GULFPORT, Miss. – Sixty Airmen from multiple Air National Guard units trained in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) as part of the PATRIOT South 2020 exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center Feb. 29-March 3.

PATRIOT South 2020 is an annual, accredited Joint National Training Capability exercise that provides a simulated natural disaster environment for units to test their response and capabilities to conduct domestic operations.

"TCCC is going to be the standard going forward," said Lt. Col. Roger Brooks, PATRIOT South 2020 director and a member of the Georgia Air National Guard. "We're already focusing on responding in a medical capacity, so it made sense to host a TCCC event during the exercise."

TCCC is the new Air Force initiative to prepare medical personnel to perform potential lifesaving treatment in a variety of challenging environments, from the battlefield to domestic scenarios. The program will eventually replace the current Self Aid Buddy Care (SABC) training all Airmen receive.

"This class is a packed two days," said Maj. Kenneth Autry, a chief nurse from the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, and lead instructor for the training. "We run our class from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and we use every minute of both days teaching everything from how to apply tourniquets to using equipment and patient evacuation."

The first day of the program is in a classroom. Lessons include how to apply tourniquets, methods of patient evacuation, and pathophysiology of the human anatomy. Those attending must pass a written exam. Day two is the hands-on portion. Different scenarios test participants' response under pressure.

The TCCC concept consists of three phases: care under fire; tactical field care, where personnel administer the next level of medical care while awaiting evacuation; and tactical evacuation, how to continue treatment while evacuating patients.

"This is very good training, not only for the medical providers and medical personnel, but for everyone," said Col. Mauricia Alo, 108th Wing Medical Group commander, New Jersey Air National Guard, and a participant in the training. "So when we go to the battlefield or a disaster response, we'll be more able to take care of everyone and make sure they get home."

TCCC is not only applicable in combat casualty care, but also in mass casualty and disaster response or terrorism situations. Participants learn the differences and similarities of military and civilian care, especially when it comes to traumatic wounds or treatment in a challenging environment.

"If you have something like an explosion, multiple car accident or natural disaster in the civilian world, you can still apply a tourniquet or render care on-site in an environment that may be detrimental to the injury," said Autry. "TCCC covers a lot of those medical interventions that can be used in either civilian or military equations. It's a great addition to the PATRIOT exercise."