POCATELLO — Justin Hillary has traveled from the mountains of Afghanistan to the Himalayas, from the heat of Alabama to the frozen landscapes where soldiers endure "endless hours of cold."

But after 17 years in the Army, he's found an unexpected home in Pocatello.

Hillary, who completed his military service in February after enlisting in 2008, has spent the last seven years in East Idaho. This Veterans Day, his connection to the community was on display — he designed the flyer for Pocatello's Veterans Day Parade.

"I've been here for seven years," Hillary said. "In December it will be eight years. I enjoy it."

Born in Tampa, Florida, and raised in Guyana until his senior year of high school, Hillary moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia, before joining the Army. His service took him across the United States and around the world — from training bases in Atlanta, Alabama and Oklahoma to deployments in Afghanistan and Germany, with time spent in the Himalayas.

For Hillary, the places he went mattered far less than the people he served alongside. The relationships he formed with fellow soldiers — forged in firefights and frigid conditions—remain the most valuable part of his 17 years in uniform.

"We have to embrace the same things," Hillary said. "Whether it's a firefight or endless hours of cold we had to embrace it and deal with it."

Those shared hardships created bonds that Hillary describes as lifelong. It's the kind of connection that can only come from facing adversity together, from relying on one another when it matters most.

Now, Hillary is channeling the discipline and skills he learned in the Army into civilian life. He works for a biomedical company and substitute teaches in local schools. But he's not done learning — or planning.

"I have a master's degree, and I'm thinking about going to law school," Hillary said.

The military's educational benefits made that master's degree possible, along with providing healthcare and other support that has helped smooth his transition to civilian life. For Hillary, those tangible benefits are just as important as the intangible ones when he talks to young people considering military service.

Hillary doesn't romanticize military life when people ask him about enlisting. He's blunt about the challenges — the difficulty, the discomfort and the sacrifices required.

"It's going to suck but it's still worth it in the end," Hillary said.

But he always circles back to why it matters: the relationships that last a lifetime, the education and healthcare benefits, the sense of purpose that comes from serving something larger than yourself.

"Do it," Hillary said. "It's totally worth it."

As Hillary looks toward a potential legal career, he carries with him the lessons learned from nearly two decades in the Army — lessons about perseverance, brotherhood and embracing whatever challenges come your way. From firefights in Afghanistan to law school applications in Idaho, Hillary has learned to adapt.

And after traveling the world, he's chosen to put down roots in Pocatello, contributing to the community that's become home — one Veterans Day parade flyer at a time.