1. Fielded Individual/Assault Ration Improvement Project
Research & Development Associates
Fall Forum
November 2009
Judith Aylward, MS, RD
Sr. Food Technologist
Supplier/Vendor Liaison
Individual Combat Rations Team
DoD Combat Feeding Directorate
Fielded Individual/Assault Ration Improvement Project
R&DA Boot Camp

2. Combat Ration Development & Integration Process
PRODUCT EVALUATION CRITERIA:
WHERE COMPONENTS/ PRODUCTS ORIGINATE:
Warfighter Feedback – Through a variety of channels, Warfighters often “ask” for specific menu items to be considered.
Non-Developmental Item – Items that have been submitted by industry for evaluation and consideration.
In-House Development – Items that have been developed by CFD R&D personnel taking into consideration current industry trends and Joint Statements of Needs (JSN) Submittals.
Bench-Top Sensory Evaluations
IS ITEM APPROPRIATE FOR COMBAT RATIONS?
Packaging
Produced/ Packaged in USA
Nutrition Standards for Operational Rations
Shelf Stable
Historical Storage Data

3. Individual Combat Ration Team
Carbopack
First Strike Ration®
Meal, Ready-to-Eat™
(MRE™)
Modular Operational
Ration Enhancement
Meal, Cold Weather
Long Range Patrol

4. Requirements: Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Provides 1300 calories per meal
24 menus
4 vegetarian meals
Weight/volume crucial
Approved as sole source of
food for 21 days
Shelf life: 3 years at 80oF & 6 months at
100oF
Current production – MRE™ XXIX (2009 date of pack)

5. Continuous Product Improvement
Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™
Continuous Product Improvement
226 new items approved since 1993
69 least acceptable items removed
4 vegetarian menus
FDA food label w/allergens & trans fats
Hot beverage bag in each meal
Horizontal tear pouch
New menu bag graphics
More whole muscle meats
More ethnic foods

6. Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Improvements
Commercial Foods
Horizontal Tear Pouch
Beverage Pouch
Breakfast Meals
Hot Beverage Bag
New Graphics

7. First Strike Ration® First Strike Ration®:
OTSG approved restricted ration (10 days)
Calorie dense, 2900 kcals
Modular- eat on the move
Lightweight/low cube
3 menus
Performance enhancing
2 year shelf life
Continuous product improvement
Available for procurement

8. Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Pack (MORE)
High Altitude Prototype Pack
Mountain Warfare Training Exercises
Date: 01 Oct 08
JSN 06-11

9. To augment combat rations with scenario specific enhancement packs
MORE
To augment combat rations with scenario specific enhancement packs
High altitude/cold weather/extreme exertion
Combat Warfighter weight loss
Decrease significant loss in cognitive and physical abilities that can occur in extreme environments
To provide potential performance optimizing ingredients to the Warfighter
Tyrosine for cold weather
Quercetin for extreme exertion
Caffeine and carbohydrate for long duration/high altitude
Date: 01 Oct 08
JSN 06-11

10. MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 1 (2010) NSN number 8970-01-577-9691
Pack 1
Pack 2
Zapplesauce®
Filled Pretzels
Cheese Spread, Jalapeno
Nut raisin mix w/choc discs
Cracker
Dried Cranberries
Fudge Brownie
Beef Snack, Teriyaki
Mini Mocha FS™ Bar
Beef Snack, BBQ
Beverage, Carb Electrolyte
Beverage, Carb Fortified (Form e)
Caffeinated Gum
Weight: 330g
Calories: 1025
Weight: 280g
Calories: 1070

11. MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 2 (2011) Pack 1 Pack 2 Pack 3
Caffeinated Chocolate Pudding
First Strike™ Bar
Mini First Strike™ Bar, Mocha
Nut Mix w/ dried fruit
Nut raisin mix w/choc discs
Cracker
Toaster pastry
(whole grain)
Corn nuggets
Spicy cheese and vegetable spread
Energy gel
Baked snack cracker
Pretzels, cheese filled
Bev, carb electrolyte
Bev, carb fortified form E
Beef jerky
Zapplesauce®
Caffeinated gum
Weight:350g
Calories: 1200
Weight: 300g
Calories: 1220
Calories: 1030

12. Meal, Cold Weather/ Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP)
Dual purpose in single product: 12 menus
MCW – Cold weather missions
Lightweight/low volume
Issued as 3 per day
Calorically dense (4600 calories)
Dehydrated components won’t freeze
White meal bag
LRP – Special Operations missions
Issued as one per day
Restricted ration 1500 calories
Tan colored meal bag

13. New Item Introduction for Individual Combat Rations
Natick In-House or Non-Developmental Item submittal
Contact project officer &
send to Natick
2QY1
Is item appropriate for ration?
3QY1
Item storage tested
(4 wks 120F, 6 month 100F)
Yes
Sensory score acceptable ? No
4QY1
No further testing
Item field tested No
Yes
Item score acceptable in the field? No
Yes
2QY2
Item recommended at
Joint Services Operational Ration Forum (JSORF)

14. Warfighter Recommended, Warfighter Tested, Warfighter Approved™
Questions?
Warfighter Recommended,
Warfighter Tested,
Warfighter Approved™