National Guard Soldier Justin Boyer (@jgboyer) shipped out to Afghanistan in November 2011 and stayed for a full year. While in Kabul, he was a member of a Brigade Movement Team that drove higher-ranking and non-commissioned officers in armored vehicles to visit Afghan Police Headquarters, coalition bases and Afghan public works projects in the Kabul City District.
Justin shared photos of these trips and his daily life in Afghanistan on Instagram: "While I was overseas, Instagram was a way for me to stay sane," he says. "I could easily communicate what it was like over there to my wife and share my perspective with the world. My brother was in Afghanistan at the same time as me. He was across the country and we never saw each other, but we were able to share our experiences on a daily basis via Instagram." Justin is now back in his hometown of Salt Lake City awaiting to hear if he'll return to Afghanistan. To view more moments from his last deployment and daily life in Salt Lake, follow him on Instagram: @jgboyer. Photo by @caitraeboyer