Prince Harry emphasizes need to better apply veterans’ skills during roundtable with service members

WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� urged communities to better apply service members’ skills when they return to the workforce during an intimate gathering with U.S. veterans Wednesday night.

鈥淭he world needs more heroes,鈥� he told the roundtable. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not about creating more heroes because they already live among us. It鈥檚 about being able to really value their expertise, their experiences.鈥�

The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, hinted that he鈥檇 soon launch a 鈥渃ommercial鈥� solution that 鈥渞eally values those who served rather than expect them to volunteer.鈥�

He held the discussion with veterans, defense officials, military spouses and nonprofit leaders at a hotel ballroom in Washington, D.C. The conversation 鈥� which was organized by The Independence Fund, a nonprofit that helps critically wounded service members 鈥� lasted more than 80 minutes.

Veterans鈥� services and mental health have become cornerstones of Harry and his wife Meghan鈥檚 philanthropy through their Archewell Foundation. The Duke of Sussex founded the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style international competition for wounded service members, in 2014. His advocacy also includes visits with wounded military personnel, like last year鈥檚 stop at a

Harry鈥檚 British military service included two tours in Afghanistan. He has witnessing fellow soldiers鈥� battlefield injuries with inspiring him to help injured veterans lead healthy lives. In a 2023 Netflix series, he about lacking the necessary emotional support upon his return from combat.

Harry told the roundtable that it has been refreshing to hear the latest generation of veterans express an interest in 鈥減urpose” and 鈥渟ervice after service鈥� 鈥�- no matter their branch or country of service. He extolled their communication skills, moral leadership and ability to work in high stress environments.

But, he said in an interview with The Associated Press, that those skills are 鈥渘ot being transitioned over within the civilian world.”

In between jokes about each other鈥檚 hair and their alma maters, wounded veterans emphasized the importance of exercise in their rehabilitation. Garrett J. Carnes, a retired marine corporal who lost both legs, said inactivity is difficult when they鈥檝e spent so long priding themselves on their physical fitness. 鈥淚 give all glory to Jesus Christ,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut man I am so thankful that he invented Jiu-Jitsu.鈥�

Others highlighted the need to improve the quality of veterans鈥� health centers in smaller towns and bolster mental health services at overworked Veterans Affairs offices.

Jason Wheeler, a U.S. Navy and Army veteran, said it’s 鈥渘ot right鈥� that he was unable to get his military benefits to cover a recent surgery. Sitting in a wheelchair, he teared up as he recalled the 鈥渉umiliating鈥� time he had to crawl off a commercial airplane with his service dog.

He was told he would never walk again, he said, but has since walked over 1,000 feet.

鈥淚 will not stop the fight. I will not quit,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have it in us.鈥�

Harry鈥檚 earlier stops Wednesday included Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He did not mention reports of for an extended stay with Meghan and their children. He declined to comment when asked to discuss the move.

Sarah Verardo, the CEO of The Independence Fund, noted Harry鈥檚 impact on the patients at Walter Reed. A few veterans who told Harry they were too injured to participate in his Invictus Games left their interactions standing 鈥渢aller and stronger鈥� after he told them there鈥檚鈥渘o such thing,鈥� according to Verardo.

Jane Horton, a senior defense adviser in the Trump administration and Gold Star wife, appreciated that Harry is using his platform to unite veterans.

鈥淭o see someone that has turned pain into purpose in such a beautiful way such as Prince Harry 鈥� not only turn pain into purpose, but pain into service 鈥� resonated with the whole community and means a lot to us all,鈥� she told AP.

In an interview with AP, Harry spoke more broadly about the need to elevate 鈥渕oral leadership.鈥� He expressed concern that a 鈥渧ery, very small group of people are making decisions that are impacting the entire world鈥� around politics and technology.

鈥淲hat we need,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s the younger generation coming into leadership who perhaps see the world slightly differently. And I think a little less testosterone might do as well.鈥�

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