Aboriginal troops may teach Prince Harry some unusual skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

He showed off his playful side on Monday, pulling faces at babies and even got a peck on the cheek from an elderly woman

NORFORCE soldiers use the land as a source of food. Lance-corporal Vinnie Rami searches for mud clams in the mangroves on Astell Island

NORFORCE soldiers use the land as a source of food.Lance-corporal Vinnie Rami searches for mud clams in the mangroves on Astell Island

Lance-corporal Rami hols his F88 Austeyr rifle as he walks through thick bushland during a surveillance and reconnaissance patrol around Astell Island

Lance-corporal Rami hols his F88 Austeyr rifle as he walks through thick bushland during a surveillance and reconnaissance patrol around Astell Island

The prince may also try his hand at spear fishing while he trains with NORFORCE. Here a soldier is holding a guitarfish on Astell Island 

The prince may also try his hand at spear fishing while he trains with NORFORCE.Here a soldier is holding a guitarfish on Astell Island 

Members of NORFORCE re-enact a World War II Nackaroo patrol on Manbuloo station, south of Katherine

Members of NORFORCE re-enact a World War II Nackaroo patrol on Manbuloo station, south of Katherine

NORFORCE soldiers are walking in formation as they perform a surveillance and reconnaissance patrol around Astell Island in the NT

NORFORCE soldiers are walking in formation as they perform a surveillance and reconnaissance patrol around Astell Island in the NT

Patrol Commander Andrew 'Dusty' Miller digs for water amongst spinifex grass on Wigram Island in Arnhem Land in the NT

Patrol Commander Andrew ‘Dusty’ Miller digs for water amongst spinifex grass on Wigram Island in Arnhem Land in the NT

Patrol Commander Andrew 'Dusty' Miller inspects rubbish that has washed up onto rocks on Wigram Island

Patrol Commander Andrew ‘Dusty’ Miller inspects rubbish that has washed up onto rocks on Wigram Island

Prince Harry, known as Captain Wales in the British Army, may get a taste of turtle eggs, which are cooked by NORFORCE as a source of food

Prince Harry, known as Captain Wales in the British Army, may get a taste of turtle eggs, which are cooked by NORFORCE as a source of food

Turtle eggs can be found underneath the sands in nests on Wigram Island, which is part of Arnhem Land in the Top End

Turtle eggs can be found underneath the sands in nests on Wigram Island, fb88 which is part of Arnhem Land in the Top End

Lance-corporal Rami eats a raw turtle egg while he patrols with his unit across the Northern Territory and Western Australia

Lance-corporal Rami eats a raw turtle egg while he patrols with his unit across the Northern Territory and Western Australia

Spear fishing is another way NORFORCE soldiers get food in the often barren land of their 1.8 million patrol square kilometre area

Spear fishing is another way NORFORCE soldiers get food in the often barren land of their 1.8 million patrol square kilometre area

Spears for spear fishing are fashioned out of tree branches and used in the hunting of fish in the waters surrounding Arnhem Land

Spears for spear fishing are fashioned out of tree branches and used in the hunting of fish in the waters surrounding Arnhem Land

Weapon care is also a large part of being a soldier. These two NORFORCE soldiers are cleaning their F88 Austeyr rifles

Weapon care is also a large part of being a soldier.These two NORFORCE soldiers are cleaning their F88 Austeyr rifles

Boats are also utilised by NORFORCE who must patrol waters in the area to make sure they are safe along

Boats are also utilised by NORFORCE who must patrol waters in the area to make sure they are safe along

Here the unit is seen pushing down an inflatable boat on the ramp of a transport vessel leaving Gove - 650 kilometres east of Darwin in the NT

Here the unit is seen pushing down an inflatable boat on the ramp of a transport vessel leaving Gove – 650 kilometres east of Darwin in the NT

The prince may also have to sleep under the stars on the ground of transport vessels while training with NORFORCE

The prince may also have to sleep under the stars on the ground of transport vessels while training with NORFORCE

He is expected to complete his secondment with the Australian army, with units in Darwin, Perth and Sydney

He is expected to complete his secondment with the Australian army, with units in Darwin, Perth and Sydney

An aerial shot of the terrain and area NORFORCE covers during their patrols, which Prince Harry will be part of during his visit to Darwin

An aerial shot of the terrain and area NORFORCE covers during their patrols, which Prince Harry will be part of during his visit to Darwin

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