From a Soldier's eyes: Infantryman sees improvement, perseverance key to success

Photo By Spc. William Hatton | Spc. Jason Minter, an infantryman with 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, provides security while his team searches a shop for possible insurgents in a northern Baghdad neighborhood, Feb. 17. Minter, a native of Lake Bay, Wash., has been in Iraq for eight months.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.20.2007

Story by Spc. William Hatton 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Pfc. William Hatton
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Undesirable experiences happen throughout Iraq, but for Spc. Jason Minter, an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, not every day is horrible.

"Life here has definitely been a different experience," Minter said, a native of Lake Bay, Wash. "Life is actually all right, for the most part. Yeah, bad things have happened around me, but for the most part, life is okay here."

Upon arriving in Baghdad, Minter's unit hit the ground running, but had help with their first essential steps, Minter said.

"When we first got here, we were able to go out with units that had been here for the last year and learn the basics of how things were in Iraq," Minter said. "This was really helpful."

Mission after mission, eight months passed with good and bad experiences, everything becoming more and more of a learning opportunity, Minter said.

"Over time, our mission changed from being less of going in and taking out a bad guy with force, to doing courtesy searches in neighborhoods where we try to be less forceful to the residents," Minter said. "We still occasionally patrol streets and make a more forceful impression, but we are trying to leave a better impression with the people here in Iraq."

Another big change is the aid of Iraqi security forces, Minter said.

"Almost all missions we go on seem to have Iraqi Army troops leading the way," he said. Interacting with local Iraqi residents has helped Minter see the world through their eyes, he said.

"We deal with people here on a daily basis," Minter said. "Most people here are just trying to live their lives. We have a job to do, and most people know that. I try to encourage people to go about their daily business. We try to be less of a picture in their life."

In time, Minter said, things will become better in Iraq.

"It's just going to take a lot of hard work and perseverance."

• Date Taken: 02.20.2007
• Date Posted: 02.20.2007 15:00
• Story ID: 9190
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ