FORT KNOX, Ky. – Training is critical, and that’s exactly what Tactical Combat Casualty Care training is. For Ronan Kalkan and the other Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, they exercised that critical training, June 22, 2025.

The beauty of TCCC or medevac is simple. It saves lives.

2nd Regiment completed TCCC around different stations. One was assessing the condition of a test dummy then moving it to a safe location.

Others would be examining the breathing of a patient, communicating over the radio that medevac is needed on site or applying a torniquet.

Cadet Ronan Kalkan, Bravo Company, California State University, completed the assessment and movement of his “patient” without breaking a sweat.

“I’ve got a little bit of experience with this in Field Training Exercise over the school year,” said Kalkan. “There’s a different kind of pressure.”

He fastened his test dummy inside a wraparound flexible stretcher before aptly dragging the patient up a hill into the tree line—only to get snagged on a tree trunk.

Kalkan and the dummy were stuck and under the context of the drill, his “patient” was in danger. But he remained cool and got his patient to safety.

“It’s tough, but it’s a very valuable skill,” he said. “I think everyone should know basic medical practices.

“You never know when you’re going to have to use it.”

Encouraged by his engineering father, Kalkan is a computer science major at California State.

Kalkan was in JROTC during high school then joined Army ROTC after his freshman year of college, realizing the structure and the benefits it provided him. As he trains to commission as an Army officer, he’s looking to work in cybersecurity.

“I’ve always been interested in technology since a young age, so my dad enrolled me in computer science classes,” said Kalkan. “He has a great career field and interests my own passions.”

With what he’s learned and the skills he’s acquired, Kalkan plans on doing good with his career.

“(Cybersecurity) is the concentration my major is in. Not a niche field, but more niche compared to software engineering. So, I’m hoping to break into that using the military. Overall, it’s a very ethical career. You’re doing something for the greater good. You’re protecting people, assets, whatever the case. And that’s something I value personally.”