HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Instructors from the 66th Medical Squadron here are now offering Tactical Combat Casualty Care Courses for all active duty, guard, and reserve service members at Hanscom as well as geographically separated units.
The TCCC was developed by the Defense Health Agency as a one-time training to ensure all branches of service receive the same baseline curriculum of evidence-based, life-saving techniques and strategies for providing care on the battlefield.
“When you’re serving overseas or in a joint environment, it’s good to know that everyone has a similar foundation of training, regardless of which branch we serve in,” said Tech. Sgt. Derek Medlenka, 66 MDS unit training manager.
The course material focuses on five life-saving skills: rapid casualty assessments, tourniquet applications, hemostatic dressings, pressure dressings, and airway maneuvers.
Medlenka has taught the class to military members here since August, and said 66 MDS offers the course in four separate tiers depending on the students’ professions.
Tier one is standard self-aid buddy care for all career fields. Tier two is aimed at medics beyond Public Health and Dental technicians, and tiers three and four are aimed at medical technicians, providers, and combat paramedics.
“Each tier is more involved than the last based on what would be applicable for the member while they’re serving downrange,” he said.
TCCC is a mandatory training that takes the place of Self-Aid Buddy Care. The training would only need to be repeated if it is not within a year of a tasked deployment or for certain assignment locations.
Classes are now being scheduled for January.
For additional information, or to be scheduled for an upcoming class, email Medlenka at derek.a.medlenka.mil@mail.mil or Tech. Sgt. William D. Trimble at william.trimble7.mil@mail.mil.