The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed Rota, Spain to begin her second forward-deployed patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations March 16, 2016 in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Porter will provide ballistic missile defense support as her primary mission and will engage in tactical exercises with NATO allies and partners to reaffirm the United States commitment to strengthen ties and promote peace and stability in the region.

"The entire Porter family has worked extremely hard since November to make this day successful. Our maintenance team, which includes both Spanish and American members, has helped us with numerous repairs and upgrades throughout this inport period. The officers and crew have conducted extensive training to refine skill sets in preparation for whatever awaits, and our families all around the world continually support us with the love and care we need," said Cmdr. Andria L. Slough, commanding officer USS Porter. "It's very honoring and humbling to set sail aboard this ship, and I am privileged to lead FREEDOM'S CHAMPION at sea today."

This is Porter's second Forward Deployed Naval Forces patrol. Porter's maiden patrol was from June 29, 2015 to Nov. 4, 2015 which included time spent in the Black Sea in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, port visits to Varna, Bulgaria in July 2015 for participation in exercise Breeze 2015, a Black Sea event led by Bulgaria which featured assets from Turkey, Romania, Greece and NATO standing groups. Porter also visited Haifa, Israel in Aug. 2015, Vlore, Albania in Sept. 2015, Odesa, Ukraine, Batumi, Georgia and Split, Croatia in Oct. 2015.

Porter, the third of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be forward deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, arrived in Rota in April, 2015.

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.


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