Fort Sill BCT Soldiers learn combat care hands on

FORT SILL, Okla. (Feb. 4, 2016) -- Some of the first things Basic Combat Training Soldiers learn are how to use weapons and to work as a team in a tactical environment, as well as how to render first aid under fire.

The 201 Soldiers of F Battery, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery did all this their first week of training when they learned Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Jan. 27-29, at the 1st Lt. Frederick Henry Medical Training Lanes (MTL) Complex here.

"I want them to understand they have the capacity to save lives," said Capt. James Hayes, F/1-79th FA commander. With their training and implementation of first aid, combat deaths can be greatly reduced.

TCCC is a new system of combat first aid in BCT that emphasizes hands-on training, said Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Stephen Hanington, F/1-79th FA.

He said TCCC replaced Combat Lifesavers (CLS) training in BCT, because CLS didn't focus as much on field training.

"We would certify them in CLS, but it was mostly classroom exercises," said Hanington, "They would get to their first unit and not remember the training or how to apply it."

Combat care training was revamped resulting in TCCC, and it is about 90 percent hands on, Hanington said.

"It seems to work a lot better. We've been noticing Soldiers have more success when they actually get hands-on training."

Hanington said he takes medical training seriously having seen his battle buddies get wounded in combat, and this message is conveyed to the new Soldiers.

On Day 1, the Soldiers learned that eliminating the enemy is the first priority in a tactical environment. After that, then Soldiers can administer first aid to their wounded battle buddies.

"Heavy bleeding from extremities is the only thing you would treat in care-under-fire, then you would get the Soldier somewhere safer where you could provide further care," Hanington said.

Also on the first day, Soldiers learned what items, including a tourniquet, were in their individual first aid kits and their uses, Hanington said.

Day 2 was spent on more advanced tactical field care.

"It focused on applying pressure dressings, chest wounds, packing a wound, treating for shock," Hanington said.

That day's training alco covered medical evacuation procedures of the wounded from the battlefield.

Day 3 culminated with a situational training exercise (STX) where the Soldiers used everything they learned the previous two days.

During the STX, squads of Soldiers on patrol encountered simulated machine gun fire and had to suppress the enemy fire.They then rendered first aid to a "wounded" Soldier. The casualty then had to be transported through the brush on a litter.

The squad swept the area and led Soldiers carrying the litter. Soldiers had to call in a 9-line medical evacuation with such information as their location, how the pick-up site would be marked, and the urgency of the evacuation. Furthering the training's realism, the landing zone had to be secured for the helicopter. Throughout the exercise drill sergeants evaluated the Soldiers' actions.

Trainee Pfc. Tyler Pierson, 18, of McMinnville, Ore., said he gained much medical knowledge from the training.

"It's a lot of good, useful information that I'm sure I'll use," said Pierson, who is in the Washington (state) Army National Guard.

About 70 percent of the battery's trainees are made up of National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers, said 1st Lt. Keith Franklin, F/1-79th FA executive officer.

Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Tyra, MTL noncommissioned officer in charge, assisted with the TCCC working with the trainees and drill sergeants. He said the drill sergeants were doing an outstanding job.

Hanington said it was important for the Soldiers to get the team building and first aid training early in BCT.

"It's something that they will apply in later training events, especially the field training exercise (FTX)," he said.

The FTX is the final cumulative training event in BCT before the Soldiers of F/1-79th FA graduate in late March.

Drill Sgt. (Staff Sgt.) Michelle Jackson, F/1-79th FA, was one of about six drill sergeants instructing and evaluating the Soldiers at the MTL.

"They're working great together," she said during the situational training exercise. "They understand the material and they're doing a wonderful job."