Kolb learning styles in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC): a comparative study of military learners and civilian paramedics

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) is a widely used training framework for battlefield trauma care. Despite its growing implementation in both military and civilian contexts, data comparing learning style distributions between military and civilian populations receiving TCCC-related training remain limited. This study aimed to compare Kolb learning styles between professional soldiers receiving tactical medic training and paramedics working in prehospital emergency services. This cross-sectional descriptive study included 61 male participants: 39 military personnel undergoing a 2.5-month, 360-hour tactical combat medic course, and 22 paramedics serving as the control group. Learning styles were assessed using the validated Kolb Learning Style Inventory. Group differences were analyzed using Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney U test. Military participants most frequently exhibited the Converger (41.0%) and Accommodator (25.6%) styles, reflecting a preference for hands-on, action-driven learning. Paramedics, in contrast, showed higher proportions of Assimilators (31.8%) and Divergers (31.8%), favoring reflective and abstract strategies. The difference in learning style distribution between groups was statistically significant (p = 0.038). Demographic comparisons also revealed differences in age and educational background. Military trainees and civilian paramedics display different learning style profiles. These findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating and may inform future research on TCCC educational approaches.