15 April 1992 : VFA-192 and CVW-5 got underway for
their first deployment aboard USS INDEPENDENCE.
During this cruise the squadron participated in the 50th.
anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea in
Sydney, Australia. The Dragons were also a part of
OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH,
establishing the no-fly zone south
of the 32nd parallel in Iraq.

November 1993 : VFA-192 and CVW-5 deployed again
in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH.
During this cruise the squadron participated in numerous
multinational exercises with Oman, Pakistan and Thailand.
Two months after returning the Dragons deployed once again,
this time to participate in RIMPAC-94, a dual bilateral
exercise with Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea.
Upon completion of this exercise the squadron remained at
sea throughout August in support of Korean Contingency
Operations, completing nearly a year at sea.

1995 and 1996 : were again busy years for the Dragons as
the squadron deployed for the third time to the Persian
Gulf in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH
in the summer and fall of 1995. The Golden Dragons
throughout 1995 and 1996 participated in numerous
multinational exercises off the coast of Japan, Korea,
and Thailand, participating in exercises Cobra Gold,
Keen Sword, Foal Eagle, Valiant Usher,
Cope North, and RIMPAC-96.

During the winter of 1996 the Dragons, aboard the
USS INDEPENDENCE, were ordered off the
coast of Taiwan as tensions rose between
China and Taiwan while the Taiwan people
participated in their first fully free
and democratic elections.

In March 1997 : The Dragons began a four-month
cruise by participating in Exercise Tandem Thrust
with U.S. and Royal Australian Armed Forces. That
same cruise included exercise Cobra Gold, in which
the Dragons flew against air forces from Thailand
and the U.S. During this period, the Dragons were
nominated for the Secretary of Defense
Maintenance Award.

In January 1998 : the Golden Dragons executed a
no-notice deployment to the Arabian Gulf for a
four and a half-month cruise in support of
OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH.
During this cruise the squadron flew a total of
1002 sorties, amassing over 1900 flight hours
and 994 arrested landings.

On July 7, 1998 : the Golden Dragons and CVW5
embarked for the last time aboard
USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62).