[1] In December 1957, after shakedown cruise, Lester arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, just before Christmas, reporting for duty to Escort Squadron 14.

On 17 February, she steamed from Savannah, Georgia, to rescue the survivors of the sunken Italian oreship Bonitoz, and then returned to Newport.

When the fleet acted in Lebanon and averted world crisis in July, Lester played an important role in barrier patrol and other duties supporting the operations.

For the next three months, she participated in three anti-submarine warfare exercises with Task Group Charlie, a force of ASW professionals which had the vital mission of improving convoy tactics and doctrines.

The cruise was intended to implement hemisphere defenses and provide practical experience for the four maritime nations of eastern South America.

During September and October, the ship steamed to northern Europe to take part in NATO fall convoy exercises, after which she returned to Newport to prepare for the 1961 operation "Springboard."

After a brief operation in the North Atlantic, Lester overhauled at Boston from September to 20 November, then cruised to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training.

These included a joint United States-Canadian ASW operation in May and another in September following her assignment to newly formed Escort Squadron 8.

She served as Sonar School Ship, Key West, Florida, prior to refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, through April.