The second in line to the British throne started his training to be a pilot for the RAF Search and Rescue Force (SARF) today. This will be a chance for Prince William to not only fulfill every young man’s dream, but also get close to military action as possible. 
“The time I spent with the RAF [in 2008] made me realize how much I love flying,” he said in September.
“Joining search and rescue is a perfect opportunity for me to serve in the forces operationally, while contributing to a vital part of the country’s emergency services.”
William was an officer in the army but it was deemed too dangerous to send him to Afghanistan with his unit last year. A new path opened up after he spent four months with the Royal Air Force, and decided to transfer.
The 26-year-old will learn to fly Sea King helicopters in treacherous conditions to rescue stranded sailors or mountaineers in trouble.
The Prince will train for about three years before becoming fully qualified as a pilot. He will then be stationed around Great Britain on its military posts.
His new commanding officers warned the prince will not get preferential treatment during the training course.
“We put them under a lot of pressure and expect a lot of them,” said Group Captain David Prowse, station commander of RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, central England, where the prince will do most of his training.
“Because after all, once they leave they could find themselves low level, at night, in a Sea King, in bad weather trying to get somebody to hospital or trying to get them off the hills.”
The RAF search and rescue force operates 24 hours a day in Britain, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. Its main role is to recover RAF personnel but in peacetime it mostly responds to civilian incidents — 1,000 a year on average.
By committing nearly three years in the military, some royal watchers wonder if this would effect Prince William’s relationship with Kate Middleton, whom he had been dating for nearly six years. Its likely their romance would not be hurt, as the Prince will be free on weekends. He also could still marry Ms. Middleton, and the two could live on the military posts, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
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