Prince William undertakes work experience with a RAF Mountain Rescue Team

Prince William today started his second week of work experience with an RAF Mountain Rescue Team based in North Wales. The placement was organised by RAF Valley and has included flight experience in a jet, briefings on combat manoeuvres, helicopter rescue techniques, mountaineering and sea drills. William was keen to get a better understanding of the work of the people who do such extraordinary things every day. Prince William said: “I have really enjoyed my time so far with The Royal Air Force at RAF Valley. My familiarisation with their pilot training activities, the unsung heroes of the search and rescue helicopter crews, and my experience with the Mountain Rescue Team have left me in awe of their dedication and sheer professionalism.” Royal Air Force Valley Commanding Officer, Group Captain Mark Green said: “Prince William seems to have thoroughly enjoyed his first few days at RAF Valley and we were able to successfully complete all aspects of his visit programme. He is a very intelligent person who asked well-considered and detailed questions and was able to take on board the enormous amount of information he was presented with. This has been a very successful first exposure to RAF Valley flying operations, and the RAF in general. Prince William made numerous favourable comments regarding the people and atmosphere at RAF Valley and enjoyed his experiences very much.” Over the past two weeks, Prince William has met members of the Mountain Rescue Team and learned basic rope work and abseiling. Alongside members of the pilot training courses at RAF Valley he took part in demanding sea drills. William also operated a Hawk Weapons and Tactics Simulator and undertook circuit practice in a hawk jet trainer aircraft. He accompanied the Search and Rescue Training Unit which prepared Prince William for the mountain rescue part of his work experience by enabling him to learn the helicopter rescue techniques within the Snowdonia region. Prince William’s mountain rescue work experience has formed part of a wider programme which he has undertaken this autumn, before starting his military career at Sandhurst next year. Over the past three months, William has worked on a country estate to learn more about land management, made a number of visits to the homeless charity Centrepoint, of which he is Patron, started to learn more about the community work of the English Football Association, of which he is President Designate, and spent three weeks in the City working with various financial institutions.