William in RAF till 2013?

[gec]

http://www.royalanecdotes.com/2010/03/10/prince-william-in-raf-until-2013/

Above is a link to Royal Anecdotes and an article about William.

What is interesting is that the blog author received a reply from Headquarters Air Command, Royal Air Force in Buckinghamshire regarding the "phasing out" of the Sea King helicopters.

Prince William hopes to qualify as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in summer 2010. Once qualified, the Prince will become a full-time RAF Search and Rescue pilot. The normal tour length for a Search and Rescue pilot is 30-36 months, which would take Prince William to late 2012 or 2013.

Make of it what you will.

[Lindelle]

So when will there be time for a wedding?

[wannabe]

This summer?

[Lila the Flirt]

Too soon. There has to be a what? 5 month preparation perhaps after the public announcement? Nah. Kate might have to wait a while

[wannabe]

Yeah, it may be like QEII and PP, November 2010, that would give you the 5 month preparation.

[tarotnewbie]

oh wedding
next week
hahhahahahahahhahahahahahahah ah

[wannabe]

Whatever makes them happy.

[Countess of Highgrove]

They could easily do the preparations behind the scenes and announce after the elections. It's not like they have to worry about the church or reception hall being booked. I read something a while back that said it could be a very short engagement anyway for security reasons,which kinda makes sense. They could announce in the spring and have a late summer or early fall wedding. I think alot may depend on William's training schedule.

[Jenee]

When William first joined the RAF, we knew it was going to be a many-year commitment. This isn't really anything new!

[wannabe]

^True, perhaps John wants to remind royal watchers about the issue plus the private purchase of the SARF.  And he does pose a good question - Will Prince William bale out, stick with it, or go halfway through the RAF/SARF once privatization is completed, partially taken, etc. and make a change of life course? It makes a good subject for us to speculate will he or won't he  

Prince William to join RAF Search and Rescue

14th September 2008

Prince William is to train to become a full-time pilot with the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue Force (SARF). The Prince, who learned to fly earlier this year with the Royal Air Force (RAF), will build on the training he has already received to become an operational Sea King pilot.

The Prince will begin his 18 month training course with the RAF in January 2009 and, if successful on the course, would become a fully operational Search and Rescue pilot in 2010 with one of the six UK-based RAF SARF flights. Once operational, a typical tour for a pilot in the SARF is 30 to 36 months.

Read more, Prince of Wales site, Press release link dated September 14, 2008 http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/prince_william_to_join_raf_search_and_rescue_1291894627.html

[Jenee]

Right, so 18 months of training, plus 30-36 months of service = 4-4.5 years, which began on Jan 2009. Meaning, the earliest he'd leave the RAF would be in 2013.

Thanks for finding that information wannabe.

[wannabe]

18+36 = 54/12 = 4.5 = January 2009 to December 2012 (30) or June 2013 (36).  I think he will complete at least the minimum required operational tour to counter the expense of training, only if something major happens to one of the senior royals for him to have to quit. 

[Lucy]

Gobsmacking! A Royal groom married in a RAF uniform......what a novelty that shall be!!!!!!!!!!
I think the main reason they will marry during his service is to give themselves a modicum of privacy before he is a full time slave to his Royal position.


 

[wannabe]

full time slave to his Royal position

 

[sandy]

As I said the military work could end abruptly if 1) his father and/or grandmother are incapacitated and he's needed to take up the slack or 2) there is a serious terrorist threat directed at him--of course they would recall him then and not risk the heir's life.

[tarotnewbie]

why does he have to lave after 36 months
he may choose to stay on forever until he is second in line
which isn't a bad idea me thinks

[Jenee]

Good point tarotnewbie. If William really likes the RAF, he may choose to make a career of it. The military is pretty much the only real job the royals can hold.

[tarotnewbie]

thanks Jenee

I am trying to make sense of why they put an end date on his military career when he doesnt really need to have one yet
it would seem

[Stix Chix]

Will Prince William bale out, stick with it, or go halfway through the RAF/SARF once privatization is completed, partially taken, etc. and make a change of life course?

if he wants to have a military career for longer then 3 years (and i think he does) he could retrain as something else.  i'm not so sure that those in the palace who want him to get started as a full time royal would be very keen on it though.  but that didn't stop him last time.

[tarotnewbie]

exactly
i think he will push it as long as he can
and good for him
but i do think it would have no bearing on marriage for him one way or another