Upon her return to the United States, the warship began preparations for her regular overhaul. She entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 28 November and remained there until late February 1969. When post-overhaul trials ended on 15 March, the ship resumed normal operations out of Long Beach. During April and May, she participated in a 1st Fleet combined ASW/AAW exercise as a part of her refresher training. She completed those operations during the latter half of May; and, after a. brief availability alongside , she embarked NROTC midshipmen on 5 June for the two-month 1969 summer training cruise. At the end of the cruise, "Turner Joy" debarked the midshipmen on 1 August and resumed training in the southern California operating area.