The World’s Okayest Medic Podcast Sal Cortez and ISTM
Feb 16, 2026
Al (Sal) Cortez, President and CEO of the International School of Tactical Medicine and longtime tactical/EMS leader, discusses ISTM’s shift to short, scenario-driven training. He covers integrating core medical skills with tactics, rescue task force concepts, training civilians for bleeding control, and the importance of hands-on, realistic drills and experienced instructors.
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Scenario Training Over Lecture
- ISTM condensed a two-week tactical medicine course into a shorter format while keeping critical scenario-based skills central.
- Al Cortez emphasizes deep, repeated hands-on scenarios over lecture to build instinctive responses under stress.
Make Training Hands-On And Repetitive
- Move training out of purely classroom discussion and into hands-on drills that force discomfort and repetition.
- Practice until responses become instinctive so crews don't rely on paper or conversations during incidents.
RTF Needs A Unified Model
- Rescue Task Force (RTF) definitions and implementations vary widely across regions and agencies.
- Al Cortez argues for a unified, legislated training model so all responders share common roles and expectations on the X and in warm/cold zones.