Combat Outpost Murray Troops Discuss Changes In 12 Months
As different groups of soldiers begin to prepare to come home, they are beginning to come to grips with the changes that they have helped create. There have been a great number of positive changes in the overall security in Iraq, and much of it has been done because of the surge, and the increase in troops that accompanied the surge.
Members of the 30th infantry, 1st Battalion arrived in Arab Jabour south of Baghdad about 13 months ago, it was largely filled to the brim with insurgents, and members of Al Qaeda. And the changes were slow to come, but come to the area they have come. “We came here and it was pretty much exclusively Al Qaeda in the area,” said Specialist Eric Strazeri.
It was the difference that the 30th Infantry has made, in addition to other issues. “We had to at times fight our way home from different points around the sector,” said Strazeri.
The fight was not just against the insurgents, it was also winning the trust of the local citizens.
Are you interested in an exciting career in the Military? See if you qualify. Click Here Now!
It took almost a year for the local citizens to begin to trust, but once they did, it has been a lot smoother for everyone involved. As the local citizens trusted, so did the government and Iraqi Security forces, it was almost like everything came together all at once.