Help support TMP


"MRE History" Topic


7 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please do not post offers to buy and sell on the main forum.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the Modern Discussion (1946 to 2013) Message Board

Back to the Cold War (1946-1989) Message Board


Areas of Interest

Modern

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Recent Link


Featured Ruleset

The Clash of Armor


Rating: gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star 


Featured Showcase Article

MEA Infantry Squad [BEvo]

The Editor snaps some photos of the pre-painted Middle Eastern infantry from Mongoose's new game, Battlefield Evolution.


Featured Profile Article


Current Poll


Featured Book Review


879 hits since 9 Dec 2019
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP09 Dec 2019 3:15 p.m. PST

"The MRE was adopted as the Department of Defense combat ration in 1975. A large-scale production test began in 1978 with delivery in 1981. MRE I (1981) was the first date of pack.

In 1983, a field evaluation was conducted with the 25th Infantry Division for 34 days. They ate noting but MREs three times a day. Although troops rated the ration as acceptable, consumption was low – only about 60% of the calories provided were consumed.

Another test in 1986 with the same division resulted in increased consumption and acceptance…"
Main page

link

Amicalement
Armand

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP09 Dec 2019 4:48 p.m. PST

We got'm in the 2ID in about '85 IIRC ? Much better than Cs !!!!!

Eumelus Supporting Member of TMP09 Dec 2019 4:58 p.m. PST

In basic training at Ft Benning in the summer of '83, we had about a 50/50 mix of Cs and MREs while on field training. There were some good bits in the Cs (I particularly liked the peaches), but overall even in '83 the MREs were clearly an improvement. Still, the P38 was as nifty a piece of gear as was ever invented.

Thresher0109 Dec 2019 7:21 p.m. PST

"Another test in 1986 with the same division resulted in increased consumption and acceptance".

Makes me wonder how much of that was voluntary, and how much was mandated by senior officers from above.

Raynman Supporting Member of TMP09 Dec 2019 9:47 p.m. PST

I loved the tangy BBQ sauce in the early MRE's. Until one of them attacked me, I spent three days in the hospital with food poisoning! Hurt so bad, I wished I was dead!!

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP10 Dec 2019 8:23 a.m. PST

Makes me wonder how much of that was voluntary, and how much was mandated by senior officers from above.
I'm pretty sure they just issued them and that is what you got to eat.

Just like with the old Cs. You got whatever meal was handed to you. You could trade with the others in your unit. In the old Cs leftover from Vietnam there would come a pack of 4 cigarettes. I didn't smoke but you could trade those to the guys who did. For some of the "better" C rat components. E.g. Pound Cake, Beans & Wienies, Tuna Fish, etc. !

Raynman
I've got about 8-9 old MREs and some MRE bread in my garage. I got issued them in '90. Should I mail them to you to see if they are still good ? wink

Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP10 Dec 2019 11:45 a.m. PST

(smile)


Amicalement
Armand

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.