Tactical Combat Casualty Care is broken up into 4 roles of care.

  1. The most basic is taught to All Service Members (ASM), which is the absolute basics of hemorrhage control and basic recognition of more serious problems.
  2. The Combat Lifesaver (CLS) is taught more advanced skills needed to treat the most common causes of death on the battlefield, which are massive hemorrhage and airway/respiratory problems. In addition, the CLS is given the knowledge and skills to identify and prevent complications and treat other associated but not immediately life-threatening injuries.
  3. The Combat Medic/Corpsman is the first medical provider to care for the casualty in the prehospital environment and is expected to provide more advanced care requiring significantly more medical knowledge and skills.   
  4. The most advanced role is the combat paramedics/advanced providers, who are expected to provide the most sophisticated care to keep our wounded warriors alive and get them to definitive care.

It is important that the Combat Medic/Corpsman understand the roles and responsibilities of the nonmedical personnel (ASM and CLS) that may be providing care/assisting in care in the prehospital environment.