- The Prince served in Afghanistan previously during 2007/08
The 26-year-old Apache helicopter pilot’s first tour of duty was cut short in 2008 and it is understood he is keen to return to the country.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman would not confirm or deny the report, saying: “We cannot comment on the deployment of individual service personnel.”
And Clarence House has also declined to comment on the story, which appeared in The Sun and The Daily Mirror.
A spokesman 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, a British Army captain, served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan as a forward air controller in 2007-08, directing jets dropping bombs on Taliban positions in Helmand province.
But his tour of duty was abruptly ended when foreign websites broke a media blackout on reporting details of the then 23-year-old’s service.
It was feared at the time that his continuing presence would have increased the chances of attacks on the troops around him.
- The Prince is a qualified pilot of Apache helicopters
The Chief of Defence Staff at the time, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said any future deployments by the Prince would depend on ensuring there was no additional risk to fellow military personnel.
The Prince was quoted in 2008 saying he wanted to go back to Afghanistan “very, very soon”.
Known on base as Captain Wales, he is currently undergoing “conversion to role” training at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk after qualifying as an Apache pilot.
He will be assigned to a squadron upon completion of this course in seven months and is expected to be based at the flying station for four years.
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.“I count myself very, very lucky to have the chance to fly helicopters and even luckier to have the chance to fly the Apache. It’s a fantastic piece of kit, it’s like flying a robot.”
Source : Sky News
