Care Under Fire 15MAR2025

Welcome to 2025 Small Unit Tactics series!

Care Under Fire is the 3rd installment of Monarch Defense’s small unit tactics series offered spring 2025. This curriculum was previously offered only to military students and in Special Purpose Rifle School, and after gathering customer feedback for several years, this year we aim to break up the curriculum into recurring once-a-month classes that will allow you more flexibility in scheduling.

This class will introduce students to the tactical priorities and teamwork of combat evacuations and first aid in the field. Unlike most first aid classes, which begin at the assumption of “scene safety”, we begin our training when friends are hurt and the scene is not safe. How then, do we evacuate them quickly and efficiently, without getting more people hurt? How do we treat their wounds in the field?

This highly condensed and efficient introductory class is exactly what our team of seasoned instructors compiled for and taught to the all-volunteer 47th Separate Battalion during the summer of 2022, which later became the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukraine Armed Forces who spearheaded the counteroffensive against Russian occupation during the summer of 2023. These were regular people just like you who made the decision to learn how to fight.

During the summer of 2022 in Donetsk, I conducted three combat medical evacuation missions using these exact techniques, before falling ill and myself being evacuated to the hospital. During the counter offensive of summer 2023, several of my friends and colleagues at the 47th Brigade were wounded, and shared their experiences with me. We can review these first hand experiences, and many others, to learn what was successful, what was not, and how we can do better in the future.

Like all small unit tactics series classes, the morning will be spent in reviewing theory. The tools for first aid in the field, IFAK (Individual first aid kits) and how to use them, tourniquets, when and how to use them, how to transition from a tourniquet to a pressure bandage for extended field care which is a critical skill to prevent the unnecessary amputation of limbs, the use of liters, and how to move, drag, and carry casualties. Also, we will discuss and practice how to survey for wounds in the field, and how to keep casualties warm, which is a huge priority.

Following the theory lesson we will go out into the field to train and practice these skills in simulated stress with blank fire weapons, a real life human opposing force, and be able to debrief and do better.

The Small Unit Tactics Series consists of five 10 hour immersive classes that will give you a broad introduction to modern fighting tactics. This includes basic tactical theory, hand signals, casualty evacuation, leadership, mission planning, attack, defense, ambush, raid, night operations, and more! 

You can sign up for classes individually or purchase the entire package of 5 classes for an awesome deal. Each class is technical, detailed, and action packed. We offer a both a primary and an auxiliary date for Basic Tactical Fieldcraft, as this information is critical for safe and smooth advanced training later in the series.  If you can’t make a class you signed up for, simply email Brian at info@monarchdefense.org and we can credit you or reschedule you for a future date. 

2025 Small Unit Tactics Series dates:

Basic Tactical Fieldcraft, Saturday 18th of January, 2025.
Principles of Patrol, Saturday 15th of February, 2025.
Basic Tactical Fieldcraft, Sunday 9th of March, 2025.
Care Under Fire, Saturday 15th of March, 2025.
Principles of Ambush, Saturday 19th of April, 2025.
Principles of Raid, Saturday 17th of May, 2025.

Prerequisite:

You must have prior safe weapons handling experience. 

Location:

Our facility is in the mountains 1 hour east of San Jose, 1 hour south from Livermore. Detailed directions will be emailed to those who sign up.

Packing List:

Notebook and writing utensil, highly recommend Rite in the Rain 4″x6″ and a short wood pencil
1 gallon of water
Lunch and snacks
Boots
Wool socks
Extra socks wrapped in plastic bag
Backpack
Canteens or water bottles
Combat uniform such as US Army surplus Flame Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU) which can be purchased on eBay for about $45 top and bottom
Boonie hat with foliage band
Gloves
5.56x45mm caliber rifle equipped with Boland FX Hollywood full load blank fire adapter (Email Brian to coordinate setting up your own weapon for blanks, or to borrow from the school)
Muzzle on blank adapted weapons must be painted bright yellow (school can provide you with a blank adapter and painted muzzle device)
5+ 30 round Magpul Pmags or STANAG magazines that are upgraded to Magpul yellow anti-tilt follower (email Brian to coordinate upgrading your magazines or borrowing from the school)
$80 for ammunition, or bring 200 rounds of live ammunition to trade for blanks and training grenades. Email Brian if you have questions and to coordinate. 
Tourniquet and IFAK (individual first aid kit) highly recommended
Night Vision if you have it
Helmet if you have it
Rifle rated body armor if you have it
Rifle cleaning kit with barrel cleaning rod, oil, rag, toothbrush, and star chamber brush

How can I contact the organizer with my questions?

Brian Wang is the event organizer. He can be reached at 408-892-5460 or info@monarchdefense.org

What is the refund policy? We do not issue refunds. Instead, we offer an open reschedule policy. Notify us by email to info@monarchdefense.org within 1 hour before class starts, and we will happily apply your full tuition credit towards a future event or class. You must use your tuition credit within 1 calendar year.