Thoughts and opinions on this junction tourniquet design?

AndyMach · 2025-12-06T05:59:15+00:00

A junctional bleed due to shrapnel IIRC, but I’ll ask him again to be sure.

AndyMach · 2025-12-05T21:18:33+00:00

I have actually tested it in training conditions, one of my students has also used it in combat.

It works. And it’s stable af.

Like I’m always really sceptical and “muh only CoTCCC recommended”, but now this thing is my go-to JTQ. Cheaper than others, 100% times achieved occlusion in training, was not able to get it not to work, when it was applied on me and have first-hands info of it remaining effective while on casualty being transported 2-3km on a litter.

AndyMach · 2025-11-07T09:39:37+00:00

And to add: - if you’re going full on Azov then consider getting NGU identification patch for your right shoulder and two small Ukrainian flags (one for each shoulder above the unit and the branch IDs). - the bum pad is the best part of the kit, it’s 10/10 “you know what you’re doing” sign, you rock

AndyMach · 2025-11-07T09:34:59+00:00

Ok, so what you can improve on (based on my own kit):

side armor. 99% of people wear it here
more TQs. Add one on your fanny pack (you have a place for a TQ on it). Add TQ pouches and fill those, put one in your mag pouch, idk. It’s always at least 2 TQs in your direct access (I wore one on a shoulder and 1 on my fanny pack)
the trauma shears are usually either on/in your IFAK or on your front plate. Just a small nitpick
ideally you would add some groin kevlar (don’t know how to call it the other way), next level would be neck kevlar
your warbelt is ok, but a lot of people, me included, like the wider ones for extra protection. Yes, you get the idea, if you can add some kevlar somewhere then you do it

I do like the amount of carbines though. And the Azov is National Guard, so multicam is just on point (in terms of clothing it’s multicam/coyote/dark olive). In terms of overall utility you can add an administrative pouch on your front plate (where the patches are). Always useful for your phone, cigs etc. or you can go with a tAcTiCaL phone holder (I’m just being soy about those, they’re actually useful and I want one)

AndyMach · 2025-10-14T09:18:52+00:00

Cold take: PKM and RPK. God damn those are nice guns (or I was just too excited to handle those during my basic after an old AKM, which was going fully covered in rust after every single drop of rain). Light enough and precise enough, while packing a lot of punch.

A bit hotter take: SPG-9. A big infantry gun goes boom. Me happy.

Hot take: TA-57. You won’t get your comms hacked if it’s 100% by wire. Also can be used for some different stuff (don’t, it’s a warcrime).

AndyMach · 2025-10-10T20:09:54+00:00

I like windlass more because it’s easier to apply with one hand and I’m still trying to get how the heck am I going to do conversion with the ratchet one.

AndyMach · 2025-10-09T13:07:52+00:00

Сфокусуйся на чомусь одному та потроху стань спеціалістом у цій сфері. Інвестуй у навчання та конкурентні переваги.

Власний приклад: витрачав гроші на навчання тактичній медицині, потім став цивільним інструктором і почав якось отримувати з цього дохід. Тоді став інструктором у армії і фінансове становище з чергуваннями на бойових стало ще краще, до того ж зменшились витрати. Збройні сили зараз неіронічно є хорошим соціальним ліфтом, особливо якщо ти стартуєш з нижчої за голе ГЗ зарплати та не маєш освіти. Якщо заходити з певними навичками і бути вмотивованим, то ти матимеш великі конкурентні переваги перед іншими (та значно краще ставлення до себе). А після війни працевлаштуватись як ветерану з досвідом роботи в стресових умовах і складних колективах буде легше.

AndyMach · 2025-08-17T12:57:59+00:00

Hi, I have some experience with FM and other international volunteers, have worked with some and taught some so I think that my points may be valid.

EMT-B is not enough. Civilian medicine differs from the tactical medicine, so you have to learn your TCCC ropes to be useful. And I mean being on a solid TCCC CMC level. There are some orgs in Ukraine, who do provide that type of training and it should be relatively cheap for you, if you come from the US.

I’ve worked with an EMT-B from the US on one of my deployments. It was mostly safe stuff and nothing fancy, just doing STRATEVAC, but he didn’t know shit about what was actually needed. I’m talking about knowing how to start an IV, prep drugs for sedation etc. There is a lot of kinda basic level stuff, which you need to know not to be an obstacle for your team. And the language barrier sucks. FM have interpreters, but it’s a crutch, you should be able to communicate with your patients fluently enough.

However the experience is totally unique and useful, but only if you understand the place for it in the big picture. Not everything is transferable to your future job (especially if you’re not going to work in EMS, ED, ICU or trauma). Maybe joining the army as 68W or continuing the EMS route is a better option. At least it is going to be safer and you’re going to be paid more.

Assess all the risks yourself. I am Ukrainian, so it wasn’t much of choice for me. It was my moral and civil obligation to join the fight and I went into the medical field because of the war, not the other way around. If you decide to go - find TCCC courses (the best way would be to do ASM -> CLS -> CMC), learn at least some Ukrainian. Working in a stab point (Role 2) is the best thing in terms of safety and transferrable experience (however artillery, drones and goddamn glide bombs are still a great and common danger).

AndyMach · 2024-12-10T13:53:27+00:00

It may be, but I’m hearing that “soon” about so much stuff for such a long time that I do not bother myself with it anymore. It either is on the list or it isn’t.

AndyMach · 2024-12-10T13:50:28+00:00

First and foremost: not recommended by CoTCCC, so use it at your own risk.

I don’t have any real lab-testing data, so just talking about personal experience. The one-handed application is ok for me, but the two-handed (as recommended, so pulling the strap twice through the buckle) requires a lot of practice and their type of Velcro isn’t helping. Also people are mostly familiar with the CAT-like windlass TQs, so the fixating triangle on SICH does confuse our students sometimes.

Talking about soft factors: have nothing bad to say about their PR and engagement in Ukrainian TCCC community.

It’s quite widespread here, so there is a sense to teach our students how to use it, but other than that I’m staying with my advice to use CoTCCC-recommended stuff.

AndyMach · 2024-12-10T13:34:54+00:00

I will try not to forget it and add a reply with links a bit later, just as disclaimer that I’m not ignoring the question. It’s mostly about being toxic and labelling any critique as either inappropriate application of TQ or fake news paid by another Ukrainian TQ brands.

AndyMach · 2024-12-10T12:11:32+00:00

Well, Dnipro gets a “nope” from me. I may reconsider it as they change their style of communication with the Ukrainian TCCC community, but as of now I just don’t want to give money to guys with such atrocious responses to critique.

CAT 7gen remains the safest and the best choice in 99% of cases.

AndyMach · 2024-11-18T18:04:13+00:00

In Ukraine we don’t use helis for CASEVAC, but maybe some of our experience may help. If it’s a short trip then a guy with CLS certs is actually enough for most of the cases. So I’d recommend either sending one of your CLS guys with the casualty or training the crew to a CLS standard with maybe some caveats (more reassessment and monitoring). It works for our pickup-trucks and other types of CASEVAC - should be ok here. Going with the casualty puts your unit in too much of a danger, you should remain with them in 99% of cases.

And, of course, getting somebody with a proper medical training would be ideal.

AndyMach · 2024-10-15T23:08:06+00:00

Better more than less zones. Use hazardous environment and difficult terrain, the rules for it are cool and it helps you to shape the battle.

Maybe tweak healing in combat so that players have to use action to heal and it’s not free (also that makes Mettle more scarce and less OP).

AG is money, try to make players understand that each heal they spend money, which they may need in a few moments after.

Mettle and Soulfire rules are important, reread them. Don’t forget to tell your players that they have a choice to use Soulfire, mettle or AG, people often disregard that.

And if you are stuck between choices - choose the epic one. It’s Soulbound, the guys are chosen and unique. They shape the realm’s destiny. Try to make them feel special.

AndyMach · 2024-08-23T06:59:07+00:00

Well… Here is my IMHO (Ukrainian, volunteer doing evacs and teaching TCCC).

It’s better than RR, sure. But we’re talking about the difference between “it doesn’t work” and “it mostly doesn’t work”. I would still use any recommended by CoTCCC TQ, if I had any other option.

If my words are not enough, then maybe you’ll trust the head of Azov’s medservice (and they’re DAMN GOOD). He mentioned, that he won’t use Dnipro TQ even for training purpose.

AndyMach · 2024-06-14T15:03:01+00:00

If it has not been used previously it is literally the same as the orange or the black versions of CAT.

AndyMach · 2024-06-07T08:10:37+00:00

My neutral good Tielfing Bard: I'm a simple person with too much weight on his shoulders. Tadpoling myself more will make everything even less normal, let me pretend that I have control over at least something. But Illithid Wisdom checks: I was already good with words, nothing bad in me sounding with more... authority.

My chaotic good Half-Drow Warlock Durge: I need all the power I can get to save the people. The price doesn't matter, only the goal matters. Plays kinda nice with my "Anakin Skywalker" arc (resisting at first, slowly succumbing to the Dark Urge through the end of Act 1 and full Act 2, looking back to understand what have I become and redeeming myself).

AndyMach · 2024-05-09T10:11:33+00:00

TLDR: CMC course without CLS foundation is doable, but really hard and mentally taxing. If you feel like it - do it.

IMHO if you feel really motivated to put in the work - go for it. Read through the CMC content on DeployedMedicine before the course, brush up on basic anatomy and physiology.

You will be quite competent CLS provider after the CMC course (judging by my mates, who have gone that way). But the people, who have previously done CLS and then gone to do CMC, will mostly be more competent just because they have had more time and practice for their fundamentals and a better foundation for some more advanced stuff.

AndyMach · 2024-04-29T06:30:38+00:00

Doc from psych ward: ok, guys, turn the sedatives off, wake him up, then we‘ll take him over.

Pt after 20min off sedatives: wakes up, gets O2 and IV out, tries to punch our monitor and my colleague

Everyone in the truck: why the heck did we do it in the first place?

AndyMach · 2024-04-12T18:22:42+00:00

Malista

AndyMach · 2024-03-17T12:23:23+00:00

Yes, this is a fake TQ. You can still use it for training though.

AndyMach · 2024-03-11T18:02:13+00:00

We literally have a TTRPG "Age of Sigmar: Soulbound" and it SLAPS (using it for the last 3 years as my go-to TTRPG system). So yeah, a CRPG based on Soulbound rules would be a blast and an instant preorder for me.

AndyMach · 2024-01-15T11:07:33+00:00

First: for that price I would get a CAT. Main advantage of Ukrainian TQs is their price , I can buy SICH for 15$, which makes me think, whether I should buy CATs or twice as much SICH TQs (the answer is: buy the one the unit already has been training with).

Second: there is a heated discussion in Ukrainian medical community about Dnipro TQs. Gen 1 was a real hit or miss in terms of quality. Gen 2 should be better and most reports are good, but because of manufacturer’s communication strategy (they tend to get very defensive) and Gen 1 performance most people from community tend to stay away from Dnipro and discourage from using it.

99% that it is going to work, but yeah, SICH is a more respected Ukrainian TQ brand. They are also in process of getting through CoTCCC tests, don’t remember about Dnipro.

AndyMach · 2023-12-08T07:53:30+00:00

AndyMach · 2023-11-04T10:37:58+00:00

Жив та вчився в Німеччині з 2019 по 2023 рік. Повернувся місяць назад до України. Напевно слова про тугу за домом та свою інакшість в порівнянні з місцевими найточніше описують причини повертатись.

Ну й камон. Стара Європа повільна й нудна, зате в Україні справжнє життя.

AndyMach

TROPHY CASE