Saturday, 9 July 2011

Prince Harry likely to return to active frontline service in Afghanistan | UK news

The Ministry of Defence would not comment on the reports but the 26-year-old prince, who recently qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot, is believed to be keen to go back to the country.

An MoD spokesman said: "We cannot comment on the deployment of individual service personnel."

Clarence House said the prince's redeployment was a matter for the army. It said: "Harry is an army pilot and will deploy wherever the army chooses to send him. His course finishes in 2012 and after that his deployment will be a matter for the army chain of command."

The prince served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan as a forward air controller in 2007-08, directing jets bombing Taliban positions in Helmand province.

His tour of duty was cut short when foreign websites broke a media blackout on reporting details of his service. Then 23, he was withdrawn from the country after the news broke over fears that his presence would increase the chances of attacks on his fellow troops.

The prince is currently undergoing "conversion to role" training at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk after qualifying as an Apache pilot.

Upon completion of the course in seven months' time, he will be assigned to a squadron. He is expected to be based at Wattisham for four years.

The Sun said that defence chiefs and the Queen have given the go-ahead for Harry to return to the frontline. It said a final decision – to be kept secret – will be made early next year.

It quoted a royal source: "Assuming Harry is successful, the preliminary decision for him to return to frontline duties is now a go."

Asked in March what his aim was after he qualified as an Apache pilot, the prince said: "My goal is to serve my country like everybody else in the British forces."

He added that his new role would very probably take him back to the frontline in combat zones.

 

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