Twelve Sailors assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) participated in a beach cleanup community relations project (COMREL) while the ship conducted a routine port visit to Souda Bay, Greece, March 26, 2017.

The project was an effort to clean up Stalos Beach to maintain the natural beauty of the beach but also to ensure a safe natural habitat for the area's sea turtles. Sailors collected and properly disposed of trash, litter and debris from the beach to help preserve the environment.

"Community relations projects are a great way to foster good relationships with the host countries that we visit during our patrols," said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Katriana Esquilin, Porter's COMREL coordinator. "We get the opportunity to coordinate projects that create a significant impact in the way the communities sees us."

The Sailors spent three hours cleaning the beach while learning about the importance the sea turtles have in the region.

"This was my first port visit since reporting to Porter, and it felt good to have already made a difference in the community" said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Esquivel. "It was a nice opportunity to take in the local scenery and help out the locals after being underway."

Lt. Loren Crone, a Navy chaplain assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 60 , also helped coordinate the event. He said it was a success because it allowed Sailors to give back to the community that is like a second home to DESRON 60 Sailors.

"People take care of their homes," said Crone. "Cleaning up the trash on the beaches gave Sailors the opportunity to give Chania something more than economic stimulation. The COMREL gave us a good chance to show we are positive ambassadors and sent a message to the locals that the U.S. Navy isn't about the short-term benefits of their amenities."

In the last year, more than 80 Porter Sailors have volunteered in five separate COMRELs totaling 537 hours.

USS Porter, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. The ship deployed from Naval Station Rota Nov. 30, 2016.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.