VFA - 131 Strike Fighter Squadron 131 ( VFA - 131 ) , also known as the " Wildcats " , is a United States Navy F / A - 18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana . Their radio call sign alternates between " Cat " and " Cougar " and their aircraft tail code is " AG " . Mission . The mission of VFA - 131 is combat readiness as a part of U . S . Atlantic Fleet Carrier Strike Forces , utilizing the F / A - 18 aircraft to project power ashore and at sea , to defend the fleet against air and sea threats and to carry out all other missions which may be assigned by cognizant authority . Squadron Insignia and Nickname . The squadron ’ s insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 26 January 1984 . History . 1980s . VFA - 131 was established at Naval Air Station Lemoore , California , on 2 October 1983 , and trained in the F / A - 18 Hornet under VFA - 125 . The squadron received their first FA - 18A in May 1984 . In January 1985 , the Wildcats moved to Naval Air Station Cecil Field , Florida , becoming the Atlantic Fleet ’ s first FA - 18 squadron . As a part of Carrier Air Wing 13 ( CVW - 13 ) , the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in October 1985 aboard USS Coral Sea ( CV - 43 ) . In March 1986 during Freedom of Navigation exercises in the Gulf of Sidra , the squadron ’ s aircraft flew Combat Air Patrols during which a Libyan SA - 5 Gammon missile was fired against an American aircraft operating in international waters . On 14 – 15 April 1986 , squadron aircraft participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon , along with other units of CVW - 13 and A - 7 Corsair II s from CVW - 1 , providing air - to - surface Shrike and HARM strikes against Libyan surface - to - air missile sites at Benghazi . This was the first use of the F / A - 18 in combat . In October 1988 , the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing 7 and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Dwight D . Eisenhower ( CVN - 69 ) in March 1990 . In August 1990 , they were among the units to respond to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Shield . The " Wildcats " embarked in USS Independence ( CV - 62 ) from 15 August – 8 October 1988 for the carrier ’ s transit from NS Norfolk to its new home port at NAS North Island via Cape Horn . 1990s . In August 1990 while embarked in USS Eisenhower ( CVN - 69 ) , squadron ’ s F / A - 18s flew missions in the Red Sea in support of Operation Desert Shield , the build - up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait . The " Eisenhower " task force was the first U . S . force in position to deter Iraqi incursion into Saudi Arabia . Upon return from deployment in September 1990 , the squadron transitioned to FA - 18C Lot XIII Night Strike Hornets . One year later , the squadron again deployed aboard " Eisenhower " to the Red Sea and North Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm . In May 1994 , the squadron was part of the maiden deployment of USS George Washington ( CVN - 73 ) . They flew sorties in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia - Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over Southern Iraq . In October 1994 , they returned to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Vigilant Warrior , in response to Iraqi aggression . In April 1996 the Wildcats once again deployed aboard " Washington " to the Mediterranean , Adriatic Sea , and the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor and Operation Southern Watch . In February 1998 , the squadron deployed for the “ Around the World ” , maiden deployment of USS John C . Stennis ( CVN - 74 ) , again supporting Operation Southern Watch in Iraq . Upon return to the United States in December 1998 , they relocated from NAS Cecil Field , Florida , to NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach , Virginia . 2000s . On September 11 , 2001 , the squadron was underway aboard USS John F . Kennedy ( CV - 67 ) off the Virginia Capes . Within hours of the attacks , armed Wildcat Hornets were conducting air patrols over the Washington D . C . and New York City as part of Operation Noble Eagle . In February 2002 , the squadron deployed to the North Arabian Sea to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom , flying combat sorties over Afghanistan . From January to July 2004 , VFA - 131 deployed aboard USS George Washington ( CVN - 73 ) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . The squadron last deployed from October 2006 to June 2007 aboard Eisenhower in support of OIF , OEF , and operations in Somalia .