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Meal, Ready-to-Eat

February 16, 2024

"MRE" redirects here. For similar rations that are sometimes colloquially called "MREs", see Field ration. For other uses, see MRE (disambiguation).

The Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a self-contained individual United States military ration used by the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense. It is intended for use by American service members in combat or field conditions where other food is not available. MREs have also been distributed to civilians as humanitarian daily rations during natural disasters and wars.[1]

Menu 2, Shredded Beef, and Menu 13, Cheese Tortellini, from the 2019 series
The contents of MRE Menu 2, Shredded Beef

The MRE replaced the canned Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI) in 1981.[2] Its garrison ration and group ration equivalent is the Unitized Group Ration (UGR), its in-combat and mobile equivalent is the First Strike Ration (FSR), and its long-range and cold weather equivalents are the Long Range Patrol (LRP) and Meal, Cold Weather (MCW) respectively.

History edit

Predecessors edit

Further information: History of military nutrition in the United States
External videos
  “Comparing C-Rations to MREs Sgt. Neil Gussman”

The first American military ration established by a Congressional Resolution, during the Revolutionary War, consisted of enough food to feed a man for one day, mostly beef, peas, and rice.[3] During the Civil War, the U.S. military moved toward canned goods. Later, self-contained kits were issued as a whole ration and contained canned meat, bread, coffee, sugar and salt. During World War I, canned meats were replaced with lightweight preserved meats (salted or dried) to save weight and allow more rations to be carried by soldiers on foot. At the beginning of World War II, a number of new field rations were introduced, including the Mountain ration and the Jungle ration. Cost-cutting measures by Quartermaster Command officials during the latter part of World War II and the Korean War again saw the predominance of heavy canned C-rations issued to troops, regardless of operating environment or mission.[4] During World War II, over 100 million cans of Spam were sent to the Pacific.[5] The use of canned wet rations continued through the Vietnam War, with the improved MCI.

During the Vietnam War, problems with the canned MCI rations become apparent. MCI cans were heavy and bulky; they could not fit easily in a uniform pocket and could even cause injury. The cans could also corrode in the tropical environment and cause the food to spoil. After the food was consumed, the empty cans were difficult to dispose of; the littered cans were sometimes fashioned into booby traps by the enemy. Finally, the MCI rations had an estimated shelf life of 24 months at 70 °F (21 °C), which was found to be inadequate as supply was often interrupted by weather and enemy activity.[6]

Introduction edit

 
A pair of flameless ration heaters. The instructions advise that they should be rested against a "rock or something".
 
Meritorious Civilian Service Award presented to Abdul Rahman, father of the modern day MRE

After repeated experiences with providing prepared rations to soldiers dating from before World War II, Pentagon officials ultimately realized that simply providing a nutritionally balanced meal in the field was not adequate. Service members in various geographic regions and combat situations often required different subsets of ingredients for food to be considered palatable over long periods. Catering to individual tastes and preferences would encourage service members to actually consume the whole ration and its nutrition. Most importantly, the use of specialized forces in extreme environments and the necessity of carrying increasingly heavy field loads while on foot during long missions required significantly lighter alternatives to standard canned wet rations.

In 1963, the DoD began developing the "Meal, Ready to Eat", a ration that would rely on modern food preparation and packaging technology to create a lighter replacement for the canned MCI. In 1966, this led to the Long Range Patrol, or LRP ration, a dehydrated meal stored in a waterproof canvas pouch. As with the Jungle ration, its expense compared to canned wet rations, as well as the costs of stocking and storing a specialized field ration, led to its limited usage and repeated attempts at discontinuance by Quartermaster Command officials.[4]

Early MRE prototypes that involved freeze-dried and dehydrated foods were developed under Abdul Rahman, who later received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his work.[7] Further work was needed to develop a ration that did not require re-hydration (thus not requiring additional preparation time and water). Further effort, led by Rauno A. Lampi, Chief of Food Systems Equipment Division at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, concentrated on the refinement of the retort pouch to contain a wet ration with a three-to-ten year shelf life that could be easily shipped, carried in the field, opened and consumed straight out of the package if necessary with no further heat or water. The resulting MRE went into special issue starting in 1981 and standard issue in 1986, using a limited menu of twelve entrées.[8]

Ongoing development edit

 
Several MREs on top of a pallet of MRE boxes

The MRE has been in continuous development since its introduction.

After the introduction of the MRE, service members often often heated the food by boiling them in a canteen cup over a lit fuel source. This was slow, especially in cold weather. It also produced a visible flame that was undesirable at night. Service members strongly desired a more convenient way to heat the food. Between 1988-1989, development and testing was conducted for a new flameless ration heater. In 1990, the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) was introduced. Service members activate a chemical reaction with a few ounces of water, which produces an exothermic reaction. An FRH was included with each meal beginning with the MRE XIII in 1993.[9]

In an array of field tests and surveys, service members requested more entrée options and larger serving sizes. By 1994, commercial-like graphics were added to make the packets more user-friendly and appealing, while biodegradable materials were introduced for inedible components, such as spoons and napkins. The number of main dishes expanded to 16 by 1996 (including vegetarian options), 20 by 1997 and 24 by 1998. As of 2023, the system includes 24 entrées, and more than 150 additional items.[10] The variety allowed service members to trade them in order to find something palatable for various cultures and geographical regions.

The ration originally came in a dark brown outer bag from 1981 to 1995 because it was designed for service in the temperate forests and plains of central Europe. It was replaced in 1996 with a tan outer bag that was better suited for service in the deserts of the Middle East. By 2000, a bean burrito main dish was introduced.[11] In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as service members have begun to depend more on hydration packs than on canteens, thus denying them the use of the metal canteen cups (shaped to fit in a canteen pouch with the canteen) for mixing powdered beverages. In addition to having measuring marks to indicate levels of liquid for precise measurement, they can be sealed and placed inside the flameless heater.

Most recently, MREs have been developed using the Dietary Reference Intake, created by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM indicated service members (who were classified as highly active men between the ages of 18 and 30) typically burn about 4,200 Calories (kcal) a day, but tended to only consume about 2,400 Calories a day during combat, entering a negative energy balance. This imbalance occurs when service members fail to consume full portions of their rations.[12] Although manipulations to the food items and distribution of macronutrients to help boost the amount of kilocalories per MRE have been made, more studies are showing many service members still do not meet today's standards of daily consumption, often trading and discarding portions of the ration.[13] Researchers continue to study the habits and eating preferences of service members, making constant changes that encourage service members to eat the entire meal and thus get full nutritional value.[13] A small randomized controlled trial from 2017 confirms the nutritonal balance of MRE eaten-in-whole using blood tests.[14]

The military has experimented with new assault ration prototypes, such as the First Strike Ration and the HOOAH! Bar, designed with elite or specialized forces in mind. Lighter than the typical MRE, they require no preparation and allow service members to eat them while traveling.[15] In July 2009, 6,300 dairy shake packets of varying flavors were recalled due to evidence of Salmonella contamination.[16]

Requirements edit

 
U.S. Army soldiers load MREs onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in September 2005.

Each meal provides about 1,200 calories (5,000 kJ).[17] They are intended to be eaten for a maximum of 21 days (the assumption is that logistics units can provide fresh food rations by then), and have a minimum shelf life of three years (depending on storage conditions).[18]

Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be able to withstand parachute drops from 380 metres (1,250 ft), and non-parachute drops of 30 metres (98 ft). The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 27 °C (81 °F), nine months at 38 °C (100 °F), and short durations from −51 °C (−60 °F) to 49 °C (120 °F) must be sustainable. New forms of packaging are being considered to better meet these requirements including the use of zein to replace the foil, which can be easily punctured, conducts heat, and is reflective (which may give away a servicemember's position).[19]

Each MRE weighs 510 to 740 grams (18 to 26 oz), depending on the menu.[13] Since MREs contain water, they weigh more than freeze-dried meals providing equivalent calories.

Resale status edit

As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians, the Department of Defense requires that "U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful" be printed on each case of MREs.[20] The warning is only intended for service members as there are no laws that forbid the resale of MREs by civilians.[21] Although the government has attempted to discourage sellers from selling MREs,[22] auction sites such as eBay have continued to allow auctions of the MREs because the Department of Defense has been unable to show them any regulations or laws specifically outlawing the practice. According to a spokesman for eBay, "until a law is passed saying you can't sell these things, we're not going to stop them from being sold on the site."[23] Therefore, while MREs are not prima facie contraband, the procurement and sale of MREs by military personnel for personal profit is illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 108.[24] As a result, MREs found for sale outside reputable vendors often fall into a grey market where the question of how it entered civilian hands (through theft/legitimate means) and/or its quality may be unknown.

An investigation conducted in 2006 on behalf of the US Government Accountability Office determined multiple instances where sellers on eBay may have improperly obtained MREs and sold them to the public for private gain.[20] As military MREs are procured at taxpayers' expense, they are intended to be consumed by individuals from authorized organizations and activities. Consequently, "if military MREs are sold to the general public on eBay, then they are clearly not reaching their intended recipients and represent a waste of taxpayer dollars and possible criminal activity."[20] Further, MREs found on eBay are typically older and closer to their expiration date, having been sourced in "neighborhood yard sales" and "Marine base dumpsters."[20]

The growth of MREs listed on eBay in 2005 resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the news media nickname "Meals Ready for eBay."[25] Some cases were being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The internal cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is $86.98 (approx. $7.25 a meal) to the government, much higher than what is paid to vendors.[25] MREs can be purchased by civilians directly from the contractors who supply MREs to the United States Government. These MREs usually omit the flameless ration heater and have other minor differences (i.e., design of case and bag or type of spoon), but otherwise are often very similar to genuine US Government MREs.[26][27]

In the Philippines, the government stopped MREs from being sold in local markets.[28]

Contents edit

 
An MRE contains a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and flameless ration heater.

General contents may include:[29]

Many items are fortified with nutrients. In addition, DoD policy requires units to augment MREs with fresh food whenever feasible, especially in training environments.

Changes in menus edit

To make MREs more palatable to service members and match ever-changing trends in popular tastes, the military is constantly seeking feedback to adjust MRE menus and ingredients. In the following list, only main entrees are listed.[30] Vegetarian menus are marked and footnoted on their first appearance.[veg 1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Vegetarian menu, only first appearance footnoted

Date codes edit

The cases of MREs and their variants usually are marked with the production date in the American fashion: 2-digit Month / 2-digit Day / 4-digit Year (e.g., November 24, 1996 would be rendered as 11/24/1996). This is followed by the Lot Number, a 4-digit Julian date code that is also repeated on the individual components in the MREs. The first digit is the last digit of the Year (e.g., 0 could be equal to 2010 or 2020, 1 could be equal to 2001 or 2011, and 9 could be equal to 2009 or 2019). The next 3 digits are equal to the day of the year (i.e., 001 to 366). "1068" could be equal to the 68th day of 2001 or 2011, for example March 9, 2001.[31] "2068" could mean March 8, 2012 or March 9, 2022 (the 68th day of 2012 is March 8 due to the presence of a leap day).

The cases are also stamped with the Inspection / Test Date, which is in the same format as the Packing Date (e.g., October 1994 would be rendered as "10/94"). Rations optimally must be kept in a cool, dry place during storage. If the rations are stored at 80° for 3 consecutive years, they would reach the end of their shelf life. They are often inspected by the U.S. Army veterinary food personnel and their shelf life may extend beyond the inspection test date.[32] Rations are discarded after five years.[citation needed]

Civilian use edit

 
New Orleans Mardi Gras revelers in 2006 dressed in coats made from MRE packaging

MREs have also been distributed to civilians during natural disasters.[1] The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during national disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Maria and Sandy; and the 2011 Super Outbreak. The large number of civilians exposed to MREs prompted several jokes during the recent New Orleans Mardi Gras, with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as "MRE Antoinette" (referring to Marie Antoinette; the wife of King Louis XVI) and "Man Ready to Eat."[citation needed]

The use of rations for noncombat environments has been questioned.[13] While the nutritional requirements are suitable for a combat environment where servicemembers will burn many calories and lose much sodium through sweat, it has been provided as emergency food or even as a standard meal.[33] The high-fat (averaging about 52 grams of fat, 5 grams trans fats)[citation needed] and high-salt content (averaging about 2 grams)[33] are less than ideal for sedentary situations. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a 77-year-old civilian man with prior congestive heart failure ended up with volume overload from the high sodium content of MREs.[33] The HDR and TOTM account for this nutritional need.[citation needed]

Criticisms edit

Some of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable, earning them the nicknames "Meals Rejected by Everyone",[34] "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" (during the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia), or "Meals Rarely Edible".[35] Some individual portions had their own nicknames. For example, the frankfurters, which came sealed in pouches of four, were referred to as "the four fingers of death".[34] Although quality has improved over the years, many of the nicknames have stuck. MREs were sometimes called "Three Lies for the Price of One ... it's not a Meal, it's not Ready, and you can't Eat it."[36] As late as the 2010 deployment to Afghanistan, one veteran in November 2019 characterized MREs (the traditional Thanksgiving meal had been destroyed in an attack, and the standard MRE shipment partially destroyed) as "accursed things".[37]

Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some, so they were also known as "Meals Requiring Enemas", "Meals Refusing to Exit",[38][39] "Meals Refusing to Excrete", or "Massive Rectal Expulsions". While the laxative effect of xylitol sweetener (if excessively consumed) may contribute to a myth that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative, the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher-than-normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion. In December 2006, comedian Al Franken (on his eighth United Service Organizations tour at the time) joked to troops in Iraq that he had his fifth MRE so far and "none of them had an exit strategy."[40] By 2015, the average fiber content per pack of MRE has improved to an adequate 12 grams.[14]

A superstition exists among troops about the Charms candies that come with some menus: they are considered bad luck, especially if actually eaten.[41][42]

In March 2007, The Salt Lake Tribune invited three gourmet chefs to taste-test 18 MRE meals. None of the meals rated higher than a 5.7 average on a scale of 1-to-10, and the chicken fajita meal in particular was singled out for disdain, rating an average score of 1.3.[43][44] In 2010, the New York Times reported that a French combat ration [fr] (such as cassoulet with accompaniments of deer pâté and nougat) could be traded for around five MREs,[42] though by 2014 it was claimed that MRE menus had improved to the point that their worth had reversed.[45]

The vegetable cheese omelet MRE, Recipe No. 4, introduced in 2005, is generally considered the worst ever. Soldiers serving in Iraq dubbed it the "Vomelet" (a pun with vomit), both for its appearance and taste. It was discontinued in 2009.[46]

Variants and similar rations edit

 
Halal ration
 
Humanitarian daily ration
 
Tailored Operational Training Meal
 
Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module

The MRE has led to the creation of several similar field rations. Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module (ABOMM) are a special variant consisting of repacking existing MRE food elements into a form that provides military flight crews and tank operators with a meal designed to be eaten on the go or while operating their aircraft or ground vehicle without the use of utensils, and packaged for use in confined spaces.[47]

Meal, Religious, Kosher/Halal edit

 
MRE Tabasco sauce bottle

For servicemembers with strict religious dietary requirements, the military offers the specialized Meal, Religious, Kosher/Halal.[48] These are tailored to provide the same nutritional content, but will not contain offending ingredients.[49] The entrees come in distinct stylized packaging with a color picture of the prepared entree on it (like civilian pre-made meals) and the food accessories come in commercial packaging. Kosher entrees are marked "Glatt Kosher" in Hebrew and English, while halal entrees are marked "Dhabiha Halal" in Arabic and English. The meals come in cases of 12 that weigh 18 lbs (8 kg) and have a volume of 1.4 cubic feet (40 L). To keep with dietary laws, the entree and accessory packets are packed in two separate inner boxes in an outer case and come in kosher or halal only (the two special ration types are never mixed in a shipping case).

The original meals were kosher only and came in 4 Beef, 4 Chicken, 2 Salmon, and 2 Gefilte Fish menus. The meals now come in Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Vegetarian, and Pasta dishes. The entrees are a mixture of traditional Middle-Eastern and Southwest-Asian dishes (like Lamb & Vegetable Jalfrezi or Curried Chicken with Basmati Rice, Lentils, and Vegetables) and Western dishes (like Vegetable Ratatouille, Florentine-style Vegetable Lasagna, or New Orleans Gumbo with Chicken). Each menu contains an average of 1200 kilocalories and has a shelf life of 3 to 10 months.

There is also a special kosher meal certified for Passover requirements.[50] The "Passover Ration" (officially called the Meal, Religious, Kosher for Passover) contains packages of Matzoh crackers and has beef, chicken (served on the bone), or salmon entrees. Each meal is in its own packet and come 12 packets to a case.

For less strictly-observing servicemembers, non-certified "pork-free" menus of the regular MRE are available. The DLA offers Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), Pork-Free, Individual, which consist of 12 menus selected from the regular roster of 24.[51]

Vegetarian HDR and MARC edit

The Humanitarian Daily Ration (HDR) is a self-contained Halal meal designed to be given to refugees and other displaced people. It is designed to feed a person for a full day, and the menus are intended to be palatable to many religious and cultural tastes. To meet this goal, no animal products or by-products, no alcohol or alcohol-based products, and minimal dairy products are used in their production. It is otherwise created and packaged much like MREs; feedback from the Afghanistan campaign led to the interior packing being reinforced to withstand being air-dropped, as the packets sometimes ruptured on impact. The outer bag is tinted a high-visibility red or yellow and has an American flag and a picture of a person eating out of the bag with a spoon. There are usually instructions printed on it in English and one or more local languages as well.

The Meal, Alternative Regionally Customized (MARC) is a self-contained, shelf-stable meal developed by U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM)/Natick, Individual Combat Ration Team (ICRT), Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD). MARCs were developed specifically for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and have since found wider spread use, notably Iraq and Afghanistan. MARC meals are entirely vegetarian as an easy way to prevent conflicts with culturally "prohibited products" (Islam and Judaism forbidding pork, Hindus avoiding beef, etc). They are neither Kosher nor Halal certified. Many of the menus available have a Southeast Asian or Indian style to them (Saag Chole, curried vegetables), but others are simply the equivalent of vegetarian MREs (Cheese Tortellini, Minestrone).[52]

Higher-calorie variants edit

 
A Meal, Cold Weather (MCW) and a Meal, Long Range Patrol (LRP)

In extreme cold temperatures, the packaged wet food in MREs can freeze solid, rendering the food inedible and the heating packet insufficient. The Meal, Cold Weather (MCW) provides a ration similar to the MRE designed for lower temperatures than the MRE can withstand. Clad in white packaging, it offers a freeze-dried entree designed to be eaten with heated water, the same side ingredients as the standard MRE, and additional drink mixes to encourage additional hydration. The caloric and fat content of the meals is also increased.[53] The MCW replaced the Ration, Cold Weather (RCW).[54]

The Meal, Long Range Patrol (LRP) is essentially the same as the MCW, but with different accessory packs. The MLRP is designed for troops who may receive limited or no supply, and weight of the ration is critical.[53] The similar First Strike Ration is along the same lines, but requires no preparation and may be eaten on the go.

Special requirement food edit

The Modular Operational Rations Enhancement (MORE) is issued as a supplement to meals for troops in extreme, demanding operational environments such as high-intensity training events.[55][56]

The Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM) first entered service in May 2001. It provides a lower calorie count (an average of 997 kilocalories) for less intensive training environments, such as classroom instruction. It replaces the earlier mess-hall bagged lunches, catered meals or field kitchens for field instruction. The TOTM allows troops to become familiar with the MRE and its contents without providing an excessive amount of calories to troops who will not necessarily burn them. It uses a transparent outer plastic bag with commercial markings rather than the MRE's tan plastic bag with standard markings. There are currently 3 different lists of twelve menus, making a total of 36 different meals. Each TOTM ration case is packed with a full menu of 12 assorted meals, weighs about 20 lbs (9 kg), and is 0.95 cubic feet (27 L). The TOTM has a more limited shelf-life than the MRE, with a duration of only 12 to 18 months.[57]

The Unitized Group Ration (UGR) is a ration much like the MRE, but expanded to feed large groups. It is the successor to the older A-ration, B-ration, and T-ration It comes packed in sealed metal trays that are heated and then opened.

The Food Packet, Survival, General Purpose, Improved (FPSGPI) is given to pilots and other servicemembers that may require a small, extremely portable food ration for emergencies. It contains food bars and a drink mix.[58] Similarly, the Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship (FPSAS) and Food Packet, Survival, Aircraft, Life Raft (FPSALR) are fitted into the storage areas on lifeboats.[59][60]

The "Jimmy Dean," a pre-packaged shelf-stable ration containing, among other items, a pre-made Jimmy Dean brand deli-style sandwich, is often issued in the field to U.S. servicemen as an alternative to MREs.[61]

Ratfucking edit

The term ratfucking (rat in this case is shorthand for ration) is a slang term used by U.S. military personnel to describe the targeted pillaging of MREs, which the military officially calls "field stripping". It refers to the process of opening a case of MREs (which are packed 12 in a box), opening up individual MRE packages, removing the desired items, and leaving the unenticing remainder.[62]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ Mason, V.C., Meyer, A.V., and Klicka, M.V., Summary of Operational Rations, Natick, MA: U.S. Army Natick Research & Development Laboratory Technical Report TR-82/013 (June 1982): The MRE was officially type-classified for adoption in 1975 but due to budget cuts was not officially placed into production until 1981; stocks of the MCI continued to be issued until exhausted.
  3. ^ General Orders, 8 August 1775 |access-date=March 2022 | url = https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0173
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  40. ^ "Al Franken delivers message and entertainment for deployed troops". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  41. ^ Evan Wright (2004). Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the new face of American war. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. p. 83. ISBN 0-399-15193-1.
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  43. ^ . Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  44. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the : The Salt Lake Tribune (March 11, 2008). "Salt Lake chefs rate the MRE". Retrieved March 19, 2019 – via YouTube.
  45. ^ . National Geographic. July 15, 2014. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  46. ^ Lunn, Zachary (May 6, 2019). "The Legend of the Vomelet". Slate. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  47. ^ Foran, Alexandra (March 13, 2013). "'Fighting Fuel' for Military Aviators". US Army. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  48. ^ "Deep Concern". Flatbush Jewish Journal. February 6, 2014. p. 40. production of kosher and halal MRE's
  49. ^ "Meal, Religious, Kosher/Halal factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  50. ^ "Meal, Religious, Kosher for Passover factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  51. ^ "Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), Pork-Free, Individual". www.dla.mil.
  52. ^ "Meal, Alternative Regionally Customized (MARC)". www.dla.mil. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  53. ^ a b "Meal, Cold Weather/Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP)". www.dla.mil.
  54. ^ "Ration, Cold Weather". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  55. ^ Zanchi, Joseph; Foran, Alexandra (March 10, 2014). "MORE is better when it comes to food rations". U.S. Army NSRDEC.
  56. ^ GUIDON Staff (January 23, 2020). . Archived from the original on February 4, 2020.
  57. ^ "Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM)". Defense Logistics Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  58. ^ "Food Packet, Survival, General Purpose, Improved factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  59. ^ "Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  60. ^ "Food Packet, Survival, Aircraft, Life Raft factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  61. ^ "U.S. Jimmy Dean - MREInfo.com". www.mreinfo.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  62. ^ Wright, Evan (2005). Generation Kill. Penguin. p. 61. ISBN 9781101207611. Retrieved August 3, 2016. The process of tearing through an MRE and picking out the goodies is called "ratfucking". Colbert's team maintains a ratfuck bag in their Humvee for all the discarded MRE entrées, saving them for a rainy day.

Further reading edit

  • Marx de Salcedo, Anastacia (2015). Combat-ready Kitchen: How the U.S. military shapes the way you eat. New York: Current/Penguin. ISBN 978-1101601648.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meal, Ready-to-Eat.
  • Operational Rations of the Department of Defense, 9th Edition
  • How MREs Work
  • NPR All Things Considered, mentions the new MRE menu for 2004 (at 5 minutes 02 seconds)
  • Military Packages Put Technology to the Test
  • Military buys special meals for Jewish, Muslim troops 2020-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
  • MREInfo.com – Complete source of information on MREs both in US and International
  • Ready To Eat! 30 Years of the MRE
  • The Eat of Battle – how the World's Armies get fed
  • How long do MRES last


February 16, 2024
meal, ready, redirects, here, similar, rations, that, sometimes, colloquially, called, mres, field, ration, other, uses, disambiguation, self, contained, individual, united, states, military, ration, used, united, states, armed, forces, department, defense, in. MRE redirects here For similar rations that are sometimes colloquially called MREs see Field ration For other uses see MRE disambiguation The Meal Ready to Eat MRE is a self contained individual United States military ration used by the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense It is intended for use by American service members in combat or field conditions where other food is not available MREs have also been distributed to civilians as humanitarian daily rations during natural disasters and wars 1 Menu 2 Shredded Beef and Menu 13 Cheese Tortellini from the 2019 seriesThe contents of MRE Menu 2 Shredded BeefThe MRE replaced the canned Meal Combat Individual MCI in 1981 2 Its garrison ration and group ration equivalent is the Unitized Group Ration UGR its in combat and mobile equivalent is the First Strike Ration FSR and its long range and cold weather equivalents are the Long Range Patrol LRP and Meal Cold Weather MCW respectively Contents 1 History 1 1 Predecessors 1 2 Introduction 1 3 Ongoing development 2 Requirements 2 1 Resale status 3 Contents 3 1 Changes in menus 4 Date codes 5 Civilian use 6 Criticisms 7 Variants and similar rations 7 1 Meal Religious Kosher Halal 7 2 Vegetarian HDR and MARC 7 3 Higher calorie variants 7 4 Special requirement food 8 Ratfucking 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksHistory editPredecessors edit Further information History of military nutrition in the United StatesExternal videos nbsp Comparing C Rations to MREs Sgt Neil Gussman The first American military ration established by a Congressional Resolution during the Revolutionary War consisted of enough food to feed a man for one day mostly beef peas and rice 3 During the Civil War the U S military moved toward canned goods Later self contained kits were issued as a whole ration and contained canned meat bread coffee sugar and salt During World War I canned meats were replaced with lightweight preserved meats salted or dried to save weight and allow more rations to be carried by soldiers on foot At the beginning of World War II a number of new field rations were introduced including the Mountain ration and the Jungle ration Cost cutting measures by Quartermaster Command officials during the latter part of World War II and the Korean War again saw the predominance of heavy canned C rations issued to troops regardless of operating environment or mission 4 During World War II over 100 million cans of Spam were sent to the Pacific 5 The use of canned wet rations continued through the Vietnam War with the improved MCI During the Vietnam War problems with the canned MCI rations become apparent MCI cans were heavy and bulky they could not fit easily in a uniform pocket and could even cause injury The cans could also corrode in the tropical environment and cause the food to spoil After the food was consumed the empty cans were difficult to dispose of the littered cans were sometimes fashioned into booby traps by the enemy Finally the MCI rations had an estimated shelf life of 24 months at 70 F 21 C which was found to be inadequate as supply was often interrupted by weather and enemy activity 6 Introduction edit nbsp A pair of flameless ration heaters The instructions advise that they should be rested against a rock or something nbsp Meritorious Civilian Service Award presented to Abdul Rahman father of the modern day MREAfter repeated experiences with providing prepared rations to soldiers dating from before World War II Pentagon officials ultimately realized that simply providing a nutritionally balanced meal in the field was not adequate Service members in various geographic regions and combat situations often required different subsets of ingredients for food to be considered palatable over long periods Catering to individual tastes and preferences would encourage service members to actually consume the whole ration and its nutrition Most importantly the use of specialized forces in extreme environments and the necessity of carrying increasingly heavy field loads while on foot during long missions required significantly lighter alternatives to standard canned wet rations In 1963 the DoD began developing the Meal Ready to Eat a ration that would rely on modern food preparation and packaging technology to create a lighter replacement for the canned MCI In 1966 this led to the Long Range Patrol or LRP ration a dehydrated meal stored in a waterproof canvas pouch As with the Jungle ration its expense compared to canned wet rations as well as the costs of stocking and storing a specialized field ration led to its limited usage and repeated attempts at discontinuance by Quartermaster Command officials 4 Early MRE prototypes that involved freeze dried and dehydrated foods were developed under Abdul Rahman who later received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his work 7 Further work was needed to develop a ration that did not require re hydration thus not requiring additional preparation time and water Further effort led by Rauno A Lampi Chief of Food Systems Equipment Division at the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center concentrated on the refinement of the retort pouch to contain a wet ration with a three to ten year shelf life that could be easily shipped carried in the field opened and consumed straight out of the package if necessary with no further heat or water The resulting MRE went into special issue starting in 1981 and standard issue in 1986 using a limited menu of twelve entrees 8 Ongoing development edit nbsp Several MREs on top of a pallet of MRE boxesThe MRE has been in continuous development since its introduction After the introduction of the MRE service members often often heated the food by boiling them in a canteen cup over a lit fuel source This was slow especially in cold weather It also produced a visible flame that was undesirable at night Service members strongly desired a more convenient way to heat the food Between 1988 1989 development and testing was conducted for a new flameless ration heater In 1990 the Flameless Ration Heater FRH was introduced Service members activate a chemical reaction with a few ounces of water which produces an exothermic reaction An FRH was included with each meal beginning with the MRE XIII in 1993 9 In an array of field tests and surveys service members requested more entree options and larger serving sizes By 1994 commercial like graphics were added to make the packets more user friendly and appealing while biodegradable materials were introduced for inedible components such as spoons and napkins The number of main dishes expanded to 16 by 1996 including vegetarian options 20 by 1997 and 24 by 1998 As of 2023 the system includes 24 entrees and more than 150 additional items 10 The variety allowed service members to trade them in order to find something palatable for various cultures and geographical regions The ration originally came in a dark brown outer bag from 1981 to 1995 because it was designed for service in the temperate forests and plains of central Europe It was replaced in 1996 with a tan outer bag that was better suited for service in the deserts of the Middle East By 2000 a bean burrito main dish was introduced 11 In 2006 Beverage Bags were introduced to the MRE as service members have begun to depend more on hydration packs than on canteens thus denying them the use of the metal canteen cups shaped to fit in a canteen pouch with the canteen for mixing powdered beverages In addition to having measuring marks to indicate levels of liquid for precise measurement they can be sealed and placed inside the flameless heater Most recently MREs have been developed using the Dietary Reference Intake created by the Institute of Medicine IOM The IOM indicated service members who were classified as highly active men between the ages of 18 and 30 typically burn about 4 200 Calories kcal a day but tended to only consume about 2 400 Calories a day during combat entering a negative energy balance This imbalance occurs when service members fail to consume full portions of their rations 12 Although manipulations to the food items and distribution of macronutrients to help boost the amount of kilocalories per MRE have been made more studies are showing many service members still do not meet today s standards of daily consumption often trading and discarding portions of the ration 13 Researchers continue to study the habits and eating preferences of service members making constant changes that encourage service members to eat the entire meal and thus get full nutritional value 13 A small randomized controlled trial from 2017 confirms the nutritonal balance of MRE eaten in whole using blood tests 14 The military has experimented with new assault ration prototypes such as the First Strike Ration and the HOOAH Bar designed with elite or specialized forces in mind Lighter than the typical MRE they require no preparation and allow service members to eat them while traveling 15 In July 2009 6 300 dairy shake packets of varying flavors were recalled due to evidence of Salmonella contamination 16 Requirements edit nbsp U S Army soldiers load MREs onto a CH 47 Chinook helicopter in September 2005 Each meal provides about 1 200 calories 5 000 kJ 17 They are intended to be eaten for a maximum of 21 days the assumption is that logistics units can provide fresh food rations by then and have a minimum shelf life of three years depending on storage conditions 18 Packaging requirements are strict MREs must be able to withstand parachute drops from 380 metres 1 250 ft and non parachute drops of 30 metres 98 ft The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 27 C 81 F nine months at 38 C 100 F and short durations from 51 C 60 F to 49 C 120 F must be sustainable New forms of packaging are being considered to better meet these requirements including the use of zein to replace the foil which can be easily punctured conducts heat and is reflective which may give away a servicemember s position 19 Each MRE weighs 510 to 740 grams 18 to 26 oz depending on the menu 13 Since MREs contain water they weigh more than freeze dried meals providing equivalent calories Resale status edit As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians the Department of Defense requires that U S Government Property Commercial Resale is Unlawful be printed on each case of MREs 20 The warning is only intended for service members as there are no laws that forbid the resale of MREs by civilians 21 Although the government has attempted to discourage sellers from selling MREs 22 auction sites such as eBay have continued to allow auctions of the MREs because the Department of Defense has been unable to show them any regulations or laws specifically outlawing the practice According to a spokesman for eBay until a law is passed saying you can t sell these things we re not going to stop them from being sold on the site 23 Therefore while MREs are not prima facie contraband the procurement and sale of MREs by military personnel for personal profit is illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 108 24 As a result MREs found for sale outside reputable vendors often fall into a grey market where the question of how it entered civilian hands through theft legitimate means and or its quality may be unknown An investigation conducted in 2006 on behalf of the US Government Accountability Office determined multiple instances where sellers on eBay may have improperly obtained MREs and sold them to the public for private gain 20 As military MREs are procured at taxpayers expense they are intended to be consumed by individuals from authorized organizations and activities Consequently if military MREs are sold to the general public on eBay then they are clearly not reaching their intended recipients and represent a waste of taxpayer dollars and possible criminal activity 20 Further MREs found on eBay are typically older and closer to their expiration date having been sourced in neighborhood yard sales and Marine base dumpsters 20 The growth of MREs listed on eBay in 2005 resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims and the news media nickname Meals Ready for eBay 25 Some cases were being sold from Louisiana Mississippi Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina The internal cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is 86 98 approx 7 25 a meal to the government much higher than what is paid to vendors 25 MREs can be purchased by civilians directly from the contractors who supply MREs to the United States Government These MREs usually omit the flameless ration heater and have other minor differences i e design of case and bag or type of spoon but otherwise are often very similar to genuine US Government MREs 26 27 In the Philippines the government stopped MREs from being sold in local markets 28 Contents edit nbsp An MRE contains a main course side dish bread dessert and flameless ration heater General contents may include 29 Main course often referred to as the main Side dish Dessert or snack often commercial candy fortified pastry first strike bar or Soldier Fuel Bar Crackers or bread Spread of cheese peanut butter or jelly Powdered beverage mix fruit flavored drink cocoa instant coffee or tea sport drink or dairy shake Utensils in rare occasions a full set is included with a spoon fork and knife but most commonly only a plastic spoon is given Flameless ration heater FRH Beverage mixing bag Accessory pack Xylitol chewing gum Water resistant matchbook Napkin toilet paper Moist towelette Seasonings including salt pepper sugar creamer and or Tabasco sauce Freeze dried coffee powderMany items are fortified with nutrients In addition DoD policy requires units to augment MREs with fresh food whenever feasible especially in training environments Changes in menus edit To make MREs more palatable to service members and match ever changing trends in popular tastes the military is constantly seeking feedback to adjust MRE menus and ingredients In the following list only main entrees are listed 30 Vegetarian menus are marked and footnoted on their first appearance veg 1 Menus 1981 to 1997 MRE I VII 1981 87 MRE VIII XII 1988 92 MRE XIII XIV 1993 94 MRE XV 1995 MRE XVI 1996 MRE XVII 1997 1 Pork Patty Pork w Rice in BBQ Sauce Pork w Rice in BBQ Sauce Pork w Rice in BBQ Sauce Beef Steak Beef Steak2 Ham amp Chicken loaf Corned Beef Hash Corned Beef Hash Chili w Macaroni Tuna w Noodles Boneless Pork Chop w Noodles3 Beef Patty nicknamed Hockey Puck Chicken Stew Chicken Stew Chicken Stew Chicken Stew Chicken Stew4 Beef slices in BBQ sauce Omelet with Ham Omelet with Ham Grilled Chicken Ham Slice Ham Slice5 Beef Stew Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Chicken w Noodles6 Frankfurters w Beans nicknamed Four Fingers of Death Chicken a la King Smokey Franks Smokey Franks Smokey Franks Smokey Franks7 Turkey Diced w Gravy nicknamed Wild Turkey Surprise Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Pork Chow Mein8 Beef Diced w Gravy Ham Slice Ham Slice Ham Slice Chicken w Rice Chicken w Rice9 Chicken a la King Meatballs w Tomato Sauce Pork Chow Mein Pork Chow Mein Pork Chow Mein Beef Stew10 Meatballs amp BBQ sauce Tuna w Noodles Tuna w Noodles Tuna w Noodles Chili w Macaroni Chili w Macaroni11 Ham slices Chicken w Rice Chicken w Rice Chicken w Rice Pasta w Vegetables veg 1 12 Ground Beef w Spiced Sauce Escalloped Potatoes w Ham Escalloped Potatoes w Ham Escalloped Potatoes w Ham Cheese Tortellini veg 1 Cheese Tortellini13 Chicken Loaf 12B discontinued 1986 Pork w Rice Pork w Rice14 Beefsteak 9B discontinued 1982 Chicken Parmesan Chicken Parmesan15 Grilled Chicken Grilled Chicken16 Escalloped Potatoes w Ham Tuna w Noodles17 Beef Ravioli18 Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes19 Beef w Mushrooms20 Spaghetti w Meat SauceMenus 1998 to 2003 MRE XVIII 1998 MRE XIX 1999 MRE XX 2000 MRE XXI 2001 MRE XXII 2002 MRE XXIII 2003 1 Beef Steak Beef Steak Grilled Beefsteak Grilled Beefsteak Beefsteak w Mushrooms Beefsteak w Mushrooms2 Boneless Pork Chop w Noodles Boneless Pork Jamaican Boneless Pork Chop Boneless Pork Chop Jamaican Pork Chop w Noodles Pork Rib3 Chicken Stew Beef Teriyaki Beef Teriyaki Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli4 Ham Slice Ham Slice Country Captain Chicken nicknamed KKK Country Captain Chicken Country Captain Chicken Country Captain Chicken5 Chicken w Noodles Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Chicken Breast Chicken Breast6 Grilled Chicken Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Thai Sauce Chicken w Thai Sauce Chicken w Thai Sauce7 Pork Chow Mein Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa8 Chicken w Rice Chicken w Rice Chicken and Rice Chicken and Rice Beef Patty Beef Patty9 Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew10 Chili w Macaroni Chili w Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni11 Pasta w Vegetables Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce veg 1 Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce12 Cheese Tortellini Rice amp Bean Burrito veg 1 Rice amp Bean Burrito Rice amp Bean Burrito Rice amp Bean Burrito Black Bean amp Rice Burrito veg 1 13 Thai Chicken Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini14 Chicken w Cavatelli Pasta w Vegetables in Alfredo Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Alfredo Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Alfredo Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Alfredo Sauce Manicotti w Vegetables veg 1 15 Beef Franks Beef Franks Beef Frankfurters Beef Enchilada Beef Enchilada Beef Enchiladas16 Bean amp Rice Burrito Chicken w Thai Sauce Thai Chicken Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles17 Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Teriyaki Beef Teriyaki Beef Teriyaki18 Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes Turkey Breast w Gravy amp Potatoes19 Beef w Mushrooms Beef w Mushrooms Beef w Mushrooms Beef w Mushrooms Beef w Mushrooms Roast Beef20 Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce21 Beef Teriyaki Chicken Stew Chicken Tetrazzini Chicken Tetrazzini Chicken Tetrazzini Chicken Tetrazzini22 Chicken w Salsa Pork Chow Mein Pork Chow Mein Jambalaya Jambalaya Jambalaya23 Meat Loaf w Gravy Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli24 Pasta w Alfredo Sauce veg 1 Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w GravyMenus 2004 to 2009 MRE XXIV 2004 MRE XXV 2005 MRE XXVI 2006 MRE XXVII 2007 MRE XXVIII 2008 MRE XXIX 2009 1 Beef Steak Beef Steak Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans2 Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib3 Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli4 Country Captain Chicken Cheese amp Vegetable Omelet veg 1 Cheese amp Vegetable Omelet Cheese amp Vegetable Omelet Cheese amp Vegetable Omelet Maple Sausage5 Grilled Chicken Breast Chicken Breast Chicken Breast Chicken Breast Chicken Breast Chicken Breast6 Chicken w Thai Sauce Chicken Fajitas Chicken Fajitas Chicken Fajitas Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles7 Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Chicken w Salsa Meatloaf w Gravy Beef Brisket8 Beef Patty Beef Patty Beef Patty Beef Patty Beef Patty Beef Patty9 Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew10 Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Tuna Tuna in Pouch Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni11 Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce Pasta w Vegetables in Tomato Sauce Spicy Penne Pasta veg 1 Vegetable Manicotti Vegetable Lasagna veg 1 Vegetable Lasagna12 Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce veg 1 Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce13 Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini14 Manicotti w Vegetables veg 1 Manicotti w Vegetable Manicotti w Vegetable Spicy Penne Pasta w Vegetarian Sausage veg 1 Spicy Penne Pasta w Vegetarian Sausage Spicy Penne Pasta w Vegetarian Sausage15 Beef Enchiladas Beef Enchiladas Beef Enchiladas Beef Enchiladas Beef Enchiladas Beef Enchiladas16 Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles Chicken w Noodles Chicken Fajita Chicken Fajita Chicken Fajita17 Beef Teriyaki Sloppy Joe Filling Sloppy Joe Sloppy Joe Filling Sloppy Joe Filling Sloppy Joe Filling18 Cajun Rice Beans amp Sausage Cajun Rice amp Sausage Cajun Rice Beans amp Sausage Meatballs w Marinara Meatballs w Marinara Meatballs w Marinara19 Roast Beef Roast Beef w Vegetables Roast Beef w Vegetables Pot Roast w Vegetables Pot Roast w Vegetables Pot Roast w Vegetables20 Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce21 Chicken Tetrazzini Chicken Tetrazzini Chicken Tetrazzini Chili amp Macaroni Tuna in Pouch Tuna in Pouch22 Jambalaya Jambalaya Jambalaya Chicken w Dumplings Chicken w Dumplings Chicken w Dumplings23 Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken w Cavatelli Chicken Pesto amp Pasta Chicken Pesto amp Pasta24 Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Meat Loaf w Gravy Chicken w Salsa Buffalo ChickenMenus 2010 to 2015 MRE XXX 2010 MRE XXXI 2011 MRE XXXII 2012 MRE XXXIII 2013 MRE XXXIV 2014 MRE XXXV 2015 1 Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans2 Pork Rib Chicken Fajita Chicken Fajita Chicken Fajita Shredded BBQ Beef Shredded BBQ Beef3 Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Chicken with Noodles Chicken with Noodles Chicken with Noodles Chicken with Noodles4 Maple Sausage Maple Sausage Pork Sausage w Gravy Pork Sausage w Gravy Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce5 Mediterranean Chicken Mediterranean Chicken Chicken Tomato Feta Mediterranean Chicken Mediterranean Chicken Diced Chicken6 Chicken w Noodles Beef Patty Beef Roast w Vegetables Beef Taco Beef Taco Beef Taco7 Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket8 Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce9 Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew10 Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni11 Vegetable Lasagna Vegetable Lasagna Vegetable Lasagna Vegetable Lasagna Vegetarian Taco Pasta veg 1 Vegetarian Taco Pasta12 Veggie Burger w BBQ Sauce Spicy Penne Pasta veg 1 Spicy Penne Pasta Spicy Penne Pasta Spicy Penne Pasta Spicy Penne Pasta13 Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini14 Spicy Penne Pasta w Vegetarian Sausage Ratatouille veg 1 Ratatouille Ratatouille Ratatouille Ratatouille15 Southwest Beef amp Black Beans Southwest Beef amp Black Beans Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew16 Chicken Fajita Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib Pork Rib17 Sloppy Joe Pork Sausage w Gravy Maple Sausage Maple Sausage Maple Sausage Maple Sausage18 Beef Patty Chicken w Noodles Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli19 Beef Roast w Vegetables Beef Roast w Vegetables Sloppy Joe Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty20 Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Pork Sausage w Gravy Hash Brown Potatoes w Bacon21 Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna22 Chicken and Dumplings Sloppy Joe Asian Beef Strips Asian Beef Strips Asian Beef Strips Asian Style Beef Strips w Peppers23 Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta24 Buffalo Chicken Buffalo Chicken Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black BeansMenus 2016 to 2020 MRE XXXVI 2016 MRE XXXVII 2017 MRE XXXVIII 2018 MRE XXXIX 2019 MRE XL 2020 1 Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans Chili w Beans2 Shredded BBQ Beef Shredded BBQ Beef Shredded BBQ Beef Shredded BBQ Beef Shredded BBQ Beef3 Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables4 Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Spaghetti w Meat Sauce5 Chili and Macaroni Chicken Chunks Chicken Chunks Chicken Chunks Chicken Chunks6 Beef Taco Beef Taco Beef Taco Beef Taco Beef Taco7 Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Beef Brisket8 Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce Meatballs w Marinara Sauce9 Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew Beef Stew10 Chicken Chunks Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni Chili and Macaroni11 Vegetarian Taco Pasta Vegetarian Taco Pasta Vegetarian Taco Pasta Vegetarian Taco Pasta Vegetarian Taco Pasta12 Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce veg 1 Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce13 Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini Cheese Tortellini14 Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine15 Maple Sausage Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew Mexican Style Chicken Stew16 Pork Rib Chicken Burrito Bowl Chicken Burrito Bowl Chicken Burrito Bowl Chicken Burrito Bowl17 Mexican Style Chicken Stew Maple Sausage Maple Sausage Maple Sausage Maple Sausage18 Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli19 Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty20 Hash Brown Potatoes w Bacon Hash Brown Potatoes w Bacon Hash Brown Potatoes w Bacon Hash Brown Potatoes w Bacon Italian Sausage w Vegetables21 Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna Lemon Pepper Tuna22 Asian Style Beef Strips w Vegetables Asian Style Beef Strips w Vegetables Asian Style Beef Strips w Vegetables Beef Goulash Beef Goulash23 Chicken Pesto Pasta Chicken Pesto Pasta Pepperoni Pizza Slice Pepperoni Pizza Slice Pepperoni Pizza Slice24 Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black Beans Southwest Beef and Black BeansMenu 2021 MRE XLI 2021 1 Chili w Beans2 Shredded BBQ Beef3 Chicken w Egg Noodles amp Vegetables4 Spaghetti w Meat Sauce5 Chicken Chunks6 Beef Taco7 Beef Brisket8 Meatballs w Marinara Sauce9 Beef Stew10 Chili and Macaroni11 Vegetarian Taco Pasta12 Elbow Macaroni and Tomato Sauce13 Cheese Tortellini14 Spinach Mushrooms amp Cream Sauce Fettuccine15 Mexican Style Chicken Stew16 Chicken Burrito Bowl17 Maple Sausage18 Beef Ravioli19 Jalapeno Pepper Jack Beef Patty20 Italian Sausage w Vegetables21 Lemon Pepper Tuna22 Beef Goulash23 Pepperoni Pizza Slice24 Southwest Beef and Black Beans a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Vegetarian menu only first appearance footnotedDate codes editThe cases of MREs and their variants usually are marked with the production date in the American fashion 2 digit Month 2 digit Day 4 digit Year e g November 24 1996 would be rendered as 11 24 1996 This is followed by the Lot Number a 4 digit Julian date code that is also repeated on the individual components in the MREs The first digit is the last digit of the Year e g 0 could be equal to 2010 or 2020 1 could be equal to 2001 or 2011 and 9 could be equal to 2009 or 2019 The next 3 digits are equal to the day of the year i e 001 to 366 1068 could be equal to the 68th day of 2001 or 2011 for example March 9 2001 31 2068 could mean March 8 2012 or March 9 2022 the 68th day of 2012 is March 8 due to the presence of a leap day The cases are also stamped with the Inspection Test Date which is in the same format as the Packing Date e g October 1994 would be rendered as 10 94 Rations optimally must be kept in a cool dry place during storage If the rations are stored at 80 for 3 consecutive years they would reach the end of their shelf life They are often inspected by the U S Army veterinary food personnel and their shelf life may extend beyond the inspection test date 32 Rations are discarded after five years citation needed Civilian use edit nbsp New Orleans Mardi Gras revelers in 2006 dressed in coats made from MRE packagingMREs have also been distributed to civilians during natural disasters 1 The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during national disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina Ike Maria and Sandy and the 2011 Super Outbreak The large number of civilians exposed to MREs prompted several jokes during the recent New Orleans Mardi Gras with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as MRE Antoinette referring to Marie Antoinette the wife of King Louis XVI and Man Ready to Eat citation needed The use of rations for noncombat environments has been questioned 13 While the nutritional requirements are suitable for a combat environment where servicemembers will burn many calories and lose much sodium through sweat it has been provided as emergency food or even as a standard meal 33 The high fat averaging about 52 grams of fat 5 grams trans fats citation needed and high salt content averaging about 2 grams 33 are less than ideal for sedentary situations In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a 77 year old civilian man with prior congestive heart failure ended up with volume overload from the high sodium content of MREs 33 The HDR and TOTM account for this nutritional need citation needed Criticisms editSome of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable earning them the nicknames Meals Rejected by Everyone 34 Meals Rejected by Ethiopians during the 1983 1985 famine in Ethiopia or Meals Rarely Edible 35 Some individual portions had their own nicknames For example the frankfurters which came sealed in pouches of four were referred to as the four fingers of death 34 Although quality has improved over the years many of the nicknames have stuck MREs were sometimes called Three Lies for the Price of One it s not a Meal it s not Ready and you can t Eat it 36 As late as the 2010 deployment to Afghanistan one veteran in November 2019 characterized MREs the traditional Thanksgiving meal had been destroyed in an attack and the standard MRE shipment partially destroyed as accursed things 37 Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some so they were also known as Meals Requiring Enemas Meals Refusing to Exit 38 39 Meals Refusing to Excrete or Massive Rectal Expulsions While the laxative effect of xylitol sweetener if excessively consumed may contribute to a myth that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion In December 2006 comedian Al Franken on his eighth United Service Organizations tour at the time joked to troops in Iraq that he had his fifth MRE so far and none of them had an exit strategy 40 By 2015 the average fiber content per pack of MRE has improved to an adequate 12 grams 14 A superstition exists among troops about the Charms candies that come with some menus they are considered bad luck especially if actually eaten 41 42 In March 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune invited three gourmet chefs to taste test 18 MRE meals None of the meals rated higher than a 5 7 average on a scale of 1 to 10 and the chicken fajita meal in particular was singled out for disdain rating an average score of 1 3 43 44 In 2010 the New York Times reported that a French combat ration fr such as cassoulet with accompaniments of deer pate and nougat could be traded for around five MREs 42 though by 2014 it was claimed that MRE menus had improved to the point that their worth had reversed 45 The vegetable cheese omelet MRE Recipe No 4 introduced in 2005 is generally considered the worst ever Soldiers serving in Iraq dubbed it the Vomelet a pun with vomit both for its appearance and taste It was discontinued in 2009 46 Variants and similar rations edit nbsp Halal ration nbsp Humanitarian daily ration nbsp Tailored Operational Training Meal nbsp Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module The MRE has led to the creation of several similar field rations Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module ABOMM are a special variant consisting of repacking existing MRE food elements into a form that provides military flight crews and tank operators with a meal designed to be eaten on the go or while operating their aircraft or ground vehicle without the use of utensils and packaged for use in confined spaces 47 Meal Religious Kosher Halal edit nbsp MRE Tabasco sauce bottleFor servicemembers with strict religious dietary requirements the military offers the specialized Meal Religious Kosher Halal 48 These are tailored to provide the same nutritional content but will not contain offending ingredients 49 The entrees come in distinct stylized packaging with a color picture of the prepared entree on it like civilian pre made meals and the food accessories come in commercial packaging Kosher entrees are marked Glatt Kosher in Hebrew and English while halal entrees are marked Dhabiha Halal in Arabic and English The meals come in cases of 12 that weigh 18 lbs 8 kg and have a volume of 1 4 cubic feet 40 L To keep with dietary laws the entree and accessory packets are packed in two separate inner boxes in an outer case and come in kosher or halal only the two special ration types are never mixed in a shipping case The original meals were kosher only and came in 4 Beef 4 Chicken 2 Salmon and 2 Gefilte Fish menus The meals now come in Beef Lamb Chicken Vegetarian and Pasta dishes The entrees are a mixture of traditional Middle Eastern and Southwest Asian dishes like Lamb amp Vegetable Jalfrezi or Curried Chicken with Basmati Rice Lentils and Vegetables and Western dishes like Vegetable Ratatouille Florentine style Vegetable Lasagna or New Orleans Gumbo with Chicken Each menu contains an average of 1200 kilocalories and has a shelf life of 3 to 10 months There is also a special kosher meal certified for Passover requirements 50 The Passover Ration officially called the Meal Religious Kosher for Passover contains packages of Matzoh crackers and has beef chicken served on the bone or salmon entrees Each meal is in its own packet and come 12 packets to a case For less strictly observing servicemembers non certified pork free menus of the regular MRE are available The DLA offers Meal Ready to Eat MRE Pork Free Individual which consist of 12 menus selected from the regular roster of 24 51 Vegetarian HDR and MARC edit The Humanitarian Daily Ration HDR is a self contained Halal meal designed to be given to refugees and other displaced people It is designed to feed a person for a full day and the menus are intended to be palatable to many religious and cultural tastes To meet this goal no animal products or by products no alcohol or alcohol based products and minimal dairy products are used in their production It is otherwise created and packaged much like MREs feedback from the Afghanistan campaign led to the interior packing being reinforced to withstand being air dropped as the packets sometimes ruptured on impact The outer bag is tinted a high visibility red or yellow and has an American flag and a picture of a person eating out of the bag with a spoon There are usually instructions printed on it in English and one or more local languages as well The Meal Alternative Regionally Customized MARC is a self contained shelf stable meal developed by U S Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command SBCCOM Natick Individual Combat Ration Team ICRT Combat Feeding Directorate CFD MARCs were developed specifically for detainees at Guantanamo Bay and have since found wider spread use notably Iraq and Afghanistan MARC meals are entirely vegetarian as an easy way to prevent conflicts with culturally prohibited products Islam and Judaism forbidding pork Hindus avoiding beef etc They are neither Kosher nor Halal certified Many of the menus available have a Southeast Asian or Indian style to them Saag Chole curried vegetables but others are simply the equivalent of vegetarian MREs Cheese Tortellini Minestrone 52 Higher calorie variants edit nbsp A Meal Cold Weather MCW and a Meal Long Range Patrol LRP In extreme cold temperatures the packaged wet food in MREs can freeze solid rendering the food inedible and the heating packet insufficient The Meal Cold Weather MCW provides a ration similar to the MRE designed for lower temperatures than the MRE can withstand Clad in white packaging it offers a freeze dried entree designed to be eaten with heated water the same side ingredients as the standard MRE and additional drink mixes to encourage additional hydration The caloric and fat content of the meals is also increased 53 The MCW replaced the Ration Cold Weather RCW 54 The Meal Long Range Patrol LRP is essentially the same as the MCW but with different accessory packs The MLRP is designed for troops who may receive limited or no supply and weight of the ration is critical 53 The similar First Strike Ration is along the same lines but requires no preparation and may be eaten on the go Special requirement food edit The Modular Operational Rations Enhancement MORE is issued as a supplement to meals for troops in extreme demanding operational environments such as high intensity training events 55 56 The Tailored Operational Training Meal TOTM first entered service in May 2001 It provides a lower calorie count an average of 997 kilocalories for less intensive training environments such as classroom instruction It replaces the earlier mess hall bagged lunches catered meals or field kitchens for field instruction The TOTM allows troops to become familiar with the MRE and its contents without providing an excessive amount of calories to troops who will not necessarily burn them It uses a transparent outer plastic bag with commercial markings rather than the MRE s tan plastic bag with standard markings There are currently 3 different lists of twelve menus making a total of 36 different meals Each TOTM ration case is packed with a full menu of 12 assorted meals weighs about 20 lbs 9 kg and is 0 95 cubic feet 27 L The TOTM has a more limited shelf life than the MRE with a duration of only 12 to 18 months 57 The Unitized Group Ration UGR is a ration much like the MRE but expanded to feed large groups It is the successor to the older A ration B ration and T ration It comes packed in sealed metal trays that are heated and then opened The Food Packet Survival General Purpose Improved FPSGPI is given to pilots and other servicemembers that may require a small extremely portable food ration for emergencies It contains food bars and a drink mix 58 Similarly the Food Packet Survival Abandon Ship FPSAS and Food Packet Survival Aircraft Life Raft FPSALR are fitted into the storage areas on lifeboats 59 60 The Jimmy Dean a pre packaged shelf stable ration containing among other items a pre made Jimmy Dean brand deli style sandwich is often issued in the field to U S servicemen as an alternative to MREs 61 Ratfucking editThe term ratfucking rat in this case is shorthand for ration is a slang term used by U S military personnel to describe the targeted pillaging of MREs which the military officially calls field stripping It refers to the process of opening a case of MREs which are packed 12 in a box opening up individual MRE packages removing the desired items and leaving the unenticing remainder 62 See also edit nbsp Food portalAirline meal Camping food Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center prime developer of the MRE Military chocolate United States Individual Meal Pack Canadian equivalent to the MRE Ninja diet List of military food topics Space foodReferences edit a b https www ucl ac uk rdr teaching acc risk disaster reduction mres permanent dead link Mason V C Meyer A V and Klicka M V Summary of Operational Rations Natick MA U S Army Natick Research amp Development Laboratory Technical Report TR 82 013 June 1982 The MRE was officially type classified for adoption in 1975 but due to budget cuts was not officially placed into production until 1981 stocks of the MCI continued to be issued until exhausted General Orders 8 August 1775 access date March 2022 url https founders archives gov documents Washington 03 01 02 0173 a b Kearny Cresson H Major Jungle Snafus And Remedies Oregon Institute 1996 pp 286 291 Spam Turns 80 History and Origins of Canned Meat Time Retrieved November 15 2017 Industrial Assessment for the Meal Ready to Eat MRE PDF Department of Defense December 1995 Retrieved February 6 2024 Burgess Lisa March 16 2008 MRES it could be worse and it was Stars and Stripes Retrieved March 27 2021 English U S Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service noting Dr Rauno A Lampi s work on the creation and development of the MRE February 3 2017 via Wikimedia Commons Oleksyk Lauren E Pickard Donald Trottier Robert April 1993 Development of the Flameless Ration Heater for the Meal Ready to Eat PDF United States Army Natick Research Development and Engineering Center Retrieved February 6 2014 MRE Info Retrieved April 20 2008 Hearst Magazines October 2000 Army Goes Gourmet Popular Mechanics Hearst Magazines pp 68 71 ISSN 0032 4558 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a journal ignored help Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intake a b c d Martin Don February 24 2008 Anatomy of an MRE Neil Gunton Retrieved October 6 2009 permanent dead link a b McClung HL Armstrong NJ Hennigar SR Staab JS Montain SJ Karl JP November 2020 Randomized Trial Comparing Consumption of Military Rations to Usual Intake for 21 Consecutive Days Nutrient Adequacy and Indicators of Health Status Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 120 11 1791 1804 doi 10 1016 j jand 2020 06 018 PMID 32828737 S2CID 221278293 Institute of Medicine U S Committee on Optimization of Nutrient Composition of Military Rations for Short Term High Stress Situations Nutrient composition of rations for short term high intensity combat operations pp 15 27 MRE Dairy Shake Recall Retrieved March 19 2019 Meals Ready To Eat goarmy com Retrieved March 19 2019 Peggy Milhelich September 13 2007 Grub chow mystery meat combat food 2 0 CNN com Retrieved September 14 2007 Bertrand Kate Military Packages Puttechnology to the Test Archived from the original on March 15 2006 a b c d Investigation Military Meals Ready To Eat Sold on eBay PDF United States Government Accountability Office 2 3 February 13 2006 Retrieved March 1 2007 GAO 06 410R Investigation Military Meals Ready To Eat Sold on eBay PDF Retrieved March 19 2019 US Govt vs eBay MRE Auctions Retrieved March 19 2019 Technology News Analysis Comments and Product Reviews for IT Professionals ZDNet Retrieved March 19 2019 Powers Rod UCMJ Article 108 is the Destruction of Government Property The Balance Careers Retrieved March 19 2019 a b Jordan Lara Jakes October 30 2005 U S investigates sale of MREs on eBay USA Today Retrieved March 1 2007 Ameriqual APack MREInfo Retrieved September 6 2020 Buying MREs MRE Info Retrieved June 12 2022 Sabillo Kristine Angeli December 4 2013 Palace Cops must stop sale of US ready to eat meals newsinfo inquirer net Retrieved March 29 2016 Andrew Craig What Comes in an MRE Detailed Report with 10 Examples Easy MRE Archived from the original on June 17 2020 Retrieved June 16 2020 Meal Ready to Eat Menu History PDF Sopakco 2006 Archived from the original PDF on October 7 2011 Retrieved November 23 2010 MRE Date Codes MRE Info Retrieved October 6 2019 Operational Rations of the Department of Defense PDF August 2012 Retrieved October 6 2019 a b c Feagans Jacob M Jahann Darius A Barkin Jamie S March 2010 Meals ready to eat a brief history and clinical vignette with discussion on civilian applications Military Medicine 175 3 194 196 doi 10 7205 milmed d 09 00049 ISSN 0026 4075 PMID 20358710 a b Severson Kim April 7 2003 A lot of cooks in the MRE kitchen San Francisco Chronicle pp A 20 Retrieved February 11 2007 McKenna Tech Sgt Pat April 1 1998 Lean Mean Fighting Cuisine Airman Magazine Air Force News Agency Archived from the original on February 3 2009 Retrieved February 11 2007 Bazelon Emily Phillip Carter Dahlia Lithwick September 27 2006 What Is Torture An interactive primer on American interrogation Slate pp Taxonomy of Torture Dietary Manipulation Retrieved February 11 2007 Chivers C G November 18 2019 Thanksgiving At War 2001 2019 The New York Times Retrieved December 7 2019 Simkins J D October 23 2019 Meal Refusing to Exit scientific study backs long held belief that MREs make it harder to defecate Army Times Retrieved January 5 2021 Meal ready to eat Retrieved February 11 2007 Al Franken delivers message and entertainment for deployed troops Retrieved March 19 2019 Evan Wright 2004 Generation Kill Devil Dogs Iceman Captain America and the new face of American war New York NY G P Putnam s Sons p 83 ISBN 0 399 15193 1 a b Gilbertson Ashley September 4 2010 A Taste of Home in Foil Packets and Powder The New York Times Retrieved May 8 2017 Word of mouth on Ready to Eat with video Salt Lake Tribune Archived from the original on August 16 2016 Retrieved March 19 2019 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine The Salt Lake Tribune March 11 2008 Salt Lake chefs rate the MRE Retrieved March 19 2019 via YouTube Field Rations Go Gourmet National Geographic July 15 2014 Archived from the original on August 22 2022 Retrieved March 16 2023 Lunn Zachary May 6 2019 The Legend of the Vomelet Slate Retrieved May 7 2019 Foran Alexandra March 13 2013 Fighting Fuel for Military Aviators US Army Retrieved March 15 2013 Deep Concern Flatbush Jewish Journal February 6 2014 p 40 production of kosher and halal MRE s Meal Religious Kosher Halal factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved March 19 2019 Meal Religious Kosher for Passover factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved March 19 2019 Meal Ready to Eat MRE Pork Free Individual www dla mil Meal Alternative Regionally Customized MARC www dla mil Retrieved March 19 2019 a b Meal Cold Weather Long Range Patrol MCW LRP www dla mil Ration Cold Weather Retrieved March 19 2019 Zanchi Joseph Foran Alexandra March 10 2014 MORE is better when it comes to food rations U S Army NSRDEC GUIDON Staff January 23 2020 FLW issues MOREs to trainees Archived from the original on February 4 2020 Tailored Operational Training Meal TOTM Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved December 12 2019 Food Packet Survival General Purpose Improved factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved March 19 2019 Food Packet Survival Abandon Ship factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved March 19 2019 Food Packet Survival Aircraft Life Raft factsheet by the Defense Logistics Agency Retrieved March 19 2019 U S Jimmy Dean MREInfo com www mreinfo com Retrieved March 19 2019 Wright Evan 2005 Generation Kill Penguin p 61 ISBN 9781101207611 Retrieved August 3 2016 The process of tearing through an MRE and picking out the goodies is called ratfucking Colbert s team maintains a ratfuck bag in their Humvee for all the discarded MRE entrees saving them for a rainy day Further reading editMarx de Salcedo Anastacia 2015 Combat ready Kitchen How the U S military shapes the way you eat New York Current Penguin ISBN 978 1101601648 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meal Ready to Eat Operational Rations of the Department of Defense 9th Edition How MREs Work NPR All Things Considered mentions the new MRE menu for 2004 at 5 minutes 02 seconds Military Packages Put Technology to the Test MRE taste test Airman staff goes tactical to spill the beans on meals ready to eat Military buys special meals for Jewish Muslim troops Archived 2020 08 04 at the Wayback Machine MREInfo com Complete source of information on MREs both in US and International Ready To Eat 30 Years of the MRE The Eat of Battle how the World s Armies get fed How long do MRES last Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meal Ready to Eat amp oldid 1207877544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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