 Safety and proficiency milestones were set again in May 1990, as the squadron advanced the Navy's Tactical Aviation Safety Record to 16 years and over 70,000 mishap-free hours.In June 1990, the squadron once again sailed to the Western Pacific, aboard "Independence".Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, USS "Independence" was ordered to the Gulf of Oman, becoming the first aircraft carrier on station.