Its mission is: "To safely train to attain and maintain mobilization readiness for immediate employment in event of war or national emergency."

This improved CVWR-20's electronic attack capability, and also marked the first homeporting of U.S. Navy EA-6Bs outside Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

While in Turkey, VAQ-209 aircrew flew 75 combat sorties and over 250 mishap-free flight hours returning to NAF Washington in early May 2000.

In early 2001, the squadron deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PSAB), for Operation Southern Watch (OSW).

Operating out of Bagram Air Base, the squadron executed over 2,000 combat hours of flight time supporting US and ISAF forces on the ground.

Along the way, the Star Warriors moved people and equipment across the country, sent nearly 100 sailors to both coasts on temporary training assignments, and put their aircrew and maintenance personnel through a year-long transition syllabus to learn to fly and maintain the new aircraft.

In June 2014, VAQ-209 officially stood up as an EA-18G Growler squadron, gaining its "Safe-For-Flight" certification, accepting aircraft, and beginning flight operations.

In January 2016, after a year and a half of training and inspections, the Star Warriors made their first operational Growler deployment.

In February, the squadron left the beaches of Guam for the snow of Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.

In addition to gaining exposure to real-world flying conditions on the Korean peninsula, VAQ-209 was able to plan and integrate with USS John C. Stennis (CVN) 74 Carrier Strike Group and its embarked CVW-9, which were on patrol in the Western Pacific.

The squadron returned home safely to their families and most Selective Reservists to their civilian careers in early April.