Prince Harry is Coming to America

Prince Harry -- Capt. Harry Wales, to his mates -- is coming to the U.S. Southwest this week to begin a two-month series of training exercises for British attack helicopter pilots.
The Apache crews will train at Naval Air Facility El Centro in California, about 90 miles east of San Diego, officials said.
The prince, 27, also will be training at the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field in southern Arizona.
It's part of a two-month series of maneuvers dubbed Exercise Crimson Eagle, in which British fliers will practice with the Apaches in terrain similar to southern Afghanistan, where some British troops are currently based.
Officials stress that Harry is coming as a serviceman, not as a potential heir to the throne.
"We are treating him like any other O3 (junior grade officer)," said Kristopher Haugh, deputy public affairs officer at the El Centro facility.
Still, it's possible that the prince, like others who train in the area, may frequent area clubs, restaurants, theaters or bowling alleys.
The El Centro Chamber of Commerce has asked businesses and restaurants to treat Harry with respect and safeguard his privacy.
The prince may also be drawn to outdoor diversions. According to Cathy Kennerson, chief executive officer of the Chamber, the area is known for off-roading, hiking, birdwatching and the Salton Sea, also in the agriculture-rich Imperial Valley.
Residents of the city of 42,000 will take the visit in stride, Kennerson said. "They just want to put their best foot forward."


Prince Henry of Wales, as he is formally known, will be deploying to the deserts of California this week where he will perform an intensive eight-week Apache helicopter program called Crimson Eagle at NAF El Centro in Southern California’s Imperial Valley. During his stay in the U.S. desert the young prince will have an opportunity to fire a live missile for the first time, ABC7 reported.
“When he arrives in America is learn how to use their awesome arsenal of weapons. So I’m sure Prince Harry is very excited about blowing the hell out of some hillsides,” said Duncan Larcombe, ABC News’ royal contributor said.
The prince, who is known as “Captain Wales” in his unit, will then head to the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field in Arizona. Eventually Harry will join an Apache unit back home in Britain.
Prince Harry entered the military in May of 2005 and within three years was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 2007 he was held back from his infantry’s regiment to the front line in Afghanistan, as he was considered a high value target. In 2008 Harry revealed that he wished to fly military helicopters.
The Prince recently made headlines when he was photographed jumping fully clothed into a Croatian nightclub’s swimming pool. Those training on similar duty as the Harry traditionally take a half term trip to Las Vegas — we’ll just have to wait and see how “Captain Wales” lets loose.