Fielded Individual Ration Improvement Program

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Fielded Individual Ration Improvement Program

• Judith M. Aylward
• Combat Feeding Program
• Email judith.aylward_at_natick.army.mil
• Com/DSN 508-233-4448/256-4448

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MRE Improvements

• 203 new items approved since 1993
• Replaced 61 least acceptable items
• Increased the number of menus from 12-24
• Four vegetarian menus (2 in each case)
• Implemented nutritional labeling, trans fat and
  allergen labeling
• New hot beverage bag in every meal
• New zip-lock drink pouch provided with dairy
  beverages

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MRE Improvements
Hot Beverage Bag
Zip Lock Drink Pouch
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Fielded Individual Ration Improvement Program

• MRE/UGR Field Evaluation
• 2nd 12th Field Artillery Unit, Ft. Lewis, WA
• Yakima Training Area
• 4-9 October 06
• UGR Heat Serve or UGR A Ration
• for breakfast or dinner
• MRE for lunch
• 400 soldiers/day
• Eight MRE test menus,
• (29 new items)
• MRE 26 - control

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Approved for MRE XXIX

• Entrees/Starches
• IN
• Buffalo Chicken
• Beef Brisket w/Gravy
• Maple Sausage
• Potato Cheddar Soup

• Out
• Chicken with Salsa
• Meat Loaf
• Veggie Omelet
• Clam Chowder

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Approved for MRE XXIX

• Snacks/Desserts
• Chocolate chip snack bar
• Cran apple snack bar
• Biscuits
• Cornbread
• French Toast Cookie
• Cracker Combos, Pepperoni
• Cracker Combos, Cheddar

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Fielded Individual Ration Improvement Program

• Approved Condiments MRE 29
• Ranch Dressing
• True Lemon Packet

Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dressing Rock
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MRE/UGR Field Test 07

• 11th ADA, Ft. Bliss, TX
• 8-17 August
• 400 Warfighters per day
• UGR Heat Serve or UGR A
• for breakfast or dinner
• MRE for lunch
• Eight MRE test menus (35 new items)
• MRE 27 control

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MRE Field Test Items 07

• Mediterranean Chicken
• Sliced Turkey with Gravy
• Salisbury Steak
• Lentil Chili
• Southwest Chicken and Pasta
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes/Apple
• Southwest Beef Black Beans
• BBQ Chicken Breast

Horizontal tear pouch
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First Strike Ration (FSR)

• Compact, eat-on-the-move combat assault ration
  for use during initial periods of highly intense,
  highly mobile combat operations
• Modular, lightweight, low cube
• Eat on the move
• Performance enhancing
• OTSG approved as a restricted
• calorie ration (10 days)
• Provides 2900 Kcals/day
• 3 menus, 9 meals per case (3 each kind)
• 2 year shelf life at 80ºF

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First Strike Ration (FSR)

• Conducted Field Test
• 16-28 July 2006
• Ft. Bragg, NC
• Airborne Infantry Battalion,
• 4th Brigade
• 100 Soldiers participated
• Collected Acceptability Consumption Data
• Activity monitors on sub-group (USARIEM)

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First Strike Ration Components

• Test Entrees
• Albacore Tuna
• Chunk Chicken
• Honey BBQ Beef Pocket
• Italian Pocket
• Pepperoni Pocket
• Test Breakfast Items
• Filled French Toast Pocket
• Plain Bagel
• Bacon Cheddar Pocket

• Test Snacks
• Mini First Stike Energy Bars
• Cran-Raspberry
• Apple Cinnamon
• Chocolate
• Mocha
• Dessert Bars
• Mocha
• Chocolate Banana Nut
• Peanut Butter
• Beef Jerky
• Teriyaki or Sweet BBQ
• Trail Mix

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First Strike Ration OT Results

• Test Performance Enhancers
• Zapplesauce
• CHO enhanced applesauce
• ERGO Drink
• Fruit Punch
• Lemon-Lime
• Caffeinated Gum
• Provided a higher degree of alertness based upon
  Warfighter feedback

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First Strike Ration Sample Menu

• Brown sugar cinnamon toaster pastry
• Italian pocket sandwich
• Chunk chicken
• Tortillas
• Peanut butter
• Cracker
• ERGO Drink (2)
• First Strike Energy BarTM (2)
• Dessert Bar, Mocha
• Beef Snack (2)
• ZapplesauceTM
• Nut fruit mix
• Caffeinated Gum
• Mayonnaise
• Hot Sauce

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First Strike Ration (FSR)

• FSR and Shelf Stable Sandwiches sent to theater
• 6 pallets FSR ( 2592 meal packets)
• 34 pallets Shelf Stable Sandwiches (57120
  units)
• Support to USARIEM for increased CHO menu field
  evaluation 4Q07
• Transition of new items
• Dessert bar, filled french toast, filled pastry
• Energy Gels
• Bagel and bacon cheddar sandwich
• Force wraps
• Savory spreads
• Protein drinks

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First Strike Ration (FSR)

• Status
• Joint Decision Board (Army-USMC-DLA) - 02 Nov 06
  
• Transitioned (Nov 06) to DLA (DSCP) for
  procurement
• Transition of FSR to Assault/Special Purpose
  Ration Improvement Program
• Initiation of menu expansion
• Solicitation on the street, closing date 5 June
  07
• Available for procurement in late 2007