Tactical Combat Casualty Care — Combat Lifesaver
Combat lifesaver skills for the non-medic role.
Tier 2 TCCC course covering tactical trauma assessment, advanced bleeding control, airway and respiratory management, and full MARCH PAWS interventions for non-medical service members.
Course Overview
TCCC-CLS is the Tier 2 course in the TCCC ladder, building on ASM with a much deeper hands-on skill set for the non-medical first responder. Across 40 hours, students learn the complete MARCH PAWS sequence and practice it against scenario-driven Tactical Trauma Assessments. The course covers junctional hemorrhage control, NPA airway management, BVM ventilation, needle chest decompression, chest seals, hypothermia management, the Combat Wound Medication Pack, evacuation reporting (9-Line, MIST), and DD Form 1380 documentation. The course concludes with a culminating scenario assessment and a CoTCCC-aligned multiple-choice exam, qualifying students at TCCC basic proficiency. The skills are still considered safe and effective for performance by trained non-medical personnel.
Who It's For
Military service members assigned a collateral medical responsibility (e.g. squad/team Combat Lifesaver). Active duty, reserve, and federal personnel only.
Prerequisites
- No formal prerequisite course required, but TCCC-ASM (or equivalent service exposure to TCCC) is strongly recommended
- Designated by the unit as a Combat Lifesaver (squad/team-level collateral medical responsibility)
- Must achieve a 70% minimum on the final multiple-choice exam (delivered online via deployedmedicine.com) and pass the scenario-based Tactical Trauma Assessment skills checklist
Quick Facts
Duration
40 hours+
Format
In-Person
Certification
NAEMT-issued certification AND direct CoTCCC pathway (pending). TCCC-CLS (Combat Lifesaver) qualification per CoTCCC Guidelines.
Starting From
Contact for pricing
Upcoming Offerings
Reserve your seat — class sizes are limited
No open enrollment dates scheduled yet.
Request a CourseCurriculum Breakdown
Day-by-day schedule and topics covered
- Welcome and Course Layout / Introduction to TCCC-CLS
- Three Phases of Care; Roles and Responsibilities of Nonmedical Service Members
- Medical Equipment (JFAK and CLS kit familiarization)
- Care Under Fire (CUF) Concepts (fire superiority, threat containment, prevention of additional casualties)
- Tourniquet Application in CUF (one-handed and two-handed, windlass and ratchet)
- Drags and Carries (one-person and two-person)
- Principles and Application of Tactical Field Care (TFC) (security, communication, triage, casualty extraction)
- Tactical Trauma Assessment (TTA) — assessment of responsiveness, AMS, BSI, MARCH PAWS, pulse and respiration overview
What You'll Learn
Demonstrate the application of TCCC in accordance with CoTCCC Guidelines.
Describe and identify medical equipment in the JFAK and CLS kit.
Perform Care Under Fire, including early limb tourniquet application and drag/carry techniques.
Perform Tactical Field Care including the steps required for a Tactical Trauma Assessment.
Perform massive hemorrhage control during TFC, including junctional hemorrhage interventions.
Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with a compromised airway or respiratory distress, including NPA insertion and BVM ventilation.
Perform airway management during TFC.
Perform hemorrhage control during TFC, including wound packing and pressure bandage application.
Describe a shock assessment in TFC and recognize indicators of life-threatening bleeding.
Perform hypothermia prevention measures on a trauma casualty during TFC and Tactical Evacuation Care (TACEVAC).
Identify a head injury in accordance with DODI 6490.11.
Perform an assessment and initial treatment of a penetrating eye trauma during TFC.
Perform analgesia and antibiotic administration during TFC.
Perform an assessment and initial management of wounds, burns, and fractures during TFC.
Perform monitoring of a casualty during TFC.
Perform pre-evacuation procedures, communication, and documentation during TFC.
Prepare casualties for evacuation during TFC.
Your Instructors
Our instructors come from diverse operational backgrounds — military and SOF medics, tactical medics supporting state and local specialty teams, federal agent medics, rescue specialists, and emergency medicine physicians. They don't just teach the material — they live it.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOST A TCCC-CLS COURSE
Bring Tactical Combat Casualty Care — Combat Lifesavertraining directly to your agency, department, or unit. We deliver mobile courses nationwide — tailored to your team's needs.