Prince Harry will get a glimpse into how soldiers in North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) use ancient Aboriginal skills to patrol the unpredictable north-west coast of Australia.
NORFORCE’s area of operations is about 1.8 million square km and covers the Northern Territory and the north of Western Australia.
Harry, who is fourth-in-line to the throne, is Down Under to complete a month-long secondment with the Australian army as part of his military training.
NORFORCE patrols the area to be on the look-out for illegal foreign fishing vessels and drug smugglers as well as people smugglers from neighbouring Indonesia.
Photographs of the unit’s soldiers reveal Harry will be sleeping under the stars as well as completing drills in the darkness of night.
Possible activities he will engage in include lighting fires, digging for water amongst spinifex grass, eating and cooking turtle eggs, spear fishing and looking for mud clams among mangroves.
Aboriginal reservists make up a large proportion of the NORFORCE’s 600-strong unit, and are well-versed on the terrain and the food the land can provide.
Fish, shellfish, turtle eggs and even insects supplement rations are eaten during the patrol.
On Monday, Prince Harry touched down at 8.30am and made his way through throngs of people who were hoping to catch a glimpse of the red-headed prince in Canberra.
He will be travelling to Darwin in the Northern Territory, Sydney in New South Wales and Perth in Western Australia.
The ‘People’s Prince’ showed off his playful side as he greeted thousands who were lined up behind barricades on Monday.
He made faces at babies and even got a peck on the cheek from a elderly lady.
But what drew the Prince’s attention the most was Ethan Toscan, 12, from Bruce – a suburb north of Canberra.
In a show of solidarity, Ethan – who shares the same hair colour as the British royal – made a sign that read: ‘Red Heads Rule!’
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Prince Harry has arrived in Australia to complete a month-long secondment with the army, which will include time with the North West Mobile Force
The British royal will tackle the unique terrain the 1.8 million square km that NORFORCE covers in the Northern Territory and the northern region of Western Australia
Here soldiers of NORFORCE are patrolling the area in inflatable boats, along the island of Cotton Island in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory
The purpose of NORFORCE is to prevent illegal foreign fishing vessels and drug smugglers as well as people smugglers from neighbouring Indonesia
Aboriginal reservists make up a large proportion of the NORFORCE’s 600-strong unit, and are well-versed on the terrain and the food the land can provide
Prince Harry arrived at 8.30am on Monday and was created by thousands of people who braved the rain in Canberra to catch a glimpse of him
He was the centre of attention in Canberra and was dressed in the British white tropical uniform.Prince Harry is known as Captain Wales
He paid a visit to Canberra’s Australian War Memorial where he placed a poppy at the Roll of Honour as well as laying a wreath
He showed off his playful side on Monday, pulling faces at babies and even got a peck on the cheek from an elderly woman
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