 Placed in full commission on 17 May 1937 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "Antares" was assigned temporary duty with the Naval Transportation Service (a forerunner of the later Military Sea Transportation Service and the Military Sealift Command), and operated on both east and west coasts.She also operated with the Training Detachment, United States Fleet, and while assigned to this unit participated in Fleet Landing Exercise No.4 in February 1938.