[citation needed] Regular overhaul was completed mid-1979 with three Western Pacific deployments to follow commencing September 1980, April 1982, and October 1983 respectively.

In March of that year she headed east to conduct training and deployment work ups with the aircraft carrier Ranger and Battle Group Echo.

[4] Ouellet started out 1988 with a special operation coordinated by the United States Coast Guard to capture Christina M, a cargo vessel laden with over 12 tons of marijuana.

[citation needed] Following extensive training, Ouellet made her ninth deployment in mid December 1988,[4] where she headed to the Sea of Japan and the North Pacific Ocean.

On 21 April 1989 USS Ouellet was first US Naval Vessel on scene for security and initial salvage of a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, AF Ser.

[citation needed] After extensive preparations and an exhaustive inspection cycle, Ouellet departed in August 1990 to Central America in support of law enforcement operations.

[citation needed] In search for drug smugglers, the frigate recovered close to 1 ton of pure, unprocessed cocaine, which was jettisoned from an unknown vessel trying to elude authorities.

[7][4] In June 1991, Ouellet participated in three phases of shipboard training for midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy, and "Anti-Submarine Operations 91".

[4] Port calls made during this training period included visits to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Kodiak Island, Alaska.

While en route, she participated in "Pacific ASW Exercise 92",[4] and operated with elements of the Royal Australian Navy in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.