Prince Harry: We need to help soldiers 'reintegrate' into society

OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry has highlighted the importance of helping former soldiers to “reintegrate into society.”
The 32-year-old royal – who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan before leaving the Army – visited Epping Forest on Wednesday (15.03.17) where he met with tree surgeons working to maintain the ancient oak trees.
Whilst on his visit, he met Sam Hobbs, a former Paratrooper who now works as a forest keeper, studying countryside and wildlife management thanks to the work carried out by veteran charity Help for Heroes.
After two tours in Afghanistan with the Parachute regiment, Sam suffered a nerve injury while on exercise in the Falklands in 2012 and had his left leg amputated below the knee.
Speaking about the transition from the forces to civilian life, Prince Harry told Sam: “We have to remember that when you leave the force you have to somehow integrate yourself in society. You need to appreciate you’re not invincible.
“We could do better to prepare people for that. You’ve been looked after by the army for so many years, and you have got to somehow reintegrate yourself in society.”
Sam, 26, then told Prince Harry he hopes to join the next Invictus Games – the sporting event set up by the royal for wounded, sick, or injured armed service personnel – as he’s already perfected an impressive 13 second 100m sprint on a prosthetic leg, and also plays wheelchair basketball.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has previously been very vocal about the importance of mental health in former service men and women.
He said: “Getting back your mental as well as your physical fitness is a really important thing. One of the biggest struggles is accepting that there is a problem in the first place.
“Getting back your mental health, mental wellbeing, your mental fitness is a really important thing. Rather than operating at fifty or sixty per cent you can operate at eighty or ninety percent and be a better person.”

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