Prince Harry arrives in Afghanistan

• Tweet

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan Friday for a four-month tour as an Apache attack-helicopter pilot, military officials said.

The arrival marks the prince's first trip to Afghanistan since he was abruptly sent home 11 days into his 2007-08 tour after U.S. media reported on his location, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported. He was pulled from duty because military officials believed knowledge of his location would put his comrades at greater risk.

Captain Wales, as he is known in the Army, will fly a two-man helicopter and operate its weapons to kill insurgents, officials said. In a helicopter, he is at no greater risk than any other pilot and his base at Camp Bastion is virtually impossible to attack, the Telegraph said.

Harry is expected to undergo 10 days of further training and acclimatization before he goes out on operations, the Telegraph reported.

"He is very proud to be given the opportunity to serve his country in the job for which he has been trained. He is going through the same range of emotions as any soldier before deployment; pride and anticipation," a spokesman for the prince said.

"His commander's assessment is that he is fully ready and trained. He will be treated exactly the same as any other pilot while he is there."