Prince Harry Deployed to Afghanistan (VIDEO)
Prince Harry has left for Afghanistan. The royal arrived at his military camp Thursday night.
Harry is set to serve fourth months as an Apache helicopter pilot, and participate in combat missions against the Taliban.
As many of us have been made aware, Harry spent his vacation in Vegas; and when you’re a royal, what happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas.
After his infamous naked billiards game and subsequent photo leaks, Harry went under fire for his boyish antics. He’s now back with his unit.
The 27-year-old had previously been deployed to Afghanistan in late 2007, but his deployment lasted for only 10 weeks after it was made public.
“Prince Harry, like any soldier, considers it a great honor to represent his country in her majesty’s armed forces wherever it chooses to deploy him,” said St James’s Palace in a statement.
In March 2011, Harry spoke with CBS News about his eagerness to return to combat. ”I’ve served my country. I enjoyed it because I was with my friends. And, you know, everyone has a part to play,” he said.
“You can’t train people and then not put them into the role they need to play,” the royal insisted. “For me personally, as I said, I want to serve my country. I’ve done it once, and I’m still in the Army, I feel as though I should get the opportunity to do it again.
Before leaving for Afghanistan, Harry said goodbye to his immediate family at a private estate in Scotland, Balmoral, and made a stop at Prince Wiliam’s Kensington Palace.
Harry will be part of the Apache’s two-man crew, acting as the co-pilot and gunner on the Apache helicopter. He is the first member of the royal family to serve in a war zone since his uncle Prince Andrew served in Falklands war in 1982.
Prince Harry gave a thumbs up after arriving on Friday in Britain’s Camp Bastian near the southern Afghan town of Lashkar Gah. He will be celebrating his 28th birthday next Saturday at the same camp.
