GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Training Support Activity Europe has added a new level of realism to its medical training aids. The Tactical Combat Casualty Care Exportable kit, also known as the TC3X, provides Soldiers with the ability to train in individual Warrior Skills level 1 and collective training focused toward preventable death.
The TC3X is not your typical box of dummies. The kits contains two full-body mannequins for tasks such as IVs and CPR; two upper-body trainers that focus on specific airway tasks such as clearing the airway of foreign objects; two upper- and two lower-body trainers that concentrate on traumatic amputations; a moulage kit with a finely detailed gunshot wound and open fractures; and a portable bleeding kit.
"The biggest advantage is that it's field-hardened," said David Darnall, Soldier Training Program manager, TSAE. He added that in the past, TSAE could often only simulate with mannequins and the equipment was restricted to the classroom.
With the help of a wireless capability, the devices can be controlled from a distance of up to a hundred feet.
"We're able to remove the instructor from the scenario, and the scenario becomes more objective than subjective. The remotes allow for our instructors to force the operator to interact with the patient whereas before, they had to interact with both the patient and the instructor, which actually added distraction," said John Hayden, medical subject matter expert for U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulations, Training and Instrumentation.
Hayden, a retired special forces medic, said that the TC3X kits adds a level of realism to training that wasn't there before.
"Just 10 years ago, we were using tethered mannequins; we have moved exponentially forward from what we had then to what we have now," said Hayden. "Soldier medical training was based on what you did to your battle buddy. We realized, during combat, that Soldiers were applying tourniquets the way they did on their buddies, and many injured Soldiers would end up bleeding out and dying.
The new kits will force Soldiers to apply the right techniques and also, give Soldiers immediate feedback.
"The system is easy to operate and involves realistic functions such as simulated movement and bleeding out of various orifices," said Spc. Gary Tran, assigned to Charlie Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. "We can incorporate this equipment into our field exercises and mandatory Warrior Skills training."
The 2nd Cav. Regt. will be the first unit to use the new kits for its upcoming training exercise.
"The medics have always been the source of medial training in a unit, but we've never provided them the tools in order to execute the training to the standard it needs to be executed," said Hayden. "We now have the tools. Now, the commander has the opportunity to assess his Soldier's ability to save each other's lives."
The kits are available to units across U.S. Army Europe. For more information on the TC3X kits, contact your local Training Support Center or visit: www.eur.army.mil/7ATC/TSAE.html
Related Links:
Training Support Activity Euroope
U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation
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