First Strike Rations and Unitized Group Ration-Express

[Abdul Alhazred]

The US military's new yummies have passed the official taste test.

Heidelberg Soldiers Taste Test Two New MREs

Soldiers here have just tested two new rations being fielded for servicemembers this year: an on-the-go compact ration based on pocket sandwiches, and a kind of kitchen-in-a-box that prepares hot meals for 18 people with just the pull of a tab.

...

The First Strike Ration is a small package meant to substitute for three MREs. It has fewer calories, roughly 3,000 versus the three MREs' 3,900, but is more compact. Better yet, it needs no water for preparation other than that which is added to the beverage mix.

The meals themselves are in the form of pocket sandwiches, to be eaten by hand with a minimum of fuss. Ms. Evangelos calls it the "assault ration."

...

When things calm down enough to allow a more leisurely meal, the Soldiers can pull out the Unitized Group Ration-Express, or as Ms. Evangelos calls it, the "kitchen in a carton."

The UGR-E packs into a surprisingly compact carton. To heat the meal, a Soldier merely opens the box, then, without removing anything, pulls a tab which releases a salt water solution that reacts chemically to heat the four trays of food in about 35 minutes.

That releases a cloud of steam and some hydrogen gas. "Naturally," Ms. Evangelos said, "you aren't going to be doing this in an enclosed area."

The box contains everything needed for 18 meals, including trays, a trash bag and serving utensils.

...

Back during World War Two, they had 'shit on a shingle'.

During the Vietnam era it was 'ham and motherfuckers'.

I wonder what these will be called?

[California Tanker]

I don't know, but it can't be any worse than the Vegetable Manicotti. If there is any MRE which I will throw back instead of eating, that's it. Possible exception of the Jambalaya, as that has shrimp in it, and I'm not a seafood fan.

NTM

[TomJoe]

Didn't the US Army have the "kitchen in a box" rations during WWII? I recall reading it in one of the WWII history books I've been reading. Not many combat soldiers actually got to use it (outside of tankers, since they were the only ones capable of carrying it) on a regular basis though.

Perhaps with warfare being different nowadays (more of a "return to base at the end of the day"), the kitchen in a box will be more useful. But then again, when they return to base ... wouldn't they use the mess hall?

Edited to Add: I'm referring to the "10 in 1".

[godfry n. glad]

I'm wondering if the troops take a KBR contractor into action with them to set up the UGR. I understand that there is no longer any KP duty in the military, as all the mess halls are run by private contractors, primarily KBR Services.

[California Tanker]

Mess halls are run by private contractors, yes. Field Kitchens are still on the MTOE, and any time I've gone out and about with my tank this year, we've been eating out of field kitchens cooked by troops.

T-Rats are still out there. (40-man ration packs).

NTM