These seem to get used about as often as I sign the back of a credit cards.

I vaguely remember the aid training shifting in the late oughts from a kinda checklist/hierarchy of things to do before applying a tourniquet into something close to "when in doubt if they might need a tourniquet, put a tourniquet on it."

Aside from the reasons you gave, I think it probably came down to the fact that there was an expectation that you would be getting treated by an expert in a hospital or purpose-fitted vehicle within an hour (whenever life/limb/eyesight was in jeopardy)

I have a lot of mixed feelings about my country and my service, but am still very impressed/proud of the extreme lengths the medical corps and supporting units went through to make MEDEVACs and treatment such a priority.

My only real goal is to not 'opt out' prematurely.

I'm 36. The number of people I came up with that are gone for a reason out of their control is immense. It helps me to reframe and try to just be happy I'm here another day, and to take in as much as I can.