UK`s Prince Harry leaves job as helicopter pilot, takes new army role

USPA News - Britain`s Prince Harry, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, has left his job as an Apache helicopter pilot, officials said on Friday. He will now return to London to take on the position of a staff officer to help co-ordinate events involving the British military.

Kensington Palace said Harry, who is known in the military as Captain Harry Wales, had completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps which is part of the 16 Air Assault Brigade`s Attack Helicopter Force. Harry qualified himself as an Apache Aircraft Commander in the summer of last year. "Captain Wales has reached the pinnacle of flying excellence as an Apache pilot, particularly in Afghanistan and, in the process, has proved to be a real inspiration to the many Army Air Corps officers and soldiers who have come to know him so well over the last two years," said Lieutenant Colonel Tom de la Rue, who commanded Prince Harry in the Army Air Corps. The Ministry of Defense said Harry will now return to the British capital where he will take up the position of Staff Officer grade 3 (SO3) in Defense Engagement to help co-ordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the army in London. He will retain the rank of captain and will be based at Horse Guards in central London. Fourth in line to the British throne, Harry spent three-and-a-half years in training and operational service with the Apache helicopter force during his attachment to Army Air Corps. He also undertook an operational tour of Afghanistan as an Apache pilot between September 2012 and January 2013, where he worked as part of the Joint Aviation Group which provides helicopter support to NATO and Afghan forces. In July last year, Harry qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander after passing with "flying colors" a grueling six-hour flying assessment that took him across the United Kingdom. He had conducted several months of training before carrying out the flying assessment, which placed him at the very top of the profession. During the course of the assessment, Harry was required to plan and deliver a comprehensive set of patrol orders, navigate throughout, fly in controlled airspace and conduct a simulated low level attack onto RAF Spadeadam as well as deal with diversions and simulated aircraft emergencies.