Scope. a. USSOCOM’s principle function is to prepare SOF to carry out assigned missions. This responsibility is derived from US Code Title 10, Section 167. In addition to organizing, training, and equipping SOF for unique missions, medical education is fundamental to fulfilling this law. Title 10 explicit responsibilities include development of strategy, doctrine, tactics, conducting specialized courses of medical instruction for commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and monitoring the medical education and professional certification of officers and enlisted personnel. USSOCOM’s medical education and certification responsibilities are inherent responsibilities of developing strategy, doctrine and tactics. b. The Commander, United States Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM) has the service- like responsibility of providing joint training and education venues that specialize in the art and science of joint Special Operations and its medical support. These efforts complete the education and training picture within the Department of Defense (DOD). While each of the Services, and the joint community, provide education and training to fill a particular niche (i.e., naval warfare, air warfare, joint warfare, etc.) the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC) within USSOCOM and the Air Force’s Pararescue (PJ) course provides training to fill the medical niche of joint SOF core task requirements. SOF medical training and certification is force-wide, designed to initiate, maintain, and/or enhance medical skills of those SOF medics and non-medics who are required to perform the unique, global, multi- discipline mission of USSOCOM. Within the parameters of this directive, as outlined by first reference (Glossary Section III), USSOCOM’s primary responsibility is the medical education and training and certification of SOF. A secondary responsibility is the training and education of select DOD, interagency, and international military personnel in the requirements, capabilities, and limitation(s) of joint special operations organizations. Fostering a mutual understanding ensures the proper application of SOF and the enhancement of joint, combined and interagency medical operations. General. In support of the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT), Special Operations medical personnel often find themselves providing care for both trauma and non-traumatic medical emergencies, beyond the Forward Edge of the Battlefield Area/Forward Line Of Troops, often in non-linear environments that may be far forward of any supporting medical infrastructure. This directive identifies the authority, mission, command relationships, functions, and responsibilities of the United States Special Operations Command as directed under Section 167, Title 10 of US Code to provide SOF medics with the required skill sets. In order to define and administer this SOF Medical skill set, USSOCOM has established a SOF Emergency Medical Services (EMS) State that is administered by the Command Surgeon. Medics who successfully complete the required academic requirements as defined within this directive will thus be known as SOF Advanced Tactical Practitioners (ATP).

Historically in warfare, the majority of all combat deaths have occurred prior to a casualty ever receiving advanced trauma management. The execution of the Ranger mission profile in the Global War on Terrorism and our legacy tasks undoubtedly will increase the number of lethal wounds. Ranger leaders can significantly reduce the number of Rangers who die of wounds sustained in combat by simply targeting optimal medical capability in close proximity to the point of wounding. Directing casualty response management and evacuation is a Ranger leader task; ensuring technical medical competence is a Ranger Medic task. A solid foundation has been built for Ranger leaders and medics to be successful in managing casualties in a combat environment. The true success of the Ranger Medical Team will be defined by its ability to complete the mission and greatly reduce preventable combat death. Rangers value honor and reputation more than their lives, and as such will attempt to lay down their own lives in defense of their comrades. The Ranger Medic will do no less.

Comprehensive in scope and content, Prehospital Trauma Care (PTC) covers all aspects of emergency medicine-triage assessment and treatment, anesthesia, intensive care, psychiatry, health and military disasters, burns, shock, and surgery. Written by over 70 distinguished international experts representing Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Den

The Advanced Tactical Paramedic Protocols Handbook (ATP-P) 10th Edition -Print

This book provides a comprehensive overview of damage control resuscitation (DCR), an evidence-based approach to the resuscitation of patients with severe life-threatening hemorrhage (LTH). It focuses on both civilian and military applications as DCR is utilized in civilian trauma situations as well as combat casualty care settings. The book covers the history of fluid resuscitation for bleeding, epidemiology of severe traumatic injuries, prediction of life-threatening hemorrhage, pathophysiology and diagnosis of blood failure, and permissive hypotension. Chapters provide in-depth detail on hemostatic resuscitation principles, dried plasma, dried platelet surrogates, and recent developments in frozen red blood cells and oxygen carriers. The book also discusses how DCR principles can be used in a variety of situations such as when there are large numbers of patients with hemorrhagic lesions, non-trauma scenarios, and on distinct populations such as children. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of training and education methods for the implementation of DCR and remote DCR principles as well as learning healthcare system principles to facilitate the implementation of DCR and ultimately improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening hemorrhage. Damage Control Resuscitation: Identification and Treatment of Life-Threatening Hemorrhage is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, nurses and medical students in emergency medicine, anesthesia, surgery, and critical care, as well as civilian and military EMS providers.

Specialty Volume of Textbooks of Military Medicine. TMM. Edited by Shawn Christian Nessen, Dave Edmond Lounsbury, and Stephen P. Hetz. Foreword by Bob Woodruff. Prepared especially for medical personnel. Provides the fundamental principles and priorities critical in managing the trauma of modern warfare. Contains concise supplemental material for military surgeons deploying or preparing to deploy to a combat theater.