Next Generation Combat Medic

12/29/2025

12/19/2025

Someone read our guide on preparing for JMRC / CTC, etc

https://nextgencombatmedic.com/2025/04/08/ctc-medical-survival-guide/

This unit used tape for wounds. An easy, low cost way to show where injuries are. You can also write what they are “Amputation” (circumferential tape), “GSW, bleeding”, etc. Medics don’t always need fancy moulage to practice a tourniquet, wound packing, triage, litter movement or IV access.

12/18/2025

Your Platoon Sergeant appears with a traumatic toenail or fingernail avulsion, plus or minus laceration to nail bed.

Should we replace the old nail if viable, or create a splint using the suture packaging or other material, or leave it as-is to heal on its own? Vote below 👇🏻 🗳️

Discuss your thoughts with these wounds. This is of course after discussion with BN PA, potential digital block, wound care and repairing any laceration(s).

12/18/2025

Division and BDE Level providers trained on blood.

Get training. Realize how this isn’t scary.

12/17/2025

Does your unit use aid bag packing lists? Vote below.

If not, how do medical leaders ensure the new guys are carrying enough of the right stuff?

If you need one, check out the Ranger Medic Handbook for medics and CLS. Your unit can purchase those for your medics.

Do any senior medics get their medics and aid bags together to discuss setups? You never know what your guys are deploying with if nobody has assessed their packing list in months (or years.) If not, a minimum list can ensure a standard of care to guide realistic inventories and not cumbersome training scars. However, with realistic training medics can have a better understanding of what they may need in the first place. Find out in training before deploying.

After senior medics check medics, medics can inspect and pack their platoons IFAK.

So, Do we need 8 chests seals?

6 tourniquets inside the bag?

One roll of gauze?

2x IV starter kits?

Is it all “shooters preference”…. But how much preference does an E-3 truly have?

recently asked for input on looking for an aid bag of the future that you can go comment on. In my opinion, The first part of the equation for an aid bag that fits “most” medics is agreeing on how much cubic space is too little, or too much. If you don’t know how much to pack, how would you know what bag you need in the first place? You can get a way with a lot more in training and garrison, especially if not rucking that aid bag for distance.

12/16/2025

Do you include Genitourinary (GU) trauma in wound sets?

It can be uncomfortable to put a moulage on the perineum of Roleplayer patients shorts, and manikin joints aren’t as amenable to it. Some moulage shorts even come with GU trauma. However, this happens and there is a CPG for it on JTS website. Stepping on a dismounted IED doesn’t just injure legs.

While not technically GU, buttocks GSWs/trauma also happens and is a consideration to test medics ability to examine the entire patient, handle a different positioning (prone/side) and variation of wrapping.

Consider:
- When to use wet gauze or dry?
- Does this change our exams? (What would we look for)
- Evacuation considerations?
- For PCC/PFC, does this change foley concerns? What does hematuria tell us?

This is an advanced concern for medics already performing excellent hemorrhage control of extremities and junctional wounds.

12/15/2025

How do you know what vital signs do give your trauma patient in training?

How do you make it worse if your medic isn’t controlling the hemorrhage? A medic who did a 20 second TQ and immaculate wound packing should have better vitals than one with a 45+ second TQ and a loose bandage he never rechecked.

How do you make vitals better after just 1 unit of blood? How about 2?

A senior NCO reached out about a cool chart he made to help your E-3 to E-5 that have limited understanding so that they can provide more accurate vitals. You can laminate this to have in the back of clipboard for lanes as basic guidance.

Nobody benefits from an NCO saying, “Your Patient has no radial pulse, HR is 70, RR is 14, etc”… (But maybe my PSG is on a Beta Blocker 🙄)

These are problems that medics without experience and mentorship cannot replicate. You must provide that mentorship, and/or enable ER shifts at local Military facility, EMS ride alongs and more.

In our Google Drive, search “TCCC Vitals” and you will find this chart. Reach out with suggestions on improvements. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ajaSnAphf1GtyfmAcIEQuVYKavUlA82-

What do you do to ensure higher fidelity vitals at your training?

Remember: Medic will take full vitals (NOT verbalize) on Roleplayer and ONLY receive feedback on what he took. No more.

12/07/2025

What do you carry/modify to make ventilation considerations easier with aid bag?

Got this photo in the DMs about how much less a .bvm weighs when vacuum sealed, compared to with the hard case. Have you tried this?

I personally switch out the MicroBVM face mask for a standard anesthesia face mask, which also allows straps to be attached. (2nd photo) Not pictured: NPA’s and PEEP valve.

If you need a training idea, have an airway and BVM class next week. I used to bring CRNA’s to my BN to teach. Highly recommend. (Bring enough face masks for medics to practice breathing for each other.)

1st photo 📸

11/29/2025

You notice a perforated Tympanic Membrane (TM) while doing an HEENT exam on a patient that was close to a blast.

What does this change about your exam, management or suspicion, if anything? Vote and comment.

I want medics to understand what a TM perforation means and does not (especially in blast), management and red flags. Knowing what the patient also can not do or have afterwards is helpful. You will likely see these in garrison, as well.

11/25/2025

No time to study medicine? Try Walker Dip!

Falling behind on your procedural skills? Try Walker Dip!

Overthinking your patient assessment? Brother… try Walker Dip.

Used AI to make images and crack a little joke for stickers for dip cans and otherwise. Put them in the shop, or you can easily make your own. If you need another flavor, reach out.

I can’t take credit for the joke at all.

If you cant handle 300mg then reclass to another MOS.

11/23/2025

If your BN is not conducting live autologous transfusions, massive point of failure.

A lot of times it’s fear of something not experienced. We are here to help NCO’s and PA’s conduct this. Reach out.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, conduct a blood transfusion during exercise Combined Resolve at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Oct. 19, 2025.
7th Army Training Command provides a unique environment in Europe to develop leaders and formations who are prepared for large-scale combat operations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Danil Pak)