COMBAT LIFE SAVER (CLS) EXAM LATEST 2025-2026 ACTUAL
EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Of the deaths that occur during ground combat, about what percent die before reaching a
medical treatment facility?
☑ A. 90%
☐ B. 50%
☐ C. 25%
☐ D. 10%
Rationale: Approximately 90% of battlefield deaths occur before reaching a medical treatment
facility, highlighting the importance of immediate lifesaving interventions.
2. Your unit is in ground combat and you see a soldier fall as though he has been shot. Your
primary duty is to:
☑ A. Continue firing at the enemy
☐ B. Stop firing and go to the fallen soldier
☐ C. Call for backup
☐ D. Wait for a medic to arrive
Rationale: In a care under fire situation, the soldier must maintain mission focus. Immediate
life-saving interventions are only performed if safe and feasible.
3. You are treating a casualty while under fire. What can you perform before moving the casualty
to a place of safety?
☑ A. Apply a tourniquet to control severe bleeding on a limb
☐ B. Start CPR
☐ C. Evaluate all injuries
☐ D. Give IV fluids
Rationale: Under fire, only interventions that control life-threatening bleeding are performed.
Other treatments are deferred until a secure location is reached.
4. Tactical combat casualty care has three phases. Which of the following lists the correct phases?
☑ A. Care under fire, Tactical field care, Tactical evacuation care
☐ B. Immediate care, Secondary care, Tertiary care
☐ C. Evacuation care, Hospital care, Rehabilitation
☐ D. Combat care, Support care, Recovery care
, Rationale: The three phases of tactical combat casualty care are designed to prioritize
interventions based on the environment and threat level.
5. A casualty is being transported to a collection point using a nonmedical vehicle. What is this
called?
☑ A. CASEVAC
☐ B. MEDEVAC
☐ C. TACEVAC
☐ D. Ambulance transport
Rationale: CASEVAC refers to casualty evacuation using nonmedical vehicles, whereas MEDEVAC
uses dedicated medical transport with medical personnel.
6. What medical term means bleeding, usually severe?
☑ A. Hemorrhage
☐ B. Hematoma
☐ C. Laceration
☐ D. Ecchymosis
Rationale: Hemorrhage is the medical term for severe bleeding, which is a leading cause of
preventable death on the battlefield.
7. A pad of material placed on the wound to absorb blood is called the ____________, while the
material used to keep the pad from slipping is called the ____________.
☑ A. Dressing; bandage
☐ B. Bandage; dressing
☐ C. Gauze; tape
☐ D. Pad; wrap
Rationale: The dressing absorbs blood and protects the wound; the bandage secures the
dressing in place.
8. The wrist is ____________ to the elbow. The elbow is ____________ to the wrist.
☑ A. Distal; proximal
☐ B. Proximal; distal
☐ C. Superior; inferior
☐ D. Inferior; superior
Rationale: “Distal” refers to farther from the trunk, while “proximal” refers to closer to the
trunk.
,9. Is the combat lifesaver considered a medical soldier?
☑ A. No
☐ B. Yes
☐ C. Only during combat
☐ D. Only in a field hospital
Rationale: Combat lifesavers are trained to provide basic life-saving interventions but are not
considered medical personnel.
10. What are the three most common medically preventable causes of death on the modern
battlefield?
☑ A. Extremity hemorrhage, Tension pneumothorax, Airway obstruction
☐ B. Head trauma, Burns, Infection
☐ C. Shock, Hypothermia, Fractures
☐ D. Cardiac arrest, Stroke, Sepsis
Rationale: These three conditions are the leading causes of preventable death; early recognition
and intervention save lives.
11. Of the three preventable causes of death, which results in the most deaths?
☑ A. Extremity hemorrhage (severe bleeding from an arm or leg)
☐ B. Tension pneumothorax
☐ C. Airway obstruction
☐ D. Head trauma
Rationale: Severe bleeding from extremities is the leading cause of preventable death on
the modern battlefield.
12. How does evaluation and treatment of a casualty in a care under fire situation differ from
a secure (tactical field care) situation?
☑ A. Only life-threatening bleeding from a limb is treated under fire; full assessment
occurs in a secure environment
☐ B. Full evaluation is performed immediately under fire
☐ C. Airway management is deferred until evacuation
☐ D. Non-life-threatening injuries are treated first
Rationale: Under fire, the focus is on controlling severe bleeding; comprehensive
evaluation occurs in a secure setting.
13. Your unit is in ground combat. You see a soldier fall as though he has been shot. What is
your primary duty?
, ☑ A. Stop firing and go to the fallen soldier
☐ B. Continue firing at the enemy
☐ C. Wait for medic arrival
☐ D. Call for air support
Rationale: Immediate assessment and aid are critical once the immediate threat is under
control.
14. What type of preventable condition causes the most deaths during ground combat before
reaching a medical treatment facility?
☑ A. Bleeding from wounds to the extremities
☐ B. Head trauma
☐ C. Internal organ damage
☐ D. Infection
Rationale: Extremity hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause of death on the
battlefield.
15. When performing care under fire, which of the following actions can be performed before
moving the casualty to a safe location?
☑ A. Apply a tourniquet to control bleeding
☐ B. Start CPR
☐ C. Establish IV fluids
☐ D. Treat non-life-threatening injuries
Rationale: Only life-threatening bleeding can be controlled under fire; other care occurs
later in a secure environment.
16. You and another soldier are in the open and separated when both come under enemy fire.
The other soldier is wounded but conscious and able to fire his weapon. What should you
tell him to do?
☑ A. Seek cover; return fire; administer self-aid
☐ B. Wait for a medic
☐ C. Run toward your position
☐ D. Call for evacuation
Rationale: The soldier must protect himself, continue the mission, and perform self-aid if
capable.
EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Of the deaths that occur during ground combat, about what percent die before reaching a
medical treatment facility?
☑ A. 90%
☐ B. 50%
☐ C. 25%
☐ D. 10%
Rationale: Approximately 90% of battlefield deaths occur before reaching a medical treatment
facility, highlighting the importance of immediate lifesaving interventions.
2. Your unit is in ground combat and you see a soldier fall as though he has been shot. Your
primary duty is to:
☑ A. Continue firing at the enemy
☐ B. Stop firing and go to the fallen soldier
☐ C. Call for backup
☐ D. Wait for a medic to arrive
Rationale: In a care under fire situation, the soldier must maintain mission focus. Immediate
life-saving interventions are only performed if safe and feasible.
3. You are treating a casualty while under fire. What can you perform before moving the casualty
to a place of safety?
☑ A. Apply a tourniquet to control severe bleeding on a limb
☐ B. Start CPR
☐ C. Evaluate all injuries
☐ D. Give IV fluids
Rationale: Under fire, only interventions that control life-threatening bleeding are performed.
Other treatments are deferred until a secure location is reached.
4. Tactical combat casualty care has three phases. Which of the following lists the correct phases?
☑ A. Care under fire, Tactical field care, Tactical evacuation care
☐ B. Immediate care, Secondary care, Tertiary care
☐ C. Evacuation care, Hospital care, Rehabilitation
☐ D. Combat care, Support care, Recovery care
, Rationale: The three phases of tactical combat casualty care are designed to prioritize
interventions based on the environment and threat level.
5. A casualty is being transported to a collection point using a nonmedical vehicle. What is this
called?
☑ A. CASEVAC
☐ B. MEDEVAC
☐ C. TACEVAC
☐ D. Ambulance transport
Rationale: CASEVAC refers to casualty evacuation using nonmedical vehicles, whereas MEDEVAC
uses dedicated medical transport with medical personnel.
6. What medical term means bleeding, usually severe?
☑ A. Hemorrhage
☐ B. Hematoma
☐ C. Laceration
☐ D. Ecchymosis
Rationale: Hemorrhage is the medical term for severe bleeding, which is a leading cause of
preventable death on the battlefield.
7. A pad of material placed on the wound to absorb blood is called the ____________, while the
material used to keep the pad from slipping is called the ____________.
☑ A. Dressing; bandage
☐ B. Bandage; dressing
☐ C. Gauze; tape
☐ D. Pad; wrap
Rationale: The dressing absorbs blood and protects the wound; the bandage secures the
dressing in place.
8. The wrist is ____________ to the elbow. The elbow is ____________ to the wrist.
☑ A. Distal; proximal
☐ B. Proximal; distal
☐ C. Superior; inferior
☐ D. Inferior; superior
Rationale: “Distal” refers to farther from the trunk, while “proximal” refers to closer to the
trunk.
,9. Is the combat lifesaver considered a medical soldier?
☑ A. No
☐ B. Yes
☐ C. Only during combat
☐ D. Only in a field hospital
Rationale: Combat lifesavers are trained to provide basic life-saving interventions but are not
considered medical personnel.
10. What are the three most common medically preventable causes of death on the modern
battlefield?
☑ A. Extremity hemorrhage, Tension pneumothorax, Airway obstruction
☐ B. Head trauma, Burns, Infection
☐ C. Shock, Hypothermia, Fractures
☐ D. Cardiac arrest, Stroke, Sepsis
Rationale: These three conditions are the leading causes of preventable death; early recognition
and intervention save lives.
11. Of the three preventable causes of death, which results in the most deaths?
☑ A. Extremity hemorrhage (severe bleeding from an arm or leg)
☐ B. Tension pneumothorax
☐ C. Airway obstruction
☐ D. Head trauma
Rationale: Severe bleeding from extremities is the leading cause of preventable death on
the modern battlefield.
12. How does evaluation and treatment of a casualty in a care under fire situation differ from
a secure (tactical field care) situation?
☑ A. Only life-threatening bleeding from a limb is treated under fire; full assessment
occurs in a secure environment
☐ B. Full evaluation is performed immediately under fire
☐ C. Airway management is deferred until evacuation
☐ D. Non-life-threatening injuries are treated first
Rationale: Under fire, the focus is on controlling severe bleeding; comprehensive
evaluation occurs in a secure setting.
13. Your unit is in ground combat. You see a soldier fall as though he has been shot. What is
your primary duty?
, ☑ A. Stop firing and go to the fallen soldier
☐ B. Continue firing at the enemy
☐ C. Wait for medic arrival
☐ D. Call for air support
Rationale: Immediate assessment and aid are critical once the immediate threat is under
control.
14. What type of preventable condition causes the most deaths during ground combat before
reaching a medical treatment facility?
☑ A. Bleeding from wounds to the extremities
☐ B. Head trauma
☐ C. Internal organ damage
☐ D. Infection
Rationale: Extremity hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause of death on the
battlefield.
15. When performing care under fire, which of the following actions can be performed before
moving the casualty to a safe location?
☑ A. Apply a tourniquet to control bleeding
☐ B. Start CPR
☐ C. Establish IV fluids
☐ D. Treat non-life-threatening injuries
Rationale: Only life-threatening bleeding can be controlled under fire; other care occurs
later in a secure environment.
16. You and another soldier are in the open and separated when both come under enemy fire.
The other soldier is wounded but conscious and able to fire his weapon. What should you
tell him to do?
☑ A. Seek cover; return fire; administer self-aid
☐ B. Wait for a medic
☐ C. Run toward your position
☐ D. Call for evacuation
Rationale: The soldier must protect himself, continue the mission, and perform self-aid if
capable.
