliberate Guard over Bosnia-Herzegovina. VFA-37 deployed again in November 1998. After four weeks of participating in OSW, the order was issued for Operation Desert Fox in Iraq. They also flew missions over the former Yugoslavia in Operation Deliberate Force. The squadron relocated from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, to NAS Oceana, Virginia in July 1999. 21st century The next major deployment for VFA-37 was the maiden voyage of in 2000. In December 2002 VFA-37 deployed for their second cruise aboard Harry S. Truman. On 19 March 2003, the squadron participated in combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While flying from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the squadron participated in the "shock and awe" campaign in Southern Iraq before shifting focus to assisting U.S. Forces in Northern Iraq. By the end of a successful 30-day air campaign in OIF, the squadron had flown 252 combat sorties over Iraq. The squadron returned to NAS Oceana on Memorial Day 2003. VFA-37 deployed to the Persian Gulf and flew combat missions in support of Iraqi Freedom again from October 2004 to April 2005 from USS Harry S. Truman. In the spring of 2006, VFA-37 transferred to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) for seven months to cover