Captain Harry Wales has finished his four-week military exchange with the Australian Defence Force.
Captain Wales exercises with Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers posted to the 2nd Commando Regiment during his Army secondment.
Prince Harry completed the final two weeks of his Australian Army attachment. The Prince had the the chance to train with soldiers of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Perth and the 2nd Commando Regiment in Sydney following his visit with The Prince of Wales to mark the Centenary of Anzac in Gallipoli, Turkey.
Harry participated in various exercises including the gruelling SASR selection course. During his time in Perth, he joined SASR members in Perth for live fire shooting exercises that offered him the chance to try various Special Forces weapons at an assortment of ranges. Prince Harry also completed an insertion training exercise using a rigid hull inflatable boat.
Prince Harry climbs a ladder during a water insertion with Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers.
In Sydney this week, Harry undertook urban operations training with the 2nd Commando Regiment. Training activities included remotely detonating an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and repelling from a building.
He also was able to spend time flying over Sydney as co-pilot of an Army Black Hawk and participated in counter-terrorism training on Sydney Harbour with Royal Australian Navy clearance divers.
Harry uses a military working dog during a Counter Terrorism exercise with 2 Commando Regiment.
Harry spent his first two weeks with the Australian Army with the North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) and the 1st Brigade. He participated in flight simulation training, ahead of out engaging in reconnaissances flights with members of the 1st Aviation Regiment.
A champion for supporting wounded and injured soldiers, Harry met with some of the Army’s wounded and injured service men. Always keen for a game, he joined a game of wheelchair AFL (Australian Football League) with soldiers from the Soldier Recovery Centre and the 1st Brigade.
During his time on duty with NORFOCE, Harry met locals from the Wuggubun community. Whilst at Wuggubun, Captain Wales spent time speaking with elders and children of the indigenous community.
After a briefing on NORFORCE’s operations, Harry went through a quick programme on bush survival lessons that included ways to source food and water. Following the survival lessons, he then joined a patrol with members of NORFORCE and spent two nights camping in the remote Kununurra region.
On his final day in Sydney, Harry Prince visited the Sydney Opera House to meet with those gathered to wish him well.
He then went on and visited Macquarie University Clinic and met a British soldier who lost both his legs while on duty in the Middle East.
Harry was met by leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis. Dr Ali has performed the surgery to allow Lieutenant Ali Spearing to get back on his feet following the explosion in Afghanistan.
Harry commented that he was in talks to bring the doctor to help amputees in the UK.
In an interview with the Australian magazine, Woman’s Weekly, Prince Harry commented on his time is the Land of Oz has said ‘I don’t want to go home’.
Prince Harry begins his tour of New Zealand on 9 May. His tour will begin in the capital of Wellington upon being formally welcomed by the Governor-General at Government House.
Photo Credits: © Australian Defence Image Library and © Commonwealth of Australia 2015
