Since
I am a connoisseur of things put in your mouth for subsistence, I decided try
some unusual meals. I have a dear friend that has been deployed to sand ridden
places multiple times (over ten) and told me about MRE’s. The Meal,
Ready-to-Eat, commonly known as the MRE, is a self-contained, individual field
ration in lightweight packaging bought by the United States Military for its
service members for use in combat or other field conditions where organized
food facilities are not available.
Our
soldier brought over some MRE’s for us to try and to say it was the most
interesting meal of my life is an understatement. He started the meal by
placing a traditional Afghan quilt as a tablecloth. He also made me a present
of a Bunker Bracelet, a quilted parachute cord adornment made in the tedium amid
combat. I respected that soldiers are making jewelry in between shots being
fired at them. He also had Gary put on the Shemagh, the tradition cloth used to
keep the dust off while in Afghanistan.
He
had us try two different MRE’s. These prepackaged meals are dense with calories
and sugar, as that is what is needed in a combat situation. The MRE’s have a
5-6 year shelf life, expect in the heat. He told us of the 130-degree heat that
is a daily challenge. He said that they adjusted too the heat so much that when
they were in an air-conditioned hanger, 90 degrees felt cold to them. With the
laying out of the meal, the extreme conditions, I was awed with the sacrifices
these men give to our country.
He
produced a big knife, to open the contents and we laid them out. There was toilet
paper, gum and instant coffee on top. A hot beverage bag came out next, which
uses chemicals to warm up the coffee or tea. A bag marked peanut butter came
next and I was instructed to knead it. We spread it on a dense cracker (that
was like tack bread). The spoon was a treasure and he said most the soldiers save
them for coffee later. The drink was a carbo-loaded electrolyte grape flavor
you poured into a bottle of water.
The
applesauce and the fruit flavored snack were the next bites, they were loaded
with sugar and I asked him what his first impression of these meals was. “I was
glad to have it when I needed it,” was his pragmatic answer.
The
main dish is warmed up with a salt heater. You drop the food in a bag, add
water and close it, then shake to activate the heat. The instruction said to lay
it on a rock or other hard surface. The box of the food comes apart and makes a
free postcard; in fact there was little waste in these MRE’s.
We
shared the wheat bread and cheese spread; both were dense and full of the
familiar sense of food at home. Each meal has over 1250 calories to help
soldiers keep moving. The grape flavored drink reminded me of Kool-Aid when I
was six. The coffee was Nescafe and came with sugar and creamer.
Our
main meal was Spicy Penne Pasta and after 5 minutes in the Flameless ration
heater or warmer, it was ready to eat. It had a faint familiarity of an Italian
Grandma’s cooking and was hot, so a bonus. Our other main meal was Beef Brisket
with biscuits and mashed potatoes. Each pack came with warm reminders of home,
if not in taste, at least in name.
My
hero told me that hot sauce and chocolate peanut butter packs are coveted by our
soldiers. MRE’s are mostly used when soldiers are on assignment and away from
the base; they serve a nutritional value to the brave men and woman risking
their lives for our freedom.
I
dare you all to try one and then not to lobby congress for better food for our
troops. I am glad I tried the meals and delighted I am lucky enough to call
this brave man my friend.
