It does not appear Matt was in the military.
Matt became a triathlete and rock climber at 15. He continued competition as an endurance athlete, and started teaching primitive skills at the Boulder (Utah) Outdoor Survival School and guiding llama packing trips. Then, he became an outdoor instructor at the Anasazi Outdoor Program, a therapy project for at-risk youth.
Matt competes as a world-class master of the atlatl (defined as a stick used by Eskimos and early American Indians to propel a spear or dart), and recently defeated the world champion in seven straight matches. He is skilled in long-bow hunting, and in brain-tanning hides for clothing. Additionally, he has studied Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu Kung Fu and Jeet Kune Do.