About this episode

JJ Pinter shares his experiences and lessons learned from combat in Iraq and discusses the importance of community and fitness for veterans.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Modern War Institute at West Point

Guest: JJ Pinter

Topics covered

• route clearance
• counterbattery fire
• Iraq combat
• military service
• veteran community
• physical fitness

Keywords

• route clearance
• counterbattery
• Iraq
• military
• veterans
• physical fitness
• humanitarian assistance
• Hurricane Katrina

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: West Point

Places: Iraq, Montana

More episodes of The Spear

• Long-Range Precision Fires and the Fight for the First Island Chain · April 20, 2026 · 46 min
• Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan · March 24, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Ranger Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan · March 10, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Combat Interpreter in Iraq · February 10, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Combat Surgery in Afghanistan · November 19, 2025 · 48 min
• Recovering a Downed Marine in Afghanistan · September 10, 2025 · 1h 21m

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