The primary user of the Night Attack F/A-18D is the Marine Corps. 96 examples were ordered for all-weather attack units previously operating the A-6E Intruder, plus one ex-Phantom reconnaissance unit. In addition, the F/A-18D aircraft have replaced OA-4 Skyhawks for fast-jet forward air control and have taken over some of the roles carried out by OV-10A and OV-10D Broncos.

The first Night Attack F/A-18D was delivered to VMA(AW)-121 "Green Knights" on May 11, 1990. This unit previously operated A-6 Intruders, and was redesignated VMFA(AW)-121 upon receipt of the F/A-18D. This unit took part in Operation Desert Storm, carrying out fast forward air control missions in which they sought out small, mobile targets and marked them for destruction by Harriers, Skyhawks, Intruders, Thunderbolt IIs, F-16s and other Hornets.

There is also a reconnaissance version of the two-seat F/A-18D. With the amended designation F/A-18D(RC), some 48 F/A-18D Hornets have their M61A1 cannon replaced by a pallet-mounted electro-optical suite comprising a blister-mounted IR linescan and two roll-stabilized sensor units, all of these units recording onto video tape. A datalink pod can be added to the centerline pylon for instantaneous transmission of data, but the same position can also be used for a Loral AN/UPD-8 side-looking airborne radar. The F/A-18D(RC) can be reconfigured for standard attack operations in only a few hours.