Prince Harry may be leaving the army within months, but he's not the only retiring soldier whose future career his father is interested in - 20 Australians are also on the list.
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Thanks to the charitable organisations of Prince Charles and corporate backers, 20 transitioning Defence Force members with a business idea will soon become the first Aussies to get a kick-start in The Prince's Lead Your Own Business program.
One well-known Canberran with a long military connection has jumped on board as a mentor, as his company provides one participant's scholarship.
Glenn Keys, Aspen Medical executive director and new Canberra Business Chamber chairman, who spent 15 years in the Air Force, said there were three key messages he had for aspiring business people interested in the program run through RMIT University.
"In Defence there's a lot of accountability about budgets, but it's never your own money," he said.
"When you are starting up a company every dollar is yours, and how you set the example is important.
"The other one is culture. Defence people understand culture, but they're going to be able to set it up, and they would never have been able to do that before.
"And you've got to make sure it's something that people want to buy."
The course, based on a program put in place by The Prince's Charities in Canada, will involve online learning through the university, an intensive residential week in Melbourne and then 12 months of mentoring by industry experts.
ADF members who are leaving the force or have transitioned up to 24 months ago are eligible to apply. Participants will pay $1,000 with scholarships and other funding help available.
The Prince's Charities Australia has spent about 20 months organising the program and bringing together corporate sponsors.
Chairman Tony Beddinson said he was excited ahead of the May start.
"The program is designed to be practical, hands-on and meet the needs of a diverse range of learning styles," he said.
Participants who complete all units are awarded a Certificate IV in Small Business Management.
The Prince of Wales, the longest-standing heir to the throne in British history, has served as colonel-in-chief to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps since 1977 and also established a successful organic foods business.
Applications for the program close on April 24.
