Author: Mark Anderson

I have always had great respect for combat medics. They not only support the mission but also watch over their teammates and must remain steady and focused during the worst of times. A good medic, typically referred to as “Doc,” is protected better than all of the gold in Ft. Knox. And guys like Jason Cunningham are proof of the greatest sacrifice a medic can make.

Recently, I was invited to take a TCCC course with the guys at Tactical Medics Group (www.tacmedgroup.com). So my photographer and I decided to make the 19 hour drive to check it out. The journey itself was enough to write about. However, we managed to make it to the course on time. The course was held at the Brazoria County Fire Fighting Field so there were plenty of places to run scenarios. Of course, it isn’t a medical course unless you have some death by PowerPoint. However, the classrooms had plenty space and the instructors kept the interest up. It was really the first time I didn’t feel like falling into a PowerPoint coma.

Nate, the lead instructor had a strong presence and had no problems keeping the class engaged while keeping his Marine Corps non politically correct qualities at bay. That itself made for a great time. Then entered Jared, the Army’s contribution to our TCCC course, as a former medic with the 75th Ranger Regiment, he also brought a wealth of combat experience to the course. Kenny was the backbone of the course. Without his mad computer skills all could have been lost. There wasn’t too much sarcasm in that last statement was there? Kenny, also from the Army Special Operations world, was a wealth of knowledge as well and a good sport I might add. Shawn with his background in SWAT and a decked out police issue Charger and finally Andrew great sense of humor and background as an Army Combat Medic rounded out the group. I was impressed by how well such an extremely diverse group of alphas personalities could work so well together.

Not only does Tactical Medics Group teach courses but they also develop various IFAK kits available for purchase. They even have the Ambidextrous Tourniquet Attachment Kydex (ATAK), a great device for carrying a tourniquet on your gear. Every student was given one to use during the course. To be honest, I would have bet that it would have come out. But it never did. You can check them out here at www.AtakTQholder.com. I’m still not 100% convinced but I am impressed and appreciated the fact that they asked for honest feedback and ideas so that they can improve on it.

Tactical Medics Group was started in 2012 by Terry Moore, a veteran of the Australian military with backgrounds in tactical medicine and personal security details with a resume longer than this article. Although, he was overseas on a contract, we spent some time talking about the course. It was easy to tell that Terry has a strong focus on offering the best training possible to his students. And he takes it extremely personally if his instructors are not at the top of their game. To this end Terry will only hire good instructors with strong field experience, which is an extremely rare combination. We all know that there is always room for improvement and Terry doesn’t seem like one to ignore that fact. I was impressed that after seeing some of the pictures from the course he noticed areas that could use improvement.

So what is TCCC anyway?

In just the last decade new guidelines for combat casualty care have dramatically increased the survival rate of those injured and debunked decades of what was thought to be sound medicine.

Until 2005 when USSOCOM changed their approach to combat medicine, the military had not made any major changes to their approach to combat casualty care since WWI. These changes came about from a paper complied in 1996 and put to the test by Pararescue units in 1997. Soon after some heavy hitters like the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Council of Trauma (COT), and the National Association of Emergency Medicine (NAEMT) indorsed the new guidelines that we now know as Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).

Today TCCC has gained a lot of support state side and has given way to Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) for law enforcement and the EMS practitioner. Both courses have proven to be invaluable in high threat environments.

What’s different about TCCC?

In order to support the mission TCCC is broken up into three phases. These phases focus on offering the best medicine possible at the right time in a hostile environment. Timing is everything. Trying to start an IV while in the open under direct fire is pointless and suicidal at best. The best medicine at the wrong time will increase injuries and risk the success of the mission. So let’s take a look at the phases:

Care Under Fire – When a soldier is injured under fire, the focus and mission momentum must be maintained. This means that if possible the injured soldier must be able to provide some level of self-aid. So your kit needs to be where you can reach it from either hand. Self aid may include moving to better cover so that others can get to you to stop any major bleeding or being able to apply your own tourniquet. Massive bleeding is the main concern during the Care Under Fire phase.

Tactical Field Care – Once the soldier is out of direct fire then basic life support (BLS) begins. Once major bleeding is controlled then basic airway management takes over along with continued patient assessment including any other basic interventions. If evacuation is delayed then Advance Life Support (ALS) may begin. Keep in mind that the concept here is just because you have it doesn’t mean you have to use it. If you can maintain an open airway manually using a jaw thrust maneuver then do you really need to intubate? If evacuation is delayed you may want to consider moving to intubation if needed, but if evacuation is nearby then you may be able to wait. Just remember you have to carry it to use it. So how much do you really need to carry?

TACEVAC – This phase is more in line with EMS protocols for transporting to definitive care. ALS interventions can be preformed, drugs administered, chest tubes inserted, and wounds reassessed. All of the gadgets we get to play with on our bus. Of course in this case we are more likely to be in a bucket of bolts so ugly that the earth repels it. Others simply refer to it as a helicopter.

On the surface, is seems like common sense. However, under the stress of combat many mistakes have been made without this basic foundation. Now don’t get me wrong there is a lot more to it, and of course part of it was breaking the habits that I had already formed as an EMT. However, it seemed like the ALS students had a harder go of it since they are used to going straight to the ALS tool box.

What about using tourniquets?

Another returning star to the stage of combat medicine is the tourniquet. Tourniquets have been shunned for decades due to various misconceptions. The emerging procedure is doing what is takes to control massive bleeding. If that means you drop a knee on the femoral artery of a soldier with a massive leg wound while applying a tourniquet or two side by side then using direct pressure and a pressure dressing to control the bleeding then so be it. Tourniquets have proven to not only save lives but the limbs as well. Studies of combat medicine have shown that no one has died or lost a limb from a properly placed and monitored tourniquet.

How does the TCCC training bring everything together?

Scenarios, lots of scenarios. We spent well over half of the day running scenarios filled with smoke, blood, sirens, and screaming actors; including a patient who looked like he was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. Guess who ended up with him. Many of us realized very quickly that if we didn’t stay focused we fell right back into our bad habits.

As with most technology and emerging concepts over the course of history, the battle field has been the proving ground that has influenced much of what we do in civilian life. I have no doubt that more and more law enforcement agencies will continue to pick up this training through the TCCC’s counterpart TECC (Tactical Emergency Casualty Care). However, even more pressing is the importance of the first responder during active shootings, terrorist attacks, and high paced natural disasters to act in a similar manner so that more lives may be saved. This is where the TECC course shines. The TECC course takes all of the same concepts from the TCCC course but puts in a law enforcement/first responder environment.

Be sure to visit www.TacMedGroup.com for more information and while you’re at it sign up for a course already. Seriously stop reading this article and go…

The US Army has issued a request for information (RfI) for a future tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and ‘next generation’ unmanned aircraft (UA) command system.

A solicitation posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website on 14 March calls for information from industry on a Group II/III/IV UAS, with a Milestone B decision to formally initiate the programme slated for fiscal year 2023 (FY 2023).

According to the solicitation, “The purpose of this RfI is to obtain information on industry’s ability to provide a Group II/III/IV UAS which can deliver unmatched performance, and is organic to manoeuvre in aviation brigade formations.

There are a number of different Tactical Armor options available to those working in high-risk situations, and the usual advice reserved for those considering it is to understand the different levels of protection available and the different models available. However, for Operators working in extremely dangerous environments, who have already been trained to the highest degree, they will not need any advice on their body armor. Indeed, we can learn a thing or two by looking at what exactly they use.

Tactical vests differ from ‘normal’ bullet proof vests in that they are often bigger, bulkier, and with a great deal more protective capabilities. The size and weight of a Tactical vest is the main barrier to an ordinary user, and is why these vests are recommended only for those who truly need them.

However, the increase in size and weight that comes with Tactical vests is negligible, and manufacturers are increasingly looking at new materials and design sin an effort to provide Operators with exceptionally comfortable protection.

Another important difference between ‘normal’ Armor and Tactical Armor is the design. SWAT Teams, for example, are unique in their need for Tactical Armor. The vests that these teams will wear are usually augmented with protection for most of the body, and soft protection will be added to the vest for the neck, throat, upper arm, and groin for example.

These additions are important for SWAT Teams, who are expected to face extreme threats swiftly and decisively, usually in close quarters. The slight impediment to mobility that this extra protection brings is negligible as SWAT Teams are expected to deal with situations quickly, and will not face the extended operational times that the Navy SEALs do, for example.

The Navy SEALs are another interesting example of Tactical Armor users, as they are expected to deal with extreme threats, but have a more pressing need for mobility and adaptability. In that vein, their armor is relatively bare, often consisting only of the vest and a ballistic helmet. However, the vests they usually use are unique for being longer than a typical bullet resistant vest, often coming further down the torso. This is to ensure that they have protection against wounds that, while not fatal, could be difficult to treat behind enemy lines.

Similarly, the SAS require adaptability and as such also forgo the additional protection used by SWAT Teams and the Military in general. Their vests also come in a longer style, and are being upgraded with quick release systems that enable them to quickly shed their vest if necessary. Furthermore, weight distribution systems help keep their vests comfortable for long periods.

The most common aspects of all these Tactical Vests is that they can be easily augmented with pouches, pockets, and carriers for equipment. These allows these Operators to use a vest as more than just protection, and allows the vest to facilitate their work in any situation. Moreover, an increase in the use of lightweight and breathable materials makes these vest all the lighter, making them more comfortable for these people working in dangerous environments.

Bad is such a universally used word.  Bad can mean either ends of the spectrum or even everything in-between.  Rangers, DELTA and SEALs are bad, meaning they are the best of the best bad asses; or it can be used as in Justin Bieber is bad.  Or as in this case it can mean great, as in Bad in Bad Company Tactical (BCT)!  A great company with new innovative products that many people have not heard about…. Yet!  Their new product line, that I think many people will be talking about, is the BCT Rapid Retention System or R2S for short.  Have you ever had trouble finding a holster to fit your weapon with a light, laser or suppressor attached?  How about a right vs left handed carry?  This may have just become a thing of the past!  Almost any attachment (within reason) will not interfere with the operation of the R2S and it’s fully ambidextrous.  The system is versatile enough to be used with most of today’s tactical pistols, rifles and many other instruments of the trade.  Using this system, changing out your kit to fit the your tactical situation at hand or rearranging kit placement, will only take seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-D3–NOR5M

Let’s first take a look at the system and see what makes it so innovative.  The R2S is a two part system, consisting of a base plate (made of Delrin) and adapters (made of 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum).  The adapter’s triangle-ish shape helps guide the adapter slide into the baseplate in only one direction until the retention system is engaged.  The adapter will also not be able to rotate within the base plate and will keep the item in the correct orientation to be drawn.  The base plate comes in a standard or slim design and they are extremely rugged and durable.  It integrates the stable platform base with the removable level 2 locking mechanism tested to 150 lbs pull weight.  Threaded hole patterns on the base plate allow it to be attached to a mounting plate or using Blade Tech, Molle or Tactical Tailor clips to mount the base plate in the vertical, horizontal or angled positions.  It can be mounted in a vehicle, to a belt, vest, backpack; or with zip ties, to almost anywhere it can be secured down.  The base plate can also utilize 3 types of removable trigger guards: the fitted, universal, or universal fitted as an extra safety feature for use with pistols. For the other half of the system there are several different types of adapters for the different configurations including two new adapters that are just ready for sale now.  The Universal adapter, Pistol adapter, rifle adapters, and utility adapters can all utilize the same baseplates but are uniquely made to fit how the retention items will be held to the baseplate.

The Universal adapter can be used on almost any picatinny rail system to attach to the base plate.  Used on a top or bottom rail, the Universal adapter would mount the attached item in that axis and is very unconventional for retention, but for those few configurations and places it provides an amazing solution to the unique problem.  The Universal adapter is mostly used with Machine pistols, M320 40mm grenade launchers, an SBR, etc.  Basically if it has a side picatinny rail, you can holster to it to the left or right side!  While the R2S Universal can be used almost anywhere on any picatinny rail system, a pistols rail would cause the attachment at a weird angle and most rifle rails are so far forward that only an SBR would be practical, so there are other adapters to better position both pistols and rifles.

The Rifle adapter is for rifles longer than the SBR lengths, attaches onto the top rail and extends to either the right or the left.  These are the new adapters that are just coming out on the market.  It gives the longer rifles the ability to be holstered to your side or on a pack in an accessible position.  It comes in two standoff widths to accommodate accessories or load outs.  The dovetail is designed to withstand a maximum load of 200 lbs.  Mounted to the top rail, they allow the rifle to stand off to the side in the ready position, with the rifle’s center of gravity below the attachment point.  Bringing the rifle back to the ready position is fast and feels well balanced and controlled.

The Pistol adapter mounts on the bottom rail and brings the holstering point to either the right or left hand side.  You can adjust the adapter so that there is a good position height for your hand to rest on the pistol’s grips and have your thumb on the release mechanism.  The adapter seems to be in the way, but while using the system you quickly find it a handy resting place for your weak hand’s thumb rest. If you’re worried about losing real estate for your laser or flashlight, you are able to add a rail to the bottom of the adapter for those items!  The system also removes the need for multiple holsters for your pistol based on accessories installed.  Being creative, the Pistol adapter could be used in a vehicle or even a convenient covert under desk mount that locks in place or with the retention system removed. At the beginning of this article I used the term innovative.  In explaining what makes up the system, I’ve touched a bit on why I think it’s so innovative, but think about this for a moment: you would like your kit and loadout to always be specific for the mission you’re conducting, but changing from mission to mission would be next to impossible….. but not so much if you are utilizing the Rapid Retention System.  Think about it like this: your belt, drop leg, tactical vest and/or plate carrier, field pack, and vehicle mounts all have the baseplates for the equipment loadouts that would change.  You can change your kit from holding magazines, first aid, search & rescue pouches, universal keys, radios and/or weapons to any configuration to fit your immediate needs or mission.  Your kit can be switched out or your load changed to a new position as fast as you can clip them in.  Now that is innovative!

The Rapid Retention System has been used by private contractors and is currently being evaluated by SWAT.  This system is very innovative and it’s uses are only limited by your imagination on how it can be utilized for your varying missions.  For those whose lives rely on their equipment, you can rely on the company with leading edge tactical equipment. …. and you can be all kinds of bad….  Bad Company Tactical R2S.