Format: Resident with Distant Learning Requirements

The Emergency War Surgery Course was established to ensure that surgeons and other deploying providers are familiar and proficient with combat casualty care. This course covers approaches to specific injuries and their management, as well as recommendations on how to adapt to providing care in a resource restricted environment. Significant emphasis is placed on providing care in accordance with the best practices as outlined in the Joint Trauma System's Clinical Practice Guidelines.

EWSC consists of didactic online learning lectures. These courses will help surgeons understand the pathophysiology of war wounds to best care for the injured casualty. Course content is standardized by mutual agreement and sharing of curriculum under the JTS. Completion of distance learning activity is required prior to course attendance. Please see the Core Requirements for EWSC document to see what lectures are presented in EWSC.

Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma

ASSET+ establishes combat training competencies to develop and sustain DOD trauma surgeons located in operational environments, military treatment facilities, or at Level I trauma treatment facilities. This course is intended for DOD general/trauma surgeons; please see the Student Criteria document for all related specialties. The two-day cadaver and simulator-based course follows this modular, body region approach. All procedures are listed in the Core Requirements for ASSET+ document.

Each section begins with a short, case-based overview; followed by a hands-on exposure performed by students under the guidance of faculty. The student-to-faculty ratio is 1:1, allowing extensive faculty guidance and interaction with students. The student assesses their ability to perform each exposure independently and is evaluated on knowledge and technical skills. This course will fulfill the skills element of the General Surgery KSA requirements for all services. Skills will follow the CPG recommendations for pre-deployment training.

ASSET+ offers up to 30.25 CMEs. All non-surgeon specialties can petition to convert CMEs to CEUs through their governing organization. Subject to change on annual review.

Combat Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

The purpose of the COTS course is to establish combat training competencies to develop and sustain DOD orthopedic surgeons located in operational environments, military treatment facilities, or at Level I trauma treatment facilities. This course is intended for DOD orthopedic surgeons; please see the Student Criteria document for all related specialties. The two-day cadaver and simulator-based course follows this modular, body region approach. All procedures are listed in the Core Requirements for COTS document.

Each section begins with a short, case-based overview, followed by a hands-on exposure performed by students under the guidance of faculty. The student-to-faculty ratio is 1:1, allowing extensive faculty guidance and interaction with students. The student assesses their ability to perform each exposure independently and is evaluated on knowledge and technical skills. This course will fulfill the skills element of the Orthopedic Surgery KSAs requirements for all services. Skills will follow CPG recommendations for pre-deployment training.

COTS offers up to 30 CMEs. All non-surgeon specialties can petition to convert CMEs to CEUs through their governing organization. Subject to change on annual review.

Steps for Each Service to Enroll in EWSC for Surgeons*

U.S. Army (ACTIVE)

• Soldier must complete a DA Form 3838, signed by their commander, and then forward your signed DA Form 3838 and current APFT through your Service-Specific Points of Contact:
  • MEDICAL CORPS: usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.opmd-medical-corps@army.mil (all 60/61/62 Series)

U.S. Army (RESERVE/TPU/IMA/IRR SOLDIERS)

• Go through their individual commands/units for ATRRS enrollment and funding.

U.S. Air Force

• For Course information please click on the following link: https://kx.health.mil/kj/kx8/AETCSGUForceDevelopment/Pages/home.aspx (CAC required)
• CEA should be completed and sent to: aetc.sgnu-02@us.af.mil for registration.

U.S. Navy

• Sailors must contact the Navy Medicine Quota Managers at Navy Medicine Forces Development Command.
• Please provide Full Name, Rank, DOD ID and request course duration you would like to attend.

• For further enrollment questions please contact the DMRTI Registrar/Quota Manager

*All non-surgeon specialties (First Assist and Tech roles) need to contact the DMRTI EWSC team directly for enrollment at dha.jbsa.j7.list.dmrti-ewsc@health.mil. This is to maintain an accurate class size for each course.

Course Links and Documents

• Student Criteria
• EWSC Core Requirements
• ASSET+ Core Requirements
• COTS Core Requirements

Upcoming Courses FY26

Class	Report Date	Start Date	End Date	Locations
COTS	Aug. 5, 2026	Aug. 6, 2026	Aug. 7, 2026	Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA
ASSET+	Aug. 19, 2026	Aug. 20, 2026	Aug. 21, 2026	Uniformed Services University, MD
ASSET+	Aug. 25, 2026	Aug. 25, 2026	Aug.27, 2026	Joint Base San Antonio/ Bulverde, TX

All course dates may be rescheduled if the minimum student quota requirement has not been met. In the rare event of course cancellation or date change, DMRTI will notify all students as soon as changes are confirmed. Confirmed registered students will have priority in the next course.