The warship's first exercise in the new year took place between 14 and 22 January 1986 when "Berkeley" conducted a naval gunfire support exercise at San Clemente Island. Then, after a mid-March command inspection and upkeep early in April, she took part in "RimPac 86," an international naval exercise held in Hawaiian waters between 21 May and 12 June. After two more months of local training operations and other preparatory tasks, "Berkeley" got underway for a Far Eastern cruise on 12 August.