Prince Harry could join Britain’s fight against the Islamic State in the Middle East as a helicopter pilot.
The country is considering deploying eight Apaches to fight ISIS, also known as ISIL, after the helicopters were withdrawn from Afghanistan.
“The Prince, who for the last year has had a desk job in Whitehall arranging ceremonial events and the Invictus Games, remains qualifed as an Apache pilot,” reported the Express.
“He is due for promotion from captain to major next year and is known to want to return to active service.”
The possibility of the prince returning to duty, following his first tour being cut short in 2008 when his presence was leaked to the public, gets even higher when considering the shortage of pilots among the Army Air Corps.
And his superiors have been impressed with his skill as a pilot, with his commander, Lt Col Tom de la Rue, saying the prince had “reached the pinnacle of excellence as a pilot” after a training course.
Also, some sources close to Harry say he would like to go back to serving at the front.
“He was shaken to pieces by what he witnessed and it wouldn’t be going too far to say he went out a boy and came home a man. In many ways it is his identity and his raison d'etre. He’s a career soldier first and foremost,” said one military friend.
“He wouldn’t hesitate to return to a war zone. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t. If the circumstances are right then he will.”
A senior defense source confirmed over the weekend that the possibility of deploying the Apache helicopters to Iraw has been put before Army chiefs, “although there is caution around such a move because of a desire to avoid allegations of ’mission creep.'”
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