Following outfitting, the minesweeper put to sea on 28 August – bound for Charleston, S.C. — and, on the 29th, reported for duty with Mine Squadron (MinRon) 4. She remained at Charleston until embarking upon her shakedown cruise on 17 September. The ship conducted that training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and returned to Charleston on 20 October. She served with Mine Division (MinDiv) 45, operating out of Charleston through the end of 1958 and the first six months of 1959. On 1 July 1959, she was transferred to MinDiv 85 as its flagship. "Ability" continued to operate out of Charleston, primarily in support of the Naval Mine Warfare School. She also occasionally provided support services to the Naval Ordnance Laboratory Test Facility located at Port Everglades, Florida, and to the Naval Mine Defense Laboratory at Panama City, Florida. When not engaged in those duties, she conducted independent ship's exercises and type training along the east coast and in the West Indies.