“Saving lives in combat”

Carsten Dombrowski is an experienced medic with operational experience and heads the Capsarius Academy. His latest SPARTANAT Black Book explains “Hunting Combat TCCC” and, at its core, the most important thing: saving lives in combat.

SPARTANAT: Carsten, what were the most important practical experiences that motivated you to write “Hunting Combat TCCC”?

Carsten Dombrowski: The main trigger was a gap in training. Through my time in the airborne forces and later in training in the field of combat hunting, both in individual combat training and with specialized and special forces, I realized over many years that there is hardly any training material on tactical combat medicine and casualty care in combat hunting. It was precisely this gap that ultimately prompted me to write the book “TCCC in Combat”.

SPARTANAT: What particular challenges does casualty care in combat present compared to other types of infantry operations?

Combat is considered the supreme discipline of infantry operations because it can take place in very different operational areas. Urban, wooded, or even under extreme climatic and geographical conditions.

One of the biggest challenges is that classic rescue chains, as we know them from domestic or contingent operations, often do not work here. Small, isolated forces often have to make medical decisions on their own. This means that individual soldiers as first responders and the medics or medical personnel deployed have a particularly great responsibility. At the same time, additional challenges arise, such as dealing with fallen or wounded opponents. These are issues that have often been given too little attention in the training and awareness of the forces deployed.

SPARTANAT: You emphasize that tactical medicine must be fast, simple, and reliable. How can this principle be implemented in training?

Tactical emergency medicine is often not about specialized medical knowledge, but rather back to basics: life-sustaining and life-saving measures such as stopping bleeding, airway management, and maintaining body temperature. However, the most important thing is awareness of structure and deployment under difficult conditions. This includes, for example, working in a zone model, clear decision-making under stress, and an algorithm-based approach. It is precisely this combination of simple medical measures and structured action that forms the basis of effective tactical medicine.

SPARTANAT: Who is the book primarily intended for, and what specific benefits should readers gain from reading it?

The book is primarily aimed at military personnel, especially specialized and special forces in the field of combat hunting in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. That is also where the main focus of the target audience lies. However, the book also offers food for thought beyond this area, for example for trainers, decision-makers, and those responsible for military training, but also for the police, personal security, and the security industry.

If someone realizes that they have to work outside of traditional rescue chains, sometimes under extreme conditions, then they will definitely find inspiration and food for thought in this book.

Organizations such as NGOs or disaster relief organizations, which often work in remote or difficult areas, can also gain a broader perspective and take away ideas for their own further development.

HERE is the new SPARTANAT Black Book by Carsten Dombrowski “Jagdkampf TCCC”.

HERE you can find the SPARTANAT Black Book by Carsten Dombrowski “Tactical Medicine”.

HERE you can find the classic by Carsten Dombrowski, the ring binder for “Tactical Casualty Care”.

HERE you can find the SPARTANAT Black Book by Carsten Dombrowski “In Danger – Travel Safety in Crisis Regions”.