Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

U.S. Air Force Capt. Amber Gibbons, 17th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron officer in charge of the student clinic, examines a prop prescription bottle while assessing a patient during the final exercise of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course at the Mathis Fitness Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 7, 2021. During the exercise, candy was used to imitate the combat pill pack, which allowed the medics to administer the needed ‘medication’ based on simulated injuries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deven Schultz)

Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

Participants drag a mannequin back to a designated safety zone during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course training simulation behind the Airman and Family Readiness Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 7, 2021. The TCCC course was designed to focus on medical training in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf)

Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

A Tactical Combat Casualty Care course participant applies a pressure dressing to a simulated arm injury during the final training exercise at the Mathis Fitness Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 7, 2021. During the exercise, individuals opened combat medical supplies and administered imitation medications, enabling them to provide the care needed for simulated injuries. (U.S. Air Force photo Senior Airman Deven Schultz)

Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

U.S. Air Force Maj. Iveth Galvez Guzman, 17th Medical Group flight commander of military medicine, shouts out simulated injuries located on a mannequin to Tactical Combat Casualty Care course participants behind the Airman and Family Readiness Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 7, 2021. During the course, participants had to react quickly to simulated injuries explained by instructors or play the role of victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf)

Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Salinas, 17th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, holds a pre-brief with teammates before entering the final exercise at the Mathis Fitness Center during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 7, 2021. Defenders participated in hands-on exercises to assist in tactical movements and reinforce the ability to work with different unit members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf)

Goodfellow partners with 14th MDG to administer TCCC

Published Feb. 22, 2021
By Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf
17th Training Wing Public Affairs

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

Goodfellow Airmen joined with members of the 14th Medical Group from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, to complete the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course here, Feb. 7.

The TCCC course is being implemented across the Department of Defense providing military members with combat medical skills to avoid preventable deaths and rapidly treat injuries on the battlefield.

The 17th MDG partnered with the 14th MDG to administer the TCCC course they are utilizing at Columbus Air Force Base.

“This course is important because it allows us to train on the same platform across the DoD,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Kelly, 14th MDG chief nurse. “This way, when we deploy, we will all be able to work together utilizing the same medical framework and avoid unnecessary casualties.”

During TCCC course training, students underwent a rigorous combat medic course curriculum. The training included 14 hours of instruction and hands on combat medical skills with the assistance of animal meat to replicate wounds. Students were trained on tourniquet application, needle decompression, airway surgery, rapid assessment and many other combat life-saving medical skills throughout the course.

The course culminated in a final battlefield scenario to test the student’s skills. 17th Security Forces Squadron members and medics worked as a team to extricate casualties from the battlefield, then rapidly assessed, treated, medically stabilized and evacuated patients in a mock tactical environment.

“We realize we don’t deploy by ourselves as medical professionals and we should learn to train as a team with other agencies,” said Kelly. “Because of this, we took the opportunity to learn the tactical movements and communication tools necessary to accomplish the mission from our defenders.”

During the final battlefield exercise, instructors applied many techniques to simulate a deployed environment as much as possible. Members were dressed to play the role of victims with imitation wounds, speakers blared the sound of gunfire, and a fog machine added to the mayhem by creating artificial smoke.

“We try to simulate as much chaos as we can,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Stobaugh, 14th MDG noncommissioned officer in charge of medical maintenance. “When you get downrange, it can be very chaotic. The more we can simulate that environment during training on base, the more muscle memory individuals will have when they need it.”