OAK HARBOR, Wash. — Medical personnel at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training  Command Oak Harbor(NMRTCOH) recently completed training associated with  advanced Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training aimed at strengthening both  day-to-day patient care and readiness for potential operational deployments.  According to Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Gantar, a search and rescue (SAR)  medical technician and program administrator for the TCCC course, the training focused  on Tier 3 TCCC, a requirement for Navy corpsmen that prepares them to deliver  lifesaving care in combat environments. The training was conducted by SAR medical  personnel who work at Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor (NHCOH).  “The point of the training was part of the larger effort to get our in-house corpsmen  trained up to Tier 3 to meet the requirement of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and  Surgery,” Gantar said. “We receive a lot of new corpsmen straight from school who  haven’t completed that level yet, so this helps close that gap.”  Tier 3 TCCC training goes beyond basic lifesaving skills and emphasizes prolonged  field care, hemorrhage control, airway management, and decision-making under stress.  While clinic staff primarily support beneficiary care, Gantar said the training ensures  they remain prepared for large-scale combat operations if needed. By working in the  clinic, corpsmen learn valuable skills, including patient assessments and hands-on  medical care, that they can apply in operational settings.  “Yes, they’re here treating beneficiaries and keeping families healthy,” Gantar  explained. “But at the same time, it’s our responsibility to train for the operational  mission as well.”  The instruction was led by certified Tier 3 instructors already assigned to the region,  including medical personnel who split time between operational search and rescue units  and the clinic. According to Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Stephanie Grow, NHCOH’s  training site administrator for the TCCC courses, using in-house instructors helps  ensure consistency while maintaining high standards set by Navy Medicine and the  Defense Health Agency.  “We spent almost a year structuring the program to meet all requirements,” Grow said.  “We followed the guidance exactly to make sure everything aligned.”  Courses are scheduled monthly and listed in the Navy’s training management  systems, making them accessible to service members across the Pacific Northwest.  While the clinic does not manage regional training compliance, it serves as one of  several assets available to commands across the region seeking to qualify their  personnel.  “Our job is to make sure students leave confident in their skills,” Gandar said. “When  something does happen, they need to be able to perform and save lives.”  TCCC training follows three core objectives: saving lives, preventing further  casualties, and completing the mission. Grow said instructors are responsible for  ensuring students understand and can apply those priorities under pressure.  The clinic also offers Tier 1 TCCC training, and supports a “train-the-trainer” model for  Tier 1 TCCC, expanding access to foundational lifesaving skills across the installation.  Tier 1 training is required for all service members and focuses on immediate actions that  can preserve life before advanced medical care is available.  “Tier 1 TCCC is a requirement for every service member,” Gantar said. “It ensures that  no matter where someone is assigned or what their job is, they have the baseline  knowledge to act in an emergency.”  Under the model, qualified personnel are trained to become Tier 1 instructors,  allowing units to sustain training internally without relying solely on medical staff.  According to Grow, this approach increases readiness, reduces bottlenecks, and  ensures critical skills remain current across the force.  “By training the trainers, we’re able to meet the requirements more efficiently and  reach more people,” Grow said. “The goal is to make sure these lifesaving skills are  widespread and immediately available when they’re needed most.”  Personnel interested in enrolling in TCCC courses have multiple options depending  on their command affiliation. Staff assigned to NMRTC Oak Harbor can register directly  through the clinic’s internal online booking system, which is accessible via the SEAT  TCCC Program SharePoint page, according to Grow.  “The direct contact information is my office phone number [(360)257-9516] and the  SEAT distribution list,” Grow said. “For our staff here, [the online portal] is the fastest  way to sign up.”  Personnel outside of NMRTC Oak Harbor enroll through the Navy’s Catalog of  Nonresident Training Courses, or CANTRAC. Service members can search for “TCCC”  and locate the appropriate course using designated training identification codes,  including Tier 3 (CIN: B-300-2030; CDP: 31RL), Tier 3 Instructor (CIN: B-300-2070;  CDP: 32JN), and Tier 1 (CIN: B-300-2010; CDP: 32JM).  “Once they find the course, they can see our schedule from anywhere as long as they  have a CAC reader,” Grow said. “From there, they can contact the SEAT distro or reach  out to me directly, and I can help get them enrolled.”  “We want to make this accessible,” Grow said. “If someone needs the training, we’ll  help them get it; this is how we save lives and enhance mission readiness.”