Now you can order Black Rifle Coffee in a can.
12 packs of 11 oz cans are available in two flavors:
-Espresso Mocha: Espresso Mocha comes to you with an explosive coffee backbone and a freedom-filled mocha finish.
-Espresso with Cream: Espresso with Cream features smooth Colombian coffee accented by a well-deserved splash of decadent sweet cream.
www.blackriflecoffee.com/products/brcc-canned-coffee
PHILADELPHIA, March 3, 2020 —
For 40 years, warfighters have feasted on the “famous” Meal, Ready-to-Eat. But thanks to a partnership between the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Subsistence supply chain and the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate, that is not the only individual combat ration available.
Today, there are several different types of individual rations with varying menu options to fuel the body for warfighters serving in traditional field locations, on the front line of an initial encounter and in locations with extreme temperatures.
As operational environments and warfighters’ physical demands change, so do the requirements that begin a ration’s life cycle.
“The service will determine that they need a specific ration to fulfill a specific need,” Harry Streibich, Subsistence Operational Rations division chief, said. “Then Natick [Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate] conducts research to test and develop a meal that meets the services operational and nutritional requirements.”
According to a representative from the Combat Feeding Directorate, the life cycle of an individual ration, can span a decade from concept to the field.
The MRE
“In general, most changes require from 24-36 months when you consider product development, nutritional analysis, accelerated storage and sensory evaluation, field testing with soldiers, Joint Service Operational Ration Forum (JSORF) review, technical data and procurement documents finalized and transitioned to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support,” a Combat Feeding Directorate representative said.
Once the service approves the new ration, the Subsistence supply chain procures it.
“Individual rations are provided by three to four primary vendors who make the entrees and assemble the rations in-house,” Streibich said. “Through a network of subcontractors, the vendors provide the individual components of each ration.”
The MRE is the longest standing individual ration, and the most purchased ration from DLA.
“At the beginning of the year we buy at least 2.5 million cases of MREs,” Streibich said. “Based on usage we buy additional cases half way through [the year]. This year alone we are expecting to buy an additional 650,000 cases.”
Streibich said that for fiscal 2019, Subsistence bought $434 million of individual rations. Of that, the MRE represented $421 million, which represents 96 percent of all individual ration sales.
Dynamic needs, specialized options
For warfighters finding themselves in the initial stages of conflict, they have the option of the First Strike Ration – a compact, eat-on-the-move meal.
The FSR was created about 10 years ago, and Subsistence purchases approximately 60,000 cases each year, according to Streibich.
“It is a stripped down version of MRE that meets the immediate needs of the warfighter for the first 72 hours of battle,” Streibich said.
Another individual ration that units can request is the Modular Operational Ration Enhancement for warfighters operating in environments of extreme heat or cold, Streibich said. The MORE provides extra calories to account for strenuous activity in high altitude, cold weather or hot weather environments.
“This meal supplements the MRE, and provides higher calorie foods such as dehydrated items that will not freeze in colder climates such as in Alaska or Norway, “Streibich said.
Subsistence also provides rations for Warfighters with religious dietary restrictions.
The Troop Support rations team procures about 40,000 cases of Halal and 8,000 cases of Kosher meals to meet the yearly demand, Streibich said.
Global, dynamic readiness
Regardless of the warfighters’ mission, each individual ration is designed as a packaged, shelf-stable item intended to provide complete and balanced nutrition, the Combat Feeding Directorate representative said.
“These rations are typically used to sustain individuals during operations that prevent the use of organized food service facilities,” the Combat Feeding Directorate representative said. “They may be consumed continuously and exclusively for several days, or longer, based on mission requirements and logistics infrastructure within an area of operations.”
For more information about Operational Rations, visit DLA Troop Support’s Operational Rations web page.
By Alexandria Brimage-Gray
Most of the backpacking food you run across at OR are dehydrated. Camp Fare offers ready to eat entrees and sides, in retort pouches like MREs.
Created by Andrew Sarda, an executive chef, outdoorsman, and world traveler, Camp Fare meals are not only tasty, but healthy as well, using fresh ingredients. Like MREs, these meals are shelf stable for years, depending on how they are stored.
This was my favorite find at OR. I tried everything but the Salmon and it was magnifique. I hope they expand their line. Coming soon to the Air Force with maybe a nice Chianti?
I’d never thought I’d say hat about powdered anything, but Milkman Powdered Milk tastes great.
It is available in regular and chocolate flavors, it offers a way to take milk with you, wherever you go. Just add water. The quart packages are shelf stable for one-year.
It is low-fat but a quart package of the chocolate offers 18g of protein per serving.
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Fort Leonard Wood’s trainees are feeling the benefits of additional nutrients during high-intensity training events.
The Modular Operational Rations Enhancements — commonly referred to as MOREs — provide Soldiers with 1,000 additional calories in the form of protein and electrolytes.
According to Capt. Elizabeth Ressler, Moncrief Army Health Clinic Nutrition Care Division chief at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, MOREs were developed to compensate for calorie deficits Soldiers experience during high-intensity activities and are designed to compensate for lost nutrients without replacing daily meals. Caloric deficits have been found to decrease performance, health and overall readiness.
In August 2019, the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training authorized MOREs for basic combat trainees during 17 of the especially physically demanding field training days.
“MOREs can be utilized in support of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness System,” said Lt. Col. Peggy Kageleiry, Army Center for Initial Military Training Public Affairs director at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. “The nutritional readiness domain of H2F encompasses the Army’s nutrition-centric programming and covers all aspects of optimal health, performance and recovery in close proximity to where Soldiers train.”
According to Bill Moffitt, Fort Leonard Wood’s installation food program manager, the post received more than 1,700 cases of cold-weather MOREs in October. The small packaged snacks, including caffeinated pudding and gum, dried fruit, energy gel packs and filled pretzels offer drill instructors here quick, authorized nutritional supplement options for trainees before, during and after events.
Caffeine — historically restricted in basic combat training — is used to provide and replenish energy and is distributed in a controlled manner.
Company E, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment has seen the benefits of MOREs since integrating them into their BCT training schedule in the fall.
“The MOREs provide trainees a little extra fuel during increased levels of stress,” said Company E Commander Capt. Michael Krant. “There’s a mental element where trainees get a little pick me up by being able to have a quick snack during some of the more stressful parts of their training.”
MOREs have been authorized for use during specific BCT events such as The Hammer, The Anvil and The Forge — some of the most physically demanding basic combat training days.
Company E drill sergeant Staff Sgt. La-Tia Rondeau said she has seen the benefits that MOREs bring to trainees during energy sapping events like ruck marches.
“Because we only utilize them during certain events, I believe it has been extremely beneficial — especially when they eat before, during and after (events),” Rondeau said. “They have more energy, they stay awake and they’re more alert throughout the ruck march.”
Pfc. Oksana Schornak, a Company E trainee, said the boost of energy MOREs provide helps trainees accomplish team tasks.
“It gives us a lot of energy,” she said. “If everyone has the energy we can do it together.”
Rondeau added that the convenient size of the snacks reduces the amount of interruptions during the marches, expediting the overall process.
“We give (the MOREs) to them before and tell them when they can eat it,” Rondeau said. “They can pull it out of their pocket, eat it, and we continue the mission.”
“It’s quick to eat, especially if we have to be quick on our feet,” Schornak added.
According to Kageleiry, the H2F System is the Army’s investment in enhancing Soldier lethality and readiness and optimizing physical and non-physical performance and demonstrates the Army’s commitment to its people, the Army’s greatest strength and most important weapon system.
Krant said when used sparingly, the MOREs are helping his trainees meet their potential.
“The calories we’re adding into our trainees’ days are matching the intensity we’re expecting out of them on those days,” he said. “They get (MOREs) when they’ll be most beneficial — during that high-exertion training. We’re getting good results and great feedback.”
By Amanda Sullivan
StrikeForce has released their first flavor of energy bars.
Sold as 4 packs, these Oats and Nuts based bars taste like a candy bar but offer some protein as well as a pick me up.
www.strikeforceenergy.com/products/4ct-energy-bars
Rapscallion is a new brand formed by former Mystery Ranch members and brothers Luke and Levi Buckingham along with Cory Krull. Their first series of products are padded bottle totes, offered in three sizes.
Nightcap – 2 Bottles
Share – 4 Bottles
Enetertainer – 6 Bottles
They feature zippered closures to keep your beverage secure and accommodate beer and wine bottles from Piccolo to Champagne Magnum as well as up to a Growler thanks to snap-in interior dividers.
They’ll kick-off online next week with several standard colors, but by Thanksgiving they’ll offer a customization configurator with a wide variety of options.
LonoLife Bone Broth comes in single serving packets of 8 oz containers. The Bone Broth is offered in Beef, Chicken, Chicken Thai Curry and new Tomato and all are delicious. With each single serving packet features 10 grams of protein, they would be a great addition to the ramen many cook in the field.
