Triage is the deliberate sorting of casualties and allocation of limited treatment resources according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors on the battlefield. The tenet of triage is doing the greatest good for the greatest amount of people.

When there are multiple casualties, the CMC may need to triage casualties into prioritized treatment groups (immediate, delayed, minimal, expectant) based upon severity of injuries before providing care or assisting other first responders, combat lifesavers, and medical personnel with casualty care.

The CMC will typically care for the most urgent casualties, while other first responders assist, care for less urgent casualties, monitor casualties after emergency interventions, and help prepare casualties for evacuation.