If I'm going to continue with the Military theme for Memorial week on my KRUSING AMERICA blog then Friday Foodie has to be MRE's: Meals, Ready-to-Eat. I grew up with an Army Dad - Back then they were called C-Rations – The Soldiers Food Supply in the Military. Until this research I really had no idea exactly where C-Rations or MRE's came from….read on to learn more.
Below is a cool picture from a US Airman's Meal, Combat, Individual C-ration in DaNang, Vietnam, circa 1966 - 1967 and a few fun food facts that not too many people would know:
The history of C-Ration, or Type C ration, started with an individual canned, pre-cooked, and prepared wet ration. It was intended to be issued to US military land forces when fresh food (A-ration) or packaged unprepared food (B-ration) prepared in mess halls or field kitchens was impractical or not available, and when a survival ration (K-ration or D-ration) was insufficient.
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| "Crations" by Paul Mashburn (Flickr user: Mushy's Captures) |
Development began in 1938 with the first rations being field tested in 1940 and wide-scale adoption following soon after. The C ration was replaced in 1958 with the Meal Combat Individual (MCI). Although officially a new ration, the MCI was derived from and very similar to the original C ration, and in fact continued to be called "C rations" by American troops throughout its production life as a combat ration (1958–1980).
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| From http://my-vietnam-stories.blogspot.com |
Although the replacement for the MCI, the MRE, was formally adopted as the Department of Defense combat ration in 1975, the first large-scale production test did not occur until in 1978 with the first MRE I rations packed and delivered in 1981. While the MRE officially replaced the MCI in 1981, previously packed MCI rations continued to be issued until depleted.
MRE (MEALS, READY-TO-EAT)
Quick nutrition for soldiers on the go
Quick nutrition for soldiers on the go
MREs are the main operational food ration for the United States Armed Forces. It originated from the c-rations and k-rations from World War II, and later developed into MCI (Meal, Combat, Individual) rations used in Korea and Vietnam. In 1980 the MRE was developed and is still the U.S. Army's primary ration.
Generally, a MRE contains the following items:
HOW TO EAT A MRE
A MRE is truly a "Meal Ready to Eat", although it tastes much better when heated with the supplied ration heater and powdered drinks are mixed with water. The contents—heated and cold—can be eaten out of the wrappers with the plastic utensils provided. The meals are designed to be cooked and eaten anywhere, at any time. There is no need to find a table or a kitchen in which to set up.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Entree - the main course, such as spaghetti or beef stew
- Side dish - rice, corn, fruit, or mashed potatoes, etc.
- Cracker or bread
- Spread - peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread
- Dessert - cookies or pound cakes
- Candy - M&Ms, Skittles, or Tootsie Rolls
- Beverages - Gatorade-like mixes, cocoa, dairy shakes, coffee, tea
- Hot sauce or seasoning - in some MREs
- Flameless Ration Heater - to heat the entree
- Accessories - spoon, matches, creamer, sugar, salt, chewing gum, toilet paper, etc.
HOW TO EAT A MRE
A MRE is truly a "Meal Ready to Eat", although it tastes much better when heated with the supplied ration heater and powdered drinks are mixed with water. The contents—heated and cold—can be eaten out of the wrappers with the plastic utensils provided. The meals are designed to be cooked and eaten anywhere, at any time. There is no need to find a table or a kitchen in which to set up.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Soldiers can choose from up to 24 entrees, and more than an additional 150 items in the MRE chain.
- MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 1,250 feet, and non-parachute drops of 100 feet.
- The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 80 degrees F or nine months at 100 degrees F.
- Spread - peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread
- In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as service members began to depend more on CamelBaks or other hydration bladders than canteens, which denied them the use of the metal canteen cups 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.
- Founded in 1987, AmeriQual, headquartered in Evansville, Indian, is the largest provider of Meals, Ready-to-Eat to the U.S. military.
Partial Content provided by:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-ration
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