CBS/AP/ February 8, 2012, 4:12 PM

Prince Harry qualifies as Apache helicopter pilot

Prince Harry salutes Chelsea Pensioners as he attends the Founder's Day Parade on June 9, 2011, in London.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Prince Harry has qualified as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, graduating as the best co-pilot gunner in his class after 18 months of training, Britain's defense ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said the prize recognizes the student whose performance is the best among their peer group.

Pictures: Prince Harry

Harry, known in the military as Capt. Wales, was awarded his prize Wednesday. He's third in line to the British throne.

The 27-year-old prince, who trained in California, southern Arizona and in Britain, will now fly Apaches on exercises in the U.K.

In December, a British newspaper said Harry had acknowledged he will be deployed to Afghanistan for a second time. He briefly served there in 2007. The defense ministry has declined to confirm details of the prince's future deployments.