MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO Va. -- The officers of Echo Co. participate in a mandatory Combat Life Saver examination at drop zone raven during a field exercise held at The Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 19, 2013.
The officers will take the examination under the supervision of train Corpsmen who are licensed to teach and supervise Combat Life Saver Techniques.
“When in combat the doc [corpsman] can only be in one place at one time, so the more Marines who know how to treat an injury the better,” said 2nd Lt. Alan Blackburn, student, The Basic School.
For Marines being able to save a person’s life in combat is just as important as being a rifleman.
“The officers must be able to identify, control and treat an injured comrade even under stressful situations because during combat every second could mean life or death,” said Capt. Robert Monroe, war fighting instructor, The Basic School
During combat it is not practical to think the corpsman can be everywhere at once therefore each Marine should have a basic understanding of Life Saver Techniques.
“Sometimes it might be the corpsman that needs the help,” Petty Officer 3rd Class, Richard Swanson, Corpsman, TBS.
The officers are put through a very basic class life saver class teaching only what they need to know when a Marine is suffering an arterial or venous cut, chest wound and or shock.
“To assess how well the officers understand Combat Live Saver, they are put through a massive casualty scenario where each student must demonstrate they can recognize and treat arterial bleeding, chest wounds and shock,” said Monroe.
The students are tested by corpsmen that are certified to teach and explain Life Saver Techniques. The officers must pass the examination to move on with their training at The Basic School.
“They are graded quite seriously because in combat it’s ether life or death,” said Swanson.
Marines will be tested on how well and effectively they asses and care for the practice dummys.
“The students will not be able to teach Combat Life Saver to other Marines, but with the information they have learn they should be able to supervise while other Marines conduct Combat Life Saver,” said Monroe.
Marines should always be prepared for the worse case scenario and the Life Saver class is one way a Marine can prepare for combat.
“I believe we would be able to use it [Combat Life Saver] in combat and save a Marines Life,” 2nd Lt. Kristina Aselton, student, TBS.
The method in which the officers are taught life saving techniques can be used in combat as long as the Marines are willing to practice them said 2nd Lt. Kristina Aselton.
The officers must be able to use what they have leaned in the classroom while under simulated machine gun and mortar fire. They must be able to place a tourniquet on an arterial wound, apply a bandage to a venous wound, and seal a chest wound all while treating for shock. Proving once again that always being ready for combat, does not mean only ready to kill.
Correspondent: cuong.le@usmc.mil