Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq

JJ Pinter graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a field artillery officer. A few short years after 9/11, JJ found himself in Iraq, leading route clearance missions and performing counterbattery fire against persistent insurgent mortar and rocket attacks. In this episode of The Spear , JJ shares lessons learned in combat in Iraq, and recounts his experiences leading troops in fighting fires in Montana as well as performing humanitarian assistance after Hurricane Katrina. He also discusses the importance of physical fitness and the need for veterans to find community after military service ends.

You can listen to Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq is an episode from The Spear by John Amble.

This episode is 00:55:35 long.

This episode was published on Jan 16, 2026.

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