This program is the culmination of a collaborative effort between California POST, EMSA, California OHS, DHS and the faculty of the International School of Tactical Medicine to provide the best possible tactical medicine training available anywhere. The original curriculum has been extensively modified with direction and input from these agencies to conform to current state and federal standards.

The tactical medicine core curriculum is a two week block of material designed to be completed in two back to back weeks with a two day break on the weekend. The Module A and Module B courses are not mutually exclusive. We use a building block approach to training. Everything you learn on days 1, 2 and 3 applies to day 4 and everything you learn on days 1-7 applies to day 8. We highly discourage students from taking the Module A week and then leave the school, only to return four to six months or even a year later and finish the program.

It has been our experience that if the Module A and Module B courses are taken separately, the training may become so disrupted by an intermission that it may be necessary for the student to simply start over. We fully understand the difficulty of being absent from your full time work for two weeks, but we ask for your full commitment and we encourage all students to make every effort to attend the the full 2 week training program. In addition, there are an extremely limited number of Module A (only) seats in each class.

Sometime in 2009 the Basic and Advanced terminology will be phased out and the the material will be re-designated Module A and Module B to conform with the soon to be released State of California State POST and EMSA regulations for an 80 hour tactical medicine training program. Both modules will need to be completed to obtain state certification by POST and EMSA.

Day 1 Monday 0800 On morning of the first day students and faculty are introduced and the school training, safety rules and regulations are discussed. The morning didactic material begins with the principles and concepts of Tactical Medicine. This material establishes the foundation for the two week program. Later, students are exposed to all aspects of current tactical medical gear and equipment including tactical medical packs, backpacks and the latest tools of the trade. Tactical and medical gear are discussed and demonstrated by the staff who have field tested the equipment in actual tactical operations.   The morning begins with an Introduction to Tactical Operations and the fundamentals of team concepts and planning. Tactical exercises are practiced in the afternoon in a realistic tactical setting. Here, students learn first hand the importance of effectively coordinated team movements. In order to enhance learning, students train in full tactical gear, body armor and duty weapons. Students receive Forced Entry Techniques familiarization through demonstrations and exercises with shot locks, rams, bar pulls, hydraulic entry tools and hooks. The remainder of the afternoon is devoted to learning and practicing the fundamentals and techniques of building clearing through practical exercises.

Day 2 Unique to the International School of Tactical Medicine (ISTM) is the instruction and training of the basic weapons systems: the Tactical Pistol, the MP5 Submachine Gun, and the Colt M4. The morning of Day 2 takes place at the range with instruction and training on firearms safety, weapons handling, mindset, and marksmanship of the Tactical Pistol.   After a lunch break the course resumes in the afternoon of Day 2 with didactic lectures and practical exercises involving the use, deployment and Medical Aspects of Chemical Agents and Distraction Devices. The next block of material covers the Medical Management of K-9 Emergencies. As more tactical teams utilize K-9 units it is necessary for the tactical medical provider to be able to recognize and treat canine injuries. The final classroom portion of the day is Forensics and Evidence Preservation. Tactical medical providers must know and learn the skills necessary to prevent destroying or disturbing a crime scene in the performance of their duties.

Day 3   This is followed by classroom work covering Operational Casualty Care Care and the Fundamentals and Medical Aspects of Wound Ballistics. Next didactic material block addresses options for field hemorrhage control. Hemostatic Techniques, Dressings, and Tourniquet applications are demonstrated and discussed as well as the pros and cons of the many types of hemorrhage control bandages now currently on the market. The final morning session is completed with lectures and discussions on the principles of Team Health Management. After the lunch break, the remainder of the afternoon is devoted to learning and practicing the fundamentals and techniques of dynamic building clearing.

Day 4 The morning of Day 4 is devoted to range training exercises with the MP5 submachine gun. Students learn the operational use of the MP5 weapon system, including nomenclature, stance, carry positions, trigger control and shooting positions while engaging targets. The weapons supplied by the school are Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns. Before the lunch break students gather for the the traditional class photo. After lunch, Special Operations Aeromedical Evacuation is addressed. A working knowledge of air medical and transport procedures and flight physiology is essential for the tactical medical provider. Next up is a hands-on training session covering disguised weapons and street survival for medical personnel. In this portion of the course students receive hands-on exposure to disguised and concealed weapons, edged weapons, pocket pistols and other unconventional weapons, as well as a medical threat assessment unit.

Day 5 On the morning of day five, before suiting up for the Tactical Medical Scenarios, there is a one hour written examination. This multiple choice examination fulfills requirements for the State of California EMSA, POST, and ACEP continuing medical education (CME) and self-assessment. In our Tactical Medical Scenarios, students are critiqued by the instructors on both medical and tactical decision making, field triage, and the assessment and treatment of victims. Each Tactical-Medical Scenario lasts approximately 30 minutes with students rotating in as tactical and then medical personnel. Simunitions and Airsoft are utilized during some of the training scenarios to enhance the force on force learning experience. Upon completion of the tactical exercises the students return to the classroom for equipment return, debriefing, closing remarks and graduation.   Each school session historically fills about 90 days before class dates. Interested agencies and individuals are urged to contact the International School of Tactical Medicine administrative office early to secure a seat in a class.

Notes

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Visit the registration page for course requirements and registration forms.

Tactical Medicine Courses begin on a Monday morning promptly at 0800 at the Palm Springs Police Training Center at 200 Civic Drive Palm Springs, California 92262. Our away classes begin promptly at 0800 at the designated course location.

International School of Tactical Medicine P.O. Box 2852 Palm Springs, CA, 92263 Administrator Telephone: (760) 880-4102 e-mail: info@tacticalmedicine.com