Pigeon departed Orange, Texas, on 2 January 1951 to join Mine Squadron 8 at Charleston, South Carolina. Tactics and Atlantic Fleet exercises took her to Norfolk, Virginia,  and to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
The Pigeon set sail from Orange, Texas, on 2 January 1951 to join Mine Squadron 8 in Charleston, South Carolina. The ship participated in tactics and exercises with the Atlantic Fleet, visiting Norfolk, Virginia; Cuba; Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.