[Old Dog New Trick]

Doc-Rabalt hope you are still able to read this and have not been sent packing or just gave up because the heat was turned up in a kitchen of your choosing.

Some 23-years ago I wanted to be an SF Weapons Sgt (for reasons not important to this discussion.) After selection they saw more potential and requested that I change to an SF Commo Sgt...guess I had something called "aptitude." I replied back with I'm not really interested in that MOS (no practical use outside SF), can I become an SF Medical Sgt? Their reply was..."So you wanna be an 18D, you've got the scores and motivation, sure we'll send you down there (Ft Sam) but if you fail...commo school is back here and you'll be a recycle so no more chances to fail again."

Guess I had something else called, "fortitude."

I successfully completed the 91A/91B before heading into 300F1 (SOFMED) course and I don't remember ever having to relearn something from those two other schools. In fact, nothing about 300F1 comes from the Army enlisted medical program. If you were a PA or MD I could see your conundrum but you are not...

Something else I learned down there was humility and humbleness, I also came away with a capability very few other enlisted folks will ever know in life. I have forgotten more about how to save a life under fire or extreme duress than most people will ever learn, but there is this etched in my mind. "Do no further harm, but do something."

If you are attempting to put a tourniquet on yourself so tight as to completely cut off circulation for no other reason to see how it works you have failed rule number one...do no further harm. The tissue under a properly applied TQ is permanently crushed - soft tissue fills in around hard tissue (bones) and blood clotting will take care of the rest that's how it works. Placement is secondary only to survivable tissue proximal to the wound - too close to the end and they fall (squeeze) off, or are ineffective at stopping blood flow. About the only known contraindication is never place a TQ over a joint because of inadequate compression of arterial passage. While the best is certainly over/around large round bones, applying a TQ to the thigh of a comrade who's lost a foot below the ankle will certainly remember you for having his knee amputated down the road.

Signed, 18D wanna be, but I are graduate. It wouldn't have made a difference if I did not make it to the end or not, I was there for the training along the way. Give that "civilian trainer" a bit more respect, he might make a medic out of you someday...maybe you could ask him at what point he failed because we don't pass people on the last day if they are not capable of operating independent sans MD on the battlefield or remote location with nothing more than a sharp knife, a Leatherman and some dental floss.