PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Sailors participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii, March 3, while en route for PP18.

The mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will continue through March 5 and see personnel working side-by-side with local medical professionals to promote PP18, conducting routine maintenance, and loading additional supplies onto the ship.

"Our team is excited to welcome more members of the Pacific Partnership mission on board as well as on loading additional mission supplies" said Capt. David Bretz, PP18 mission commander. "After this port call, we will meet up with our partnership USNS Fall River in Guam and be one step closer to our first mission stops."

During PP18, Mercy and Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), U.S. ships participating in PP18, are conducting visits to different Asia-Pacific nations, increasing the reach and scope of PP18 participants and host nation counterparts to conduct technical expertise exchanges in medical, engineering, and HA/DR. Additionally, key leader and community engagement events will allow for direct engagement with local citizens and enhanced relationships with partner nation military and government leadership.

Pacific Partnership, now in its 13th iteration, is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. PP18's objective is to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.

Pacific Partnership 2018 consists of more than 500 U.S. military personnel stationed worldwide, working side-by-side with host nation counterparts to be better prepared for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.