VFA-303 Strike Fighter Squadron 303 Golden Hawks, based at NAS Lemoore, was the first Reserve squadron to fly the F/A-18. VFA-303 transitioned from having only a Combat Mobilization Readiness role to having the additional mission of Fleet Adversary Contributory Support. VFA-303 was the first RESFORON to qualify all its pilots as adversary instructors. The squadron received the Noel Davis Trophy for combat mobilization excellence, while also providing adversary services to Air Force, Air National Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy units.

The squadron was established as Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED THREE (VA-303) on 1 July 1970. It was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED THREE (VFA-303) on 1 January 1984, and was disestablished on 31 December 1994.

On 1 July 1970 VA-303, a reserve squadron, was established as part of a reorganization of the reserves intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force. In April 1971 VA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the A-7A Corsair II. In November 1975 the squadron deployed aboard Ranger (CV 61) for the annual active duty training and as part of CVWR-30’s tactical air mobilization test and the operational readiness exercise/inspection to ensure the squadron was seaworthy and combat ready.

On 19 October 1985 VFA-303 was the first reserve squadron to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. From 25 September through 20 November 1990 a detachment of the squadron’s F/A-18 Hornets and personnel, along with VFA-305, joined CVW-11 aboard Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for her transit from Norfolk to Alameda, via Cape Horn. In November 1990 a detachment of squadron aircraft and personnel deployed to NWC China Lake in direct support of Operation Desert Shield. Provided critical real world electronic warfare test and evaluation missions requiring aircraft fully functional with electronic warfare, Harm missile and electronic countermeasure suites.

In early 1993 the squadron added the roles of Adversary and Fleet Support to its primary mission.