USAG HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 524th Military Intelligence Battalion, trained to provide basic combat medical care during tier-one Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training at the Vandal Training Complex, April 26 – 28, 2021.
In line with the Army’s readiness priority, participants train in a COVID-19 environment to ensure they have the casualty care skills to assist if needed.
“It is important that the Soldiers learn these skills because they can take this knowledge with them wherever they go in the world, and use it to save lives both in combat and non-combat situations,” said Capt. Rex Hecht, commander, HHD.
The training was broken down into three days, the first day, the company’s noncommissioned officers were given TCCC refresher training and instructed on how to present the course to the lower enlisted troops as a train-the-trainer session. The following two days, the NCOs assisted by medical simulation training center (MSTC) personnel provided classroom instruction in the mornings. They conducted the practical portion of the training in the afternoon for the company’s private to specialist population.
The TCCC training was designed to train Soldiers and medical personnel on the current best practices for medical treatment in a combat environment from the point of injury to evacuation to a higher-level medical treatment facility. The course uses the acronym MARCH (massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation, head injury/hypothermia) to help personnel in the training remember the proper order of treatment.
Pfc. Alexandria Wilson, a human resource specialist, said she has already been through the combat lifesaver (CLS) course, but felt like she learned a lot from the training she received during TCCC.
“I’m in a military intelligence unit, so we aren’t getting infantry training every day,” said Wilson, “so it’s helpful to know that as support MOS’s (Military Occupational Specialties), we are still able to save lives and care for our battle-buddies downrange.”
Wilson said she enjoyed the TCCC training because it allows her to step outside her MOS and learn new things in a hands-on setting.
Retired career medic and MSTC instructor, Rellie Lorenzo, was one of the staff from Vandal Training Complex who provided instruction to the NCOs and was on-site during the junior Soldiers’ training. He provided oversight and answer additional questions.
“TCCC is a good introduction to medical training like the CLS course,” said Lorenzo. “I’m happy that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are embracing the course.”
Lorenzo invited everyone to visit the website at https://deployedmedicine.com/, to view the training modules and see what is offered. He expressed, that the course isn’t just old PowerPoint presentations; there are new videos to keep the audience engaged.
“Everyone needs TCCC because (traumatic injuries) can happen in garrison and in combat, and sometimes Soldiers aren’t ready for CLS, so, it’s like a softball pitch for first aid to help build up their confidence,” said Lorenzo. “TCCC can also help plant the seed for Soldiers wanting to learn more in classes like the week-long CLS course. It’s a good sample of what they can expect in a more in-depth course.”
Lorenzo concluded, “Everyone understands that we have to be ready to fight tonight, and there’s no other way around that.”
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