MEALS, READY TO EAT (MRE)
No article on military food would be complete without mentioning MREs. These have replaced the old "C-Rations," and "Field Rations." We could get into a debate which would last for years about which is better -- C-Rations or MREs. I personally prefer MREs.
MREs are sealed, foil envelopes (rather hard to open sometimes), and can be eaten cold (yech!) or heated up. The packet contains an entree, a side dish, crackers & cheese spread, a desert item, cocoa powder, and a few other misc. snack items. There are several choices of entrees, including: Bean & Rice Burrito, Beef Frankfurters, Beef Ravioli in Meat Sauce, Beef Steak, Beef Stew, Beef Tamale, Cheese Tortellini, Chicken & Rice, Chicken Stew, Chili & Macaroni, Corn Beef Hash, Escalloped Potatoes & Ham, Grilled Chicken Breast, Ham Slice, Meatballs Beef & Rice in Spicy Tomato Sauce, Omelet with Ham, Pasta w/ Vegetables in Tomato Sauce, pork Chop in Jamaican Style Sauce w/ Noodles, Pork Patty, Potatoes Au Gratin, BBQ Pork & Rice, Pork Chow Mein, Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce, Turkey Breast in Gravy w/ potatoes, Tuna w/ Noodles.
The above list may not be (probably won't be) totally accurate when you read this. One interesting thing since the development of MREs is that every couple of years the Department of Defense surveys military members to find out which dishes were popular and which were not. Unpopular menu items are taken out of service, and new menu items are introduced all the time.
I strongly recommend staying away from the Beef Ravioli.
You don't have to join the military to try a MRE. They are available in many camping stores, and most military surplus stores.
Continued in Part 8 - Education Programs
Other Parts to this Series:
- Part 1 -- Choosing a Military Service
- Part 2 -- Meeting the Recruiter
- Part 3 -- The Enlistment Process and Job Selection
- Part 4 -- Enlistment Contracts and Enlistment Incentives
- Part 5 -- Military Pay
- Part 6 -- Housing, Housing Allowance, and Barracks
- Part 8 -- Education Programs
- Part 9 -- Leave (Vacation), and Job Training
- Part 10 -- Assignments
- Part 11 -- Promotions
- Part 12 -- Military Medical Care
- Part 13 -- Commissaries and Exchanges
- Part 14 -- Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR) Activities
