Confederation Authorized Volunteer Armed Long Range Yeomanry: Organization
Combat Medic Specialist Training Program
The Combat Medic Specialist Training Program (CMSTP) is the largest medical training program in the U.S. Army, training up to 6,000 students per year. It is the second largest military occupational specialty (MOS) in the Army second only to the Infantry.
The CMSTP is designed with team-paced instruction. This 16-week program trains the 68W Combat Medic Specialist in foundational skills necessary to become an effective Combat Medic Specialist on the battlefield. The student begins training as an Emergency Medical Technician to include Basic Life Support (BLS), emergency medical care and evacuation, minor acute care, inpatient and outpatient care, and basic force health protection. The student then receives extensive Field Craft training with special emphasis on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) during the “Whiskey Phase” of the course. Students are trained in limited primary care, medical care for patients exposed to weapons of mass destruction, (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear - CBRN), deployable medical systems, aircraft and ground evacuation, and casualty triage and processing. The program culminates with a rigorous Field Training Exercise (FTX) using realistic combat scenarios to validate what the students have learned through practical, real-world applications.
The 16 week program consists of classroom lectures, blended on-line learning, team-building exercises, hands-on demonstrations and extensive psychomotor skills testing. Practical exercises and written examinations are used to assess accumulation and retention of knowledge and skills.
Ten platoon corpsmen are typically assigned to Marine Corps infantry companies during combat operations. The most senior of these is assigned to the company headquarters, while the rest are distributed among the company’s three platoons. Each platoon has three 12-man squads, with a corpsman assigned to each squad.9
Corpsmen may accompany patrols comprising a smaller number of men, but for this study the full strength of the squad was used as the population at risk. NHRC statisticians studying casualty rates in Iraq determined that a Marine Corps infantry platoon could expect a 25% casualty rate (or a total of 3 wounded) over a 1-week period (J. Zouris, oral communication, Jan. 2006). These casualties would run the gamut from very minor wounds to major injuries. However, for the study, 3 major multi-injury PCs were chosen from the DMSB Treatment Briefs (see Table 2). These three were chosen because they provided a good representation of the type of wounds (amputations, penetrating trauma, vascular injuries) seen in the Navy–Marine Corps Combat Trauma Registry data from OIF 2 (Figure 2).
PLATOON COMBAT MEDIC
7-6. Combat medics are assigned to the medical platoon and are tasked to support the Infantry battalion. Combat medics are allocated to the Infantry companies on the basis of one combat medic per platoon, and one senior combat medic per company. The location of the combat medic is of extreme importance for rapid medical treatment of casualties.
7-7. The company senior combat medic collocates with the company trains. When a casualty occurs, the CLS renders first aid, or first aid is provided through self-aid or buddy aid. The platoon combat medic or the company senior combat medic goes to the casualty’s location, or the casualty is brought to the combat medic at the CCP. The CCP combat medic makes his assessment, administers initial medical care, initiates a DD Form 1380, U.S. Field Medical Card (see Figure 7-1) then requests evacuation or returns the individual to duty.
7-8. The Infantry platoon combat medic usually locates with, or near, the platoon sergeant. When the platoon moves on foot in the platoon column formation, the combat medic positions himself near the platoon sergeant. If the platoon is mounted, the combat medic usually rides in the same vehicle as the platoon sergeant. Emergency medical treatment (EMT) procedures performed by the combat medic may include opening an airway, starting intravenous (IV) fluids, providing ORAL IV, controlling hemorrhage, preventing or treating for shock, splinting fractures or suspected fractures, and providing relief for pain.
7-9. The Infantry platoon combat medic is trained under the supervision of the battalion surgeon or physician’s assistant and medical platoon leader. The platoon combat medic is responsible for─
Triaging injured, wounded, or ill friendly and enemy personnel for priority of treatment.
Conducting sick call screening.
Assisting in the evacuation of sick, injured, or wounded personnel under the direction of the platoon sergeant.
Assisting in the training of the platoon’s combat lifesavers in enhanced first-aid procedures.
Requisitioning Class VIII supplies from the battalion aid station (BAS) for the platoon according to the tactical SOP.
Recommending locations for platoon casualty collection point.
Providing guidance to the platoon’s combat lifesavers as required.
1. A full squadron will need a doctor, or in our case, the squadron surgeon.
2. Ten medics, one per thirty personnel; the spare one(s) assist the surgeon.
3. The Marines borrow Navy personnel, so the Medical branch is going to be large.
4. Like the junior commissioned and non commissioned officers, Corpsmen could be seconded to obtain experience.
5. Or, you could create a medical branch in the CAVALRY.
