Crafted by Valor

Destigmatizing Veteran Mental Health

about

Matt Hastings retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Blackhawk helicopter Instructor Pilot, Master Aviator, and Chief Pilot for the 1^st Combat Aviation Brigade in the 1^st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley Kansas.

Matt began service in a rare selection to Warrant Officer from the civilian population and attendance to flight school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He served in Korea, Ft. Campbell, KY, Germany, Sweden, and Ft. Riley, KS.

Hastings career placed him in service for three combat tours in Iraq and ultimately resulting in the following awards and decorations:

Iraq Campaign Medal – Five Campaign Stars
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2^nd Award)
Air Medal w/ Valor Device
Air Medal (6^th Award)
Valorous Unit Award (2^nd Award)
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Army Overseas Service Ribbon (5^th Award)
Combat Action Badge
Master Aviator Badge

Hastings holds a B.S. in Psychology and an Masters in Organizational Leadership. His future plans include pursuing his relentless advocacy for veterans and service members.

Category: Uncategorized

Stuck Continued

October 23, 2025

It’s extremely hard for me to pin down just one traumatic event that led me to act and feel the way I have for the last dozen years. But when I really sat with the idea of a “stuck point,” one moment jumped out at me. A nighttime training mission, early in my first deployment…
Where I Got Stuck

October 22, 2025

Where I Got “Stuck” I am many years past my damn breakdown—the one that made my secret public. A secret so deep I swore I would never tell. Now people know. I was in the “I’m so surprised” club. Pretty good-sized population in that club. I guess I had really been an excellent actor, a…
Legacy Table

October 16, 2025

Just In Case There is really no simple reason to assume I was supposed to be currently alive. The world has thrown everything in its arsenal at me, trying to put me down. Each occurrence should easily have done the trick, but for some reason, cruel or eloquent, I reach the point where I have…
From Black Hawk Pilot to Healing Warrior: My Journey Through Mental Health and Purpose

October 15, 2025

Can anyone identify with being a young person, going through the paces of school, sports, and all the social things required to be a young person? I don’t know about others, but I was not able to decide just what the hell I wanted out of life, especially how I wanted to spend my life…
Matt Hastings: From Chief Warrant Officer to Veteran Advocate

October 15, 2025

Matt Hastings retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Blackhawk helicopter Instructor Pilot, Master Aviator, and Chief Pilot for the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade in the 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley Kansas. Matt began service in a rare selection to Warrant Officer from the civilian population and attendance to flight school at Ft. Rucker,…