United States military ration

United States Military Ration

The United States military ration refers to various preparations and packages of food provided to feed the United States Armed Forces. The military ration, also known as combat ration, is designed to be carried by soldiers on the battlefield and provide nutrition in any operational condition.

History

The history of the United States military ration can be traced back to the American Revolutionary War. The first rations were issued on a campaign basis and consisted of a specified number of days' rations. The rations evolved over time, with changes made to meet the nutritional and logistical needs of the soldiers.

Types of Rations

There are several types of rations used by the United States military. These include:

• Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE): The MRE is a self-contained, individual field ration in lightweight packaging. It is the successor to the older C-Ration and K-Ration and is intended for use in combat or other field conditions where organized food facilities are not available.

• First Strike Ration (FSR): The FSR is a compact, eat-on-the-move ration designed to be consumed during the first 72 hours of intense conflict.

• Meal, Cold Weather (MCW): The MCW is a ration designed for cold weather feeding. It contains freeze-dried food items and is intended for use in temperatures below freezing.

Nutritional Content

The nutritional content of the United States military ration is designed to provide high-energy, high-protein meals to sustain soldiers in various operational conditions. The rations are also fortified with vitamins and minerals to meet the nutritional needs of soldiers.

See Also

• List of military food topics
• History of military nutrition in the United States
• United States Army field feeding system