MREs - What do Soldiers Eat?

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  • Опубликовано: 27 дек 2024

Комментарии • 3,6 тыс.

  • @j.peters1222
    @j.peters1222 2 года назад +6839

    Ah yes the MRE. Otherwise affectionately known as "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" and "Meals Rarely Edible" by some soldiers in the field. There were other names for it too. To be fair though, the MRE has improved A LOT since it's introduction. They actually got some decent entree options now.

    • @nebiyuesayas5600
      @nebiyuesayas5600 2 года назад +446

      Never actually heard the Ethiopian one lol, what's the origin?

    • @BarcelPL
      @BarcelPL 2 года назад +699

      Also, Meal Refusing to Exit, as the sorely lacked fibre.

    • @brettscott3759
      @brettscott3759 2 года назад +151

      @@nebiyuesayas5600 us giving food to other countries that know what we eat is awful 😖...

    • @brettscott3759
      @brettscott3759 2 года назад +215

      @@BarcelPL bro they want you to hold on to that energy as long as possible... imagine being a sniper and eating constipation meds... there are songs in Valhalla dedicated to sniper duces

    • @nebiyuesayas5600
      @nebiyuesayas5600 2 года назад +23

      @@brettscott3759 I mean, Injera is delicious, but otherwise yeah idk about our food

  • @zacharydavis8197
    @zacharydavis8197 2 года назад +1757

    Fun Fact: there a little joke about the MRE heaters. The MRE heater instructions are printed on the heater itself. Mostly dry and pretty by the book. However, when it tells you how to lean it against an item to use, it says 'Use a Rock or something'
    Pretty minor, but for some reason every infantry unit I've been too think it's the funniest thing ever. Like the MRE writers got frustrated trying to explain how to use the heater.

    • @kellyalger2394
      @kellyalger2394 2 года назад +156

      Never put it into a milk jug and add water, or do and make sure you put it next to an NCO.

    • @Mariner797
      @Mariner797 2 года назад +203

      To be fair, there are a lot of idiots.
      Unfortunately, you know what they say about trying to idiot-proof something.

    • @parallax9084
      @parallax9084 2 года назад +12

      @@kellyalger2394 what happens

    • @alexissandoval1284
      @alexissandoval1284 2 года назад +59

      @@kellyalger2394 You get to haul the SAW next patrol.

    • @Backroad_Junkie
      @Backroad_Junkie 2 года назад +30

      And be absolutely sure you never put a match to one in operation. (Funny the MRE's supply the match, lol.)
      Edit: I understand the non-dairy creamer can be a lot of fun, too...

  • @Grabbagar670
    @Grabbagar670 2 года назад +1889

    I'm in the US army. We did a large military exercise in Europe that involved driving a large convoy across several countries in Europe. We would make stops overnight at various military bases in these different countries.
    It's customary in the Army to trade patches, flags and ranks with allied soldiers. Kind of a neat momento of where you've been and who you met.
    We stopped in Hungary. They have a very small and not-very-well-funded military. I tried to trade patches with their soldiers. I was about to give him my patch, but the soldier pulled out a backpack, handed me a bunch of patches, waved away my patch, and pointed at my boxes of MREs strapped to our HUMVEE. We brought a lot of MREs with us. More than enough to feed us for more than a month. So i gave him a few MRE bags.
    I was curious what their MREs looked like. They had a "Sergeant first class (equivalent)" who i asked what their MREs looked like. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a plastic wrapped pear and a croissant, and she handed it to me. I told her i didn't need it and didn't want to take food away from them. She insisted that i take it, that they didn't want it. They only wanted our MREs.
    American MREs are apparently well known for being filling, fairly tasty, varied, nutritious, high in energy, and store for a long time.

    • @shishoka
      @shishoka 2 года назад +186

      Hehe. That was the one good part about the Army Reservea for me. I'd come home with a trunk full of MRE's that no one wanted and just tossed to me.

    • @dravenocklost4253
      @dravenocklost4253 2 года назад +27

      @@shishoka eyy, my brother is finishing basic to join reserves

    • @ald1144
      @ald1144 2 года назад +20

      I'm curious what this female Hungarian soldier looked like.

    • @eizzeeefromstupidland
      @eizzeeefromstupidland 2 года назад

      @@ald1144 Horny ahh
      *bonk*

    • @Vinlyth
      @Vinlyth 2 года назад +85

      guess hungary was hungry

  • @brose2323
    @brose2323 2 года назад +1032

    My time in Afghanistan I learned about the affects of heat and sunlight on mres. Most of them remained edible. The mixed nut pouch was most likely to fail. The little bottles of Tabasco tended to dry out. That's why they switched over to packets.

    • @Shhimhiding
      @Shhimhiding 2 года назад +26

      They’ve brought the bottles back in the last couple of years.

    • @kellyalger2394
      @kellyalger2394 2 года назад +6

      I thought that was because of mre bombs

    • @tomhenry897
      @tomhenry897 2 года назад +13

      Packets are cheaper

    • @BridgesDontFly
      @BridgesDontFly 2 года назад +14

      Thanks to the green new deal we'll be able to get our energy from staring at the sun soon.

    • @arcturionblade1077
      @arcturionblade1077 2 года назад +1

      @@BridgesDontFly Donnie Deutschbag has you beat there since he's been staring at solar eclipses before it was considered cool.

  • @paleoph6168
    @paleoph6168 2 года назад +3424

    The long awaited sequel to "what food did soldiers eat?" I've always wanted to find out how rations further evolved from tin cans to MREs.

    • @brettscott3759
      @brettscott3759 2 года назад +33

      Money lots of money.... the cans work better much longer shelf life...

    • @azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401
      @azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401 2 года назад +9

      During the war

    • @randomstuff161
      @randomstuff161 2 года назад +9

      @@danielturner1630 aren't you from call of duty world war 2?

    • @deusvult6920
      @deusvult6920 2 года назад +16

      @@brettscott3759 cans make noise lmao

    • @Factaly320_77
      @Factaly320_77 2 года назад +17

      I heard that the french army have one of the best food rations in the military world

  • @donaldsherman1
    @donaldsherman1 2 года назад +445

    It’s amazing how fast the novelty of eating MRE’s wears off when you first join the military. At first they’re the coolest thing you’ve ever seen, and then a few weeks later the last thing you ever want to see.

    • @underworldguardian704
      @underworldguardian704 2 года назад +8

      Heard that!!!

    • @txgunguy2766
      @txgunguy2766 2 года назад +54

      I've been out of the army for almost 20 years but I still eat 1 MRE a week by choice. I freakin love them.

    • @casedistorted
      @casedistorted 2 года назад +38

      @@txgunguy2766 yeah it’s like when you work at a sandwich shop. You never want to eat another sandwich from there again after you stop working there.

    • @strickersniper7909
      @strickersniper7909 2 года назад +2

      The week of ceftx at Leonard wood all we wanted was some sort of normal meal

    • @justbrowsing4925
      @justbrowsing4925 2 года назад +15

      Some of us just don’t mind eating the same food on repeat. Some people just don’t like it.

  • @Synomayo
    @Synomayo 2 года назад +1893

    A story involving that emergency ration. During the Boer War a Canadian infanteer was pinned down by enemy rifle fire for a few days. Rather than face death on an empty stomach, he popped open his sacred emergency ration and consumed it. He managed to retreat back to his own lines only to be charged for having eaten the sacred ration. Only in the Canadian and British army would you ever be charged for trying to stay alive on the battlefield.

    • @kishascape
      @kishascape 2 года назад +162

      Apparently a guy here on youtube managed to get his hands on one decades later and actually ate it.

    • @craggleshenanigans
      @craggleshenanigans 2 года назад +117

      @@kishascape Steve1989 is the guy

    • @Luna-wg6ic
      @Luna-wg6ic 2 года назад +41

      @@craggleshenanigans Nice!

    • @jasonator69er
      @jasonator69er 2 года назад +120

      Well that’s stupid. That’s why we need NCOs, none of that stupid bullshit.

    • @bababooey7597
      @bababooey7597 2 года назад

      @@kishascape Finally it’s here
      ruclips.net/video/2lacsTQ6m48/видео.html

  • @pointly
    @pointly 2 года назад +992

    During Hurricane Ike, and Rita, the National Guard gave civilians their MREs. My favorite was the one with pasta. It came with a mini bottle of Tobasco sauce. So good!

    • @jessicacolegrove4152
      @jessicacolegrove4152 2 года назад +54

      I have always thought that FEMA should keep a stock of MREs and bottle water to distribute in emergencies

    • @kishascape
      @kishascape 2 года назад +29

      @@jessicacolegrove4152 I mean they have a billion dollar stockpile of walkie talkies and various other 2 way radios that sit in a warehouse most of the time. Seems like they could spin it if they really wanted to, but alas desk jockies and bureaucrats.

    • @kishascape
      @kishascape 2 года назад +9

      A lot of them came with the mini tobasco. I would save them for the terrible steam tray cooked school lunches. Like the cardboard burgers and the flavorless pizza. I became popular at lunch after sharing them around.

    • @danielescobar7618
      @danielescobar7618 2 года назад +3

      They don't have the tiny cute itsy bottle anymore!!!

    • @mezmerizer0266
      @mezmerizer0266 2 года назад +1

      They used to all come with hot sauce.

  • @rodrigodiazdevivar6183
    @rodrigodiazdevivar6183 2 года назад +514

    As a trained military historian, a retired Army officer, allow me to compliment you on your research. Sadly, it is hard to convey my compliment to you in a few words.

    • @sunlight-sky151
      @sunlight-sky151 2 года назад +9

      Oh! You are so brilliant and intelligent, I could read your comment for hours!

    • @TooFewSecrets
      @TooFewSecrets 2 года назад +10

      Gonna be honest, you really sound like an officer.

    • @ferdinandmarcos4092
      @ferdinandmarcos4092 2 года назад

      You are the cid

    • @brrrrrr
      @brrrrrr Год назад

      @@ferdinandmarcos4092 who's Cid

    • @brrrrrr
      @brrrrrr Год назад

      @@kingsly3690 the Indonesian MRE has a packet of rice

  • @Btester2
    @Btester2 2 года назад +1303

    I've been eating MREs sense I was a young child. My dad was in the army and when he went out into the field they would give him 3 MREs a day and he would only eat one a day and brought the rest home for us kids. We were pretty poor and an MRE was a treat. They are actually pretty good

    • @projectdcb7525
      @projectdcb7525 2 года назад +97

      That’s so nice

    • @afailureofaanimator6744
      @afailureofaanimator6744 2 года назад +87

      Wholesome

    • @LazyLizzy706
      @LazyLizzy706 2 года назад +51

      You were poor but your dad was in the army?… I doubt it. The army would give your dad resources if MRE’s were a treat for the family. Your story is very suspicious and it’s making me nervous, man. What are we gonna do, friend? D:

    • @sanguisbumb6138
      @sanguisbumb6138 2 года назад +159

      @@LazyLizzy706 His dad was probably terrible with money or something. I knew a soldier in my time who got into 5,000$ in debt while he was in. He also didn’t pull out, bragged about it, and now he has a kid on the way with a girl he knew for 2 months. For comparison I was able to save up to 20k by the time I ETS.

    • @superairsoftmonkey
      @superairsoftmonkey 2 года назад +137

      @@LazyLizzy706 Its obvious you have no clue what you are talking about. The pay is not good at all until you make sergeant, or make captain. The benefits and retirement is what makes it worth joining.

  • @kylejohnson5179
    @kylejohnson5179 2 года назад +3271

    My dad fought in Iraq in 2003 when I was just a newborn. He told me that during his time in Iraq, he would see young kids in the scorching desert with no food, so him and his unit would give those kids these MRE’s. His unit had to stop giving them these MRE’s because the Iraqi kids would be killed off by Iraqi soldiers if they were caught with the MRE’s.

    • @thatonefpsgamer1339
      @thatonefpsgamer1339 2 года назад

      That's fuckin horrible. I'm glad hussein was put down for being basically another Hitler

    • @MA-kr6yv
      @MA-kr6yv 2 года назад +43

      @@kingtigertheheavy2708 i think he did still 😂😂

    • @km12370
      @km12370 2 года назад +14

      @@kingtigertheheavy2708 why insurgents?

    • @sneakydalek1632
      @sneakydalek1632 2 года назад +124

      @@km12370 cause those were the enemy in Iraq

    • @nicknapeem1541
      @nicknapeem1541 2 года назад +2

      Killing kids just because they got food, fucking animals

  • @MothOnWall
    @MothOnWall 2 года назад +160

    I learned D-Ration Chocolate Bars were mostly compacted cocoa powder that tasted more like a potato, but were gently sweetened enough, so that soldiers didn't eat it all in one sitting. It was also designed to crumble so you can add it to hot water or coffee.

    • @ianfinrir8724
      @ianfinrir8724 2 года назад +11

      It was kinda like baking chocolate.

    • @TooFewSecrets
      @TooFewSecrets 2 года назад +2

      I don't think they literally tasted like a potato, the design spec was just "as appealing as a boiled potato" i.e. edible but not loved by basically anyone.

    • @JasonResnov
      @JasonResnov 2 года назад +6

      If you want a good video on it, SteveMRE eats an original one from an unopened ration from November of either 1942 or 1943.

    • @rihe2692
      @rihe2692 2 года назад +1

      @@JasonResnov i wanna make some but idk how

    • @JasonResnov
      @JasonResnov 2 года назад

      @@rihe2692 I think the recipe is available online, but there's some things you wouldn't be able to use I think.
      If you want to find a recipe, just research the Hershey D-Bar, and it should be some of the first things that pop up.

  • @Raptor747
    @Raptor747 2 года назад +1965

    As much as MREs are the butt of many jokes, I think it's pretty incredible how the militaries of the world have managed to create varied, nutritious, decently tasty, and sanitary meals for soldiers literally in battlefield conditions. That's a logistical, technological, and culinary challenge of immense proportions, and they've succeeded.

    • @donaldcarey114
      @donaldcarey114 2 года назад +47

      Deacently tasty? You never had to eat Ham and Mothers.

    • @codylucynki1279
      @codylucynki1279 2 года назад +54

      @@donaldcarey114 don't forget Creamy Spinach

    • @donaldcarey114
      @donaldcarey114 2 года назад +14

      @@codylucynki1279 We didn't have creamy spinich (the Marines were still using stuff left over from Korea), so I'll have take your word for it. Just be thankful you didn't ever have Ham and Mothers (ham and lima beans).

    • @codylucynki1279
      @codylucynki1279 2 года назад +43

      @@donaldcarey114 a friends dad had a couple that hadn't expired so he let us have em and the beef one was amazing but the creamy spinach was like the worst rotten cheese smell and it tasted like musky armpit it was basically a punishment mre

    • @donaldcarey114
      @donaldcarey114 2 года назад +15

      @@codylucynki1279 Repackage it and sell it as a diet aid...😆
      p.s. The C-rations we had were so old they didn't have expiration dates.

  • @MarikuSalana
    @MarikuSalana 2 года назад +627

    There's a creator named steve1989mreinfo who actually opens up many of these older rations. Some of them held up amazingly well over time.

    • @ulyssespulido9556
      @ulyssespulido9556 2 года назад +125

      He was also the one who only got sick from eating a Chinese MRE.

    • @MarikuSalana
      @MarikuSalana 2 года назад +82

      @@ulyssespulido9556 I'm surprised he got sick from that since the man eats 40+ year old rations.

    • @ulyssespulido9556
      @ulyssespulido9556 2 года назад +128

      @@MarikuSalana Guess that’s the Chinese MREs for you.

    • @koyuik6685
      @koyuik6685 2 года назад +86

      Then you have the ration that he ate from the BOER WAR, over a 100 years ago… it was literally just dust when he cracked it open.

    • @ra_alf9467
      @ra_alf9467 2 года назад +62

      @@koyuik6685 and the civil war ration, which half of it is already fossilized

  • @sandovalperry2895
    @sandovalperry2895 2 года назад +275

    I was subjected to the early Natick lab test versions of the Army’s freeze-dried rations. We added water to the beef patty and after 10 minutes it was supposed to be eatable. After eating the hockey puck it felt like it continued to expand in our stomachs. Thank god this ration never got out to the troops, it would have been hard to explain to a mother that her son was killed by a beef patty.

    • @StCreed
      @StCreed 2 года назад

      Hilarious :)

    • @tetraxis3011
      @tetraxis3011 2 года назад +22

      Horror movie stuff. Being killed from the inside by expanding food.

    • @CrowLot
      @CrowLot 2 года назад +4

      I guess you could say it's inflation 😳

    • @canadiangamer4762
      @canadiangamer4762 Год назад +4

      It would be very embarrassing to die from something you ate that would not stop expanding

    • @thefarklenator4518
      @thefarklenator4518 Год назад

      I actually got to try some of the freeze dried stuff too my dad was stationed in fort nattick for like 4 years

  • @decayingsun5798
    @decayingsun5798 2 года назад +1101

    I actually like most MREs. Plus, the included flameless heater is a really nice touch (love the "rock or something").

    • @jakolken7131
      @jakolken7131 2 года назад +98

      the 'rock or something' will always be funny to me

    • @firewalker1372
      @firewalker1372 2 года назад +14

      Never cared for the FRHs in the American MREs. The ones that come in foreign MREs like japans, those heaters actually work to good. I’ve always had to mix a little salt in with the water that went into the heater, with the us ones anyway.

    • @normal_handle47
      @normal_handle47 2 года назад +14

      @@firewalker1372 do you like raw salmon it taste kind good but you will puke if you dont wasabi and soysause

    • @jack_5477
      @jack_5477 2 года назад +23

      The heater also makes a great hand warmer for those cold mornings you're unfortunate enough to be out in the field in

    • @MIMALECKIPL
      @MIMALECKIPL 2 года назад +7

      I bought recently 4... Menus 15, 19, 20, 23 (23 being the holy grail - Pizza slice). I've already eaten 2 of those. 15, 19. Delicious. Especially if you add chese spread to 15.

  • @CrimsonRaven51
    @CrimsonRaven51 2 года назад +524

    I was in the army during the Vietnam war. We had “C” rations affectionately referred to as “sea rats.” Some were pretty good like the spaghetti and meatballs or the beans and “MFs” which was good. You heat them up with a pinch of C-4. Anyway, used to get a small pack of cigarettes. Usually Camels or Lucky Strike. Also a couple of packets of Nescafé instant coffee. I wasn’t a cigarette smoker, but big time coffee drinker. Used to trade my cigarettes for coffee and small vials of Tobasco sauce. Ah memories. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

    • @Heroickamikaze
      @Heroickamikaze 2 года назад

      Beans and Motherfrickers, notorious. Thanks to share your story!

    • @S.T.A.L.K.E.R_fan
      @S.T.A.L.K.E.R_fan 2 года назад +17

      We eat rice 🗿👍
      Just adding some few meals...

    • @theortheo2401
      @theortheo2401 2 года назад +7

      X to doubt. Pretty sure C4 paste has to be electrically stimulated to burn up.

    • @chancedavis6216
      @chancedavis6216 2 года назад +38

      @@theortheo2401 C4 is a very stable compound. It requires electricity to detonate, not heat. You can burn it, shoot it, stomp it or run over it with a duece and a half and it still won't blow up. There's anecdotes and first hand accounts of soilders using C4 as a firestarter.

    • @theortheo2401
      @theortheo2401 2 года назад +3

      @@chancedavis6216 that's why Im saying this, Im pretty sure you can't Just light it up like a candle.

  • @williamparker7823
    @williamparker7823 2 года назад +54

    When I was a kid, my uncle would bring us a few MRE's from his guard trips. It was always fun to pretend we were soldiers and would set up tents in the yard to eat them. Then I got them when I went to the air force and the nostalgia wore off pretty quick.

  • @johnbeauvais3159
    @johnbeauvais3159 2 года назад +318

    The tiny bottle of hot sauce is Tabasco, and it has a long esteemed history with the USMC as Mr. McIlhenny served with the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal. Being a gourmet chef before the war he was aware of how tasteless the C rations became in combat so he created a recipe list that was wrapped around bottles of his Tabasco sauce telling troops how to improve the flavor of their issued rations and ever since Tabasco has gone with the American fighting man, as loyal a companion as his rifle and boots.

    • @randominternetguy88
      @randominternetguy88 2 года назад +9

      @waterconsumer69 so that's why it's so popular...

    • @donaldsherman1
      @donaldsherman1 2 года назад +2

      I saw more “franks red hot sauce” when I was in. A shame, because I’m a tobasco man myself

    • @kylerudert6191
      @kylerudert6191 2 года назад +2

      My grandpa was military he brought mres home when i was young, he gave me one it was the spaghettie one, i fucked up and put that tobasco sauce in the skettie, never again

    • @justsomeguywithasandwich5906
      @justsomeguywithasandwich5906 2 года назад +1

      Wow that last line was beautiful. My English teacher would’ve been very proud of you.

    • @TheMartianMancumpster
      @TheMartianMancumpster 2 года назад

      @waterconsumer69 it's actually vinegar

  • @paleoph6168
    @paleoph6168 2 года назад +290

    2:40
    I like the detail where all the US soldiers have M1917 Enfield rifles. Despite being second standard, there were more of these rifles than the official standard M1903 Springfield during WW1.

  • @Tailstraw_xD
    @Tailstraw_xD 2 года назад +318

    My grandpa used to sneak MREs home from base and share them with me. He always gave me the cheese/peanut butter and crackers

    • @TheMilitantHorse
      @TheMilitantHorse 2 года назад +17

      Bacon cheese spread is always the best lmao.

    • @afailureofaanimator6744
      @afailureofaanimator6744 2 года назад +5

      @@TheMilitantHorse jalapeño cheese spread joins the chat

    • @anthomations
      @anthomations 2 года назад +6

      Kudos to your grandfather

    • @bloodlustshiva1
      @bloodlustshiva1 2 года назад +4

      @@afailureofaanimator6744 Amen, jalapeno was something you'd fight over.

    • @Bajongus
      @Bajongus 2 года назад +2

      chili Mac joined the brawl!

  • @HazardHowie8492
    @HazardHowie8492 2 года назад +350

    Gotta love the instant camaraderie and trade when the MREs get opened. Nothing brings the team together like laughing at Bill because he got the spinach MRE and asking Dave to trade because he got the Chili Mac MRE.

    • @illucidate3749
      @illucidate3749 2 года назад +12

      Ayo that chili mac aint no joke

    • @Envious__
      @Envious__ 2 года назад +5

      In BCT we had a whole barter system for MREs lol

    • @sputnik9501
      @sputnik9501 2 года назад +3

      please do not speak of the creamy spinach fettuccini

    • @guhd4378
      @guhd4378 2 года назад +1

      but Dave needs to eat his spinach, how else would he fight if he’s not on spinach? 💪

    • @hardcharging
      @hardcharging 2 года назад +4

      I remember the chili mac, but at the time the one EVERYONE avoided was the Veggie Omelet. Ugh! Even the tobacco sauce provided in the accessory pack couldn't save it!

  • @22steve5150
    @22steve5150 2 года назад +526

    The US military has an interesting history with providing odd types of chocolate to the troops, from the super dense, super hard, calorie bar in WW1 to the special desert warfare heat resistant Hersheys bars that were issued starting in Desert Storm and beyond.

    • @ianfinrir8724
      @ianfinrir8724 2 года назад +44

      The D Ration was also specifically designed to taste like a boiled potato to prevent soldiers from eating it.

    • @jacksonsmith1438
      @jacksonsmith1438 2 года назад +15

      @@ianfinrir8724 that make it better to eat for me as I like boiled potatoes

    • @ianfinrir8724
      @ianfinrir8724 2 года назад +22

      @@jacksonsmith1438 Boiled potatoes are great. But this is chocolate that tastes like a potato.

    • @jacksonsmith1438
      @jacksonsmith1438 2 года назад +16

      @@ianfinrir8724 potatoes taste potatoes change my mind

    • @Shaun_Jones
      @Shaun_Jones 2 года назад +22

      I’ve heard D rations referred to as “Dog Biscuits,” presumably because that’s what they taste like.

  • @Warmaker01
    @Warmaker01 2 года назад +119

    When I entered service in the early-mid 1990s, some of the MREs were pretty nasty, but it did get better. Not to mention if you're starving out in the field, you stop getting picky. I remember over the years they added a lot better variety. Some of this stuff was pretty good, in my opinion. I still remember guys would trade a lot to get the cheese spread. Or better yet, the jalapeno cheese spread. I also still recall the MRE cracker challenges we'd have.
    When I first saw these in the 1990s they did not have a chemical heater to them, that came years later.

    • @sarkybugger5009
      @sarkybugger5009 2 года назад +2

      IMHO, that orange stuff labelled as _Cheese Spread_ is absolutely disgusting to this non-American. It's the only thing I won't eat, in a UK ration pack.
      The peanut butter is OK...

    • @TooFewSecrets
      @TooFewSecrets 2 года назад +1

      Was that the era of the dreaded V.omelet?

    • @ntfoperative9432
      @ntfoperative9432 2 года назад +1

      @@sarkybugger5009 it was probably government cheese, which is absolutely disgusting

    • @djshawn3042
      @djshawn3042 Год назад

      Why they can’t get real food and eat

  • @Doom_Guy__
    @Doom_Guy__ 2 года назад +5246

    The creamy spinach MRE is truly a middle finger to whoever gets it.

    • @FancyCat69
      @FancyCat69 2 года назад +433

      Same with Asian style beef strips

    • @CB-zo9dn
      @CB-zo9dn 2 года назад +424

      Only good item would be the Cranberry First Strike Bar

    • @ghostsmoke11
      @ghostsmoke11 2 года назад +205

      the vegetarian is also horrible

    • @rc59191
      @rc59191 2 года назад +111

      @@CB-zo9dn that and the ranger bar are really good.

    • @evaporatednut9824
      @evaporatednut9824 2 года назад +88

      @@FancyCat69 it's been replaced by Goulash

  • @ColinTherac117
    @ColinTherac117 2 года назад +282

    I used to love MRE's. Absolutely delicious. 2010-2014. The food was always one of the best parts of the army.

    • @Lonemite
      @Lonemite 2 года назад +6

      Same here, I’d choose them over normal canned stuff all the time if my dad had some in the house.

    • @CRAZYUNCLE117
      @CRAZYUNCLE117 2 года назад +3

      You ate the jumbelia didn't you?

    • @lorddodge2867
      @lorddodge2867 2 года назад

      Same, I rationed the EPA (as it is called in my country) and took it back home

    • @TheRugbyClubHQ
      @TheRugbyClubHQ 2 года назад +4

      This is sarcasm int it

    • @lorddodge2867
      @lorddodge2867 2 года назад +1

      @@TheRugbyClubHQ No, in contrast to the cantine, the field food was tasty (or at least eatable)

  • @rr332eer
    @rr332eer 2 года назад +64

    I am South Korean, and my late maternal grandfather was a worker in the U.S. military unit. Korea was very poor in the 70s, and my mother and aunts told me they liked to ate the 'army meal' my grandfather got from the us soldiers those days.

  • @jamesmichael5
    @jamesmichael5 2 года назад +538

    I'm actually a big fan of MRE's..they started giving them out at the pantries in my area a couple years ago and I got to try several of them..they still give them out once in awhile but it's not a regular thing

    • @FadeRift2001
      @FadeRift2001 2 года назад +42

      You'll grow to hate them if you join the Army and they're all you have for several weeks in the field. By the time we got back I was so constipated

    • @thatonefpsgamer1339
      @thatonefpsgamer1339 2 года назад +7

      @Bonka you can buy some on Amazon.

    • @mantis_toboggan_md
      @mantis_toboggan_md 2 года назад +4

      @@FadeRift2001 No joke. There are items in some of them that are edible, but I generally hate the MREs.

    • @joboring8397
      @joboring8397 2 года назад +3

      @@FadeRift2001 I ate Ramen noodles every day for lunch when I was in college. Be quiet

    • @alexissandoval1284
      @alexissandoval1284 2 года назад +1

      @@FadeRift2001 Don't know what you're eating but I didn't have a problem with them any of my tours.

  • @evill01
    @evill01 2 года назад +489

    some of the MREs we ate were actually good, couldve been the lack of normal food clouding the judgement tho

    • @Elit3Nick
      @Elit3Nick 2 года назад +73

      Hard work also tends to work up an appetite enough to override expectations.

    • @evill01
      @evill01 2 года назад +3

      @@Elit3Nick very true

    • @tomhenry897
      @tomhenry897 2 года назад +23

      When starving eat everything

    • @fbksfrank4
      @fbksfrank4 2 года назад

      I got gassy, hopefully that is cleared up.

    • @paintballgaming1090
      @paintballgaming1090 2 года назад +1

      The Pizza MRE slaps but so does that jalapeño cheese spread with crackers

  • @soldieron9965
    @soldieron9965 2 года назад +83

    My favorite MRE was the steak and mushrooms! I could eat them every day! The nastiest was the egg omelette MRE, it looked like a yellow sponge. For dessert the creamsicle cookies were amazing!

    • @Mattropolis97
      @Mattropolis97 2 года назад +4

      I thought the blueberry cobbler one was pretty solid. As incredibly basic as this is, I have fond memories of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with that god forsaken unleavened bread

    • @johngalt2506
      @johngalt2506 2 года назад +9

      The omelet also known as the vomlet! They were actually pretty good if you mixed in salt, pepper, and a package of the salsa (if no salsa was available a couple of bottles of Tabasco was a decent alternative). I also used to break up some crackers into it.

    • @Smong_Bobby69420
      @Smong_Bobby69420 2 года назад +2

      @@johngalt2506 they took out the "vomlet" I believe

    • @johngalt2506
      @johngalt2506 2 года назад

      @@Smong_Bobby69420 they did, starting in 2019 i think.

    • @Jeff.78
      @Jeff.78 Год назад +1

      Four Fingers of Death, aka hotdogs were my least favorite...couldn't give em away.

  • @alternator7893
    @alternator7893 2 года назад +69

    Back in the mid 2000’s they used to sell MRE’s in a store near my house. Me and my cousin used to go and buy a pack every Friday and they were always different, sometimes you’d get hamburger meat and gravy and other times you’d get chicken and veggies and they were always delicious.

  • @VarangianGuard13
    @VarangianGuard13 2 года назад +263

    Highly recommend MREs for emergencies, camping, travel and just a new experience in general.
    If you get the chance, try some from other countries, it can be a chance to try new foods, maybe even learn a bit about what's popular or common for each meal amongst other cultures.

    • @PetroBeherha
      @PetroBeherha 2 года назад +16

      There is an entire channel dedicated to trying out MREs from different countries and time periods.

    • @VarangianGuard13
      @VarangianGuard13 2 года назад +11

      @@PetroBeherha Yes indeed. Steve1989. Great channel, very fun and informative.

    • @chemistryofquestionablequa6252
      @chemistryofquestionablequa6252 2 года назад +7

      French, eastern European, and Russian rations are all awesome. French are the best which isn't surprising.

    • @fbksfrank4
      @fbksfrank4 2 года назад +3

      Lol 😆, seen Steve mre eat a fresh Russian one, then hearing their tankers got blown up and they had mre expired in 2015!

    • @ThatGearCollector2002
      @ThatGearCollector2002 2 года назад +2

      Besides MREs, Mountain House is good too. They last for like 30 years.

  • @woolwich2517
    @woolwich2517 2 года назад +32

    Funny enough, As I was watching this I was eating an MRE (Menu 5 to be specific) And to be honest it’s amazing how far military food has come

  • @bulldozer9451
    @bulldozer9451 2 года назад +102

    The field kitchen during WW2 was an important part of the soldiers rations during World War 2. The way it operated is really interesting and it deserves a video of it's own

    • @hurch1915
      @hurch1915 2 года назад +10

      I'd like to see that. You can't have an army without proper logistics.

    • @bulldozer9451
      @bulldozer9451 2 года назад +9

      @@hurch1915 Yeah, people have done a deep dive about the kitchen itself but not the logistics

  • @Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache
    @Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache 2 года назад +255

    Before the lifesaving Ration was invented, soldiers had to eat stuff like snakes. Somedays, you'd feed on a tree frog. What a thrill.

    • @SharpForceTrauma
      @SharpForceTrauma 2 года назад +18

      Its the ordeal. A trial to survive, yknow?

    • @Eric-fd2xe
      @Eric-fd2xe 2 года назад +31

      SNAAAAAAKE EATERRRR

    • @Regular338Lapua
      @Regular338Lapua 2 года назад +25

      @@Eric-fd2xe ID GIVE MY LIFEEEEE, NOT FOR HONOR BUT FOR YOUUUUUUU

    • @yoboikamil525
      @yoboikamil525 2 года назад +7

      rations? soldier you see that rabbit? that's your ration if you catch it.

    • @faisalal-qassem3758
      @faisalal-qassem3758 2 года назад +2

      based

  • @ViceN53X
    @ViceN53X 2 года назад +12

    That First Person POV of the soldier eating his MRE is actually satisfying to watch

  • @fitepanzer3764
    @fitepanzer3764 2 года назад +93

    In my old battalion the spoons in MREs were always referred to as 'tactical spoons', and were often used as clips for the radio phone when it broke

    • @The_Storm_That_Is_Approaching
      @The_Storm_That_Is_Approaching 2 года назад +12

      😆 We still use em like that too. I can't tell u how many handsets I've pulled out of bags and been like "wtf"

    • @Luizz07
      @Luizz07 Год назад

      Tactical spoon moment

  • @gromit848
    @gromit848 2 года назад +117

    Forgot to mention MREs back you up like crazy and is the most intense crap you'll ever take in your life

    • @CRAZYUNCLE117
      @CRAZYUNCLE117 2 года назад +67

      Know a guy that ate mre's in the field for 25-28 days without dropping a duce once. Never missed a meal. When he got back to garrison, he went out drinking and loaded up on fast food.
      Long story short, the screaming and cursing coming from his barracks room the next day made us all think he was being actively tortured. Well, he kind of was.

    • @Roblecop
      @Roblecop 2 года назад +3

      In my experience this is false. I didn't have any irregularity issues when I was in the Army when eating a lot of MRE's

    • @laughingsnake1989
      @laughingsnake1989 2 года назад

      @@CRAZYUNCLE117 don’t eat the Charms

    • @ThisNameIsNotOriginal
      @ThisNameIsNotOriginal 2 года назад +1

      @@laughingsnake1989 Not sure of the joke but I'm thinking of the ww2 candy that they gave in K rations. lol I heard those were some of the best candies.

    • @Sion_Revan
      @Sion_Revan 2 года назад +4

      MRE, meal refusing to evacuate

  • @genericfakename4372
    @genericfakename4372 2 года назад +46

    Not sure if it's true, but I remember reading somewhere that the d-rations was actually tough enough to be delivered to pinned-down troops via artillery fire.

    • @AJgaming-ce1ln
      @AJgaming-ce1ln 2 года назад +1

      Jesus christ

    • @impyssadam
      @impyssadam 2 года назад

      No way, doooooooooood

    • @paulperry7091
      @paulperry7091 Год назад +1

      Biological warfare restrictions would prevent this.

    • @prorandocopier7945
      @prorandocopier7945 Год назад +1

      Imagine being an enemy soldier, preparing for artillery barrages and then just seeing a pack of chocolate bits take down your whole squad

  • @the8madness905
    @the8madness905 2 года назад +289

    Call me a madman, but I've always been a fan of eating MREs. Every now and then, an MRE from the United States makes it to my country, and I generally enjoy how complete the meal is, which allows you to not go hungry for several hours.

    • @eldridgedavis
      @eldridgedavis 2 года назад +1

      Same

    • @thegreatsun6571
      @thegreatsun6571 2 года назад

      Pro tip, they are designed to keep you constipated.

    • @LOLMGS
      @LOLMGS 2 года назад +1

      Never got one to try out.
      Maby I get one in the future.
      Cus from some other persons experience it seems bit nice.

    • @chesed_yt1
      @chesed_yt1 2 года назад +5

      i wanna really try is since i have never eat an MRE

    • @willwolf8436
      @willwolf8436 2 года назад +8

      I've enjoyed them for the most part when I did my 8 yrs in the Marines. usually we can make one MRE last a good while if needed. Majority of the time we ate the snacks first when on patrol or in a convoy since it was easier and quicker to eat. I remember when I got out I was at a Air Force base here in Texas with my retired dad visiting the ER and saw a bunch of new boots trying to warm up their MREs in doors and they got in trouble with their DI. After she left I told them they can eat them cold and they were perplexed by my tip. once I left with my dad one ran up and asked if I was serious. I was like, hey kid trust me I've done it more times than I can count you can eat them cold without heating them up. Remember that when your in the field.

  • @muhammadfahmi7159
    @muhammadfahmi7159 2 года назад +45

    In Singapore, A and B are Fresh Rations. The other category of rations are known as field rations, emergency rations or combat rations. The US MRE is quite similiar to Singapore Rations.

  • @davidmelo500
    @davidmelo500 2 года назад +24

    The canadian ones are amazing. When I was in scouts, they used those sometimes. Don't know how they got them. One time when we were hiking around the niagra gorge on this one trip, It was a beef and vegetable stew that I had. I really liked the dehydrated apricots that came with it. They were surprisingly really good. Every one i tried was really good. Not gonna lie.

    • @JayM409
      @JayM409 2 года назад +2

      IMPs, meaning Individual meal Packs. They replaced the older canned rations in the early 80s. The canned meals were good, all brand name stuff, but they came as a 24 hr rations in two small open topped boxes, covered in shrink wrap. You had to open both boxes to eat a meal, leaving you with all these loose items to fill your pockets. The IPMs were an enormous step forward. Each meal in its own package. The lacked variety at first, and some of the meals were awful, like the plain omelette, which we called 'lung in a bag.'
      I used to have the meals with chocolate bars memorized. One came with a Coffee Crisp. I retired in 2003, so I haven't eaten any of the newer ones, but my son, who served 2006-2012, says there is a lot of variety now.

  • @sinisterisrandom8537
    @sinisterisrandom8537 2 года назад +72

    What's crazy to think is that these foods from the predecessors of the Mre to even early or mid mres can survive incredibly well to this day. Which is mostly contributed to people storing them properly.

  • @AnchisesGamer
    @AnchisesGamer 2 года назад +131

    The heater pack in MRE's is the best if you want to mess with your friends. You can put some water in it, Tabasco sauce, seal it all up in a Gatorade bottle (quickly I might add), and throw that in with your buddies and it creates a CS gas bomb and smokes anyone out of the tent. It's hilarious

    • @BlueBoxMadMan
      @BlueBoxMadMan 2 года назад +8

      LMAO

    • @Jakepearl13
      @Jakepearl13 2 года назад +21

      Always good to have an extra tactical option to mess with the enemy…or your friends

    • @kellyalger2394
      @kellyalger2394 2 года назад +18

      Best when done to a sleeping NCO, depending on how brave you are, you'll become a strong private real fast lol.

    • @Stalkergames916
      @Stalkergames916 2 года назад +8

      @@Jakepearl13 don’t know if this count as war crimes but it’s more like tear gas right

    • @Jakepearl13
      @Jakepearl13 2 года назад +15

      @@Stalkergames916 the Geneva convention is more like the Geneva suggestion

  • @jimmy03827
    @jimmy03827 2 года назад +9

    It’s very satisfying watching this while eating for a odd reason.

    • @rustyplugz698
      @rustyplugz698 2 года назад

      I agree! I come back to this video sometime just to watch while eating. It’s weird!

    • @katyusha9050
      @katyusha9050 2 года назад

      Same

  • @omarmatouq3855
    @omarmatouq3855 2 года назад +106

    Speaking of mres, there is ofcourse the infamous legend of the Charms Candy, the candy which flavours can lead to stuff like vehicle breakdowns or even death, and when it was responsible for a us army convoy being ambushed in Iraq in 2003.

    • @LOLMGS
      @LOLMGS 2 года назад +8

      Never heard of that.

    • @aj3751
      @aj3751 2 года назад +7

      Ive eaten a bunch of MRE's and never gotten charms. Maybe they took them out of circulation. I hope so, for my sake

    • @tomhenry897
      @tomhenry897 2 года назад +6

      Ate some many get sick at the mention of them

    • @sigbauer9782
      @sigbauer9782 2 года назад +1

      The Charms were good, but the wrappers definitely aren't tactical.

  • @devinallen7706
    @devinallen7706 2 года назад +37

    During a Russian Famine in the 1930s: “Comrade, lend me a hand for dinner.” Some guy: ok. “wait comrade what are you doing?” “NOOOO!”

    • @LOLMGS
      @LOLMGS 2 года назад +2

      This was random.
      but ok

  • @Daydreamer7070
    @Daydreamer7070 2 года назад +2

    Whoever is doing the art for this channel is certainly improving. Very nice.

  • @acer3573
    @acer3573 2 года назад +33

    I had some MRE's in the early 90s. I learned to be wary of certain candies that might have become so hard they could break your teeth. You would also be wary of certain meals, like Escalloped Potatoes with Ham. I was on a morning detail and got last pick for breakfast and had to choose EPwH. By the time I got to the field exercise site my stomach was rebelling. The senior NCO was from the 82nd and had seen combat in Panama. I told him what I ate and he grimaced (!!) and gave me a medical waiver for the morning.

    • @cougar2k720
      @cougar2k720 2 года назад

      He knew what you gone through, lol

    • @canadiangamer4762
      @canadiangamer4762 Год назад

      You poor poor soul

    • @nicoderbin5418
      @nicoderbin5418 Год назад

      Good thing that meal is no more

    • @Jeff.78
      @Jeff.78 Год назад

      I'll trade you my Four Fingers of Death (hotdogs for the uninitiated) for your EPwH...please!

  • @juciefruut8433
    @juciefruut8433 2 года назад +102

    USA: “So basically we will be replacing your current rations with this MRE which tastes better and its more compact”
    Marines: “We’ll keep these crayons thank you very much”

    • @alexissandoval1284
      @alexissandoval1284 2 года назад +24

      Meanwhile Airmen get their standard tea, crumpets and a full English breakfast complete with fine china.

    • @thisismagacountry1318
      @thisismagacountry1318 2 года назад +2

      The 64 pack crayons are the best.
      Your Recon Corpsman has your back.

    • @Obozo_Gaming
      @Obozo_Gaming 2 года назад

      @@thisismagacountry1318 Is that the one with the crayon sharpener? I feel the sharpener gives the crayons a slightly....sharper...taste. And make them taste better overall.

    • @crazychase98
      @crazychase98 2 года назад

      @@alexissandoval1284 We get bag of nasties on the flight line. I prefer MRE's

  • @mymomsaysimcool9650
    @mymomsaysimcool9650 2 года назад +13

    My favorite MRE during Desert Storm was the Diced Turkey with Gravy. They were phasing it out by that time so the trade value went up fast.

  • @ex-navyspook
    @ex-navyspook 2 года назад +53

    I actually like the newer MREs. They're fairly tasty, you can spice them how you like (although I DID know some guys who were using the little Tabasco or Chalula bottles as eyedrops to stay awake on watch...crazy fu...uh...people), and they'll keep forever. I have some, now, for emergencies.
    Edited for spelling.

  • @andrewfox96
    @andrewfox96 2 года назад +21

    Chilly Mac was always the favorite one. Plus the hot sauce inside made some meals edible. The only thing that by eating the MRE is that’s going to stop you up. You’ll not go normally if you get the drift.

    • @jonv8177
      @jonv8177 2 года назад +2

      Yes chilli Mac is the best, & being "stopped up", is why MRE really stands for
      Meals refusing (to) exit

  • @tquans9777
    @tquans9777 Год назад +5

    in my culinary class we had a chopped challenge where the twist was we had had to include these into our meals. it was a huge struggle since you were given random ones and you had to use the entree on your Main dish, appetizer, and dessert. it was very stressful

  • @thewizard7780
    @thewizard7780 2 года назад +54

    I tried out an MRE once during a trench dig activity. I had the cheese tortellini in tomato sauce and someone else didn't want theirs, which was chili and beans. Wouldn't say they were something i'd love to eat every day, but if I were out there in the field, I certainly wouldn't turn them down.

  • @brightargyle8950
    @brightargyle8950 2 года назад +27

    I've actually been buying and using civilian versions of MRE's for food on the go or when camping. These are on par with military MRE's but are legal to buy. Comes with a nice menu and good variety of options. Great way to carry a lunch if you are on the road and don't know when you will be near town.

  • @pleon13822
    @pleon13822 Год назад +57

    Who’s watching this and eating some food here

  • @Geniusinventor
    @Geniusinventor 2 года назад +72

    Can we all take a moment to appreciate the amazing Animation and Voice in this video? It's very favourable I will say.

    • @RE-zl7sy
      @RE-zl7sy 2 года назад +1

      Can we all take a moment to appreciate how litte fucking time u put in ur comment? like fr u look like a bot

    • @nadersaid2215
      @nadersaid2215 2 года назад +1

      Yeah it is

  • @thefanwithoutaface8105
    @thefanwithoutaface8105 2 года назад +38

    1:04 Unfortunately they didn't work all the kinks out as going by the Terror, it's heavily implied part of the reason so many men died was because the canning process wasn't properly handled.

    • @SharpForceTrauma
      @SharpForceTrauma 2 года назад +1

      "Military grade" at its finest

    • @JostVanWair
      @JostVanWair 2 года назад +2

      The lead seals weren't the issue, but their water purification system being lead-lined might have been far, far worse.

  • @Twiska
    @Twiska 2 года назад +81

    "An army marches on its stomach." Effective, long-lasting rations are the most significant military advancements... ever.

    • @HelloWorld-uw5wj
      @HelloWorld-uw5wj Год назад

      I'd say it's guns

    • @N3gativeR3FLUX
      @N3gativeR3FLUX Год назад +5

      @@HelloWorld-uw5wj how are you going to feed your troops? Gunpowder?? No, actual good food full stop.

  • @JohnSmith-xv2ob
    @JohnSmith-xv2ob 2 года назад +55

    "Hard bread" is a surprisingly pleasant way to describe edible drywall lol.
    Also, on that note, y'all should do a video on the US Army soldier who killed an insurgent with an UNBROKEN MRE spoon in 2006 thereabouts.

    • @justnoob8141
      @justnoob8141 2 года назад +3

      That dude met Spoon Ghost and had paid his price

  • @monkeycat48
    @monkeycat48 2 года назад +3

    I’m told civilians who haven’t even serve in the military I mean I haven’t served the military either have use them on camping trips or any nature hike. I never really knew too much about an MRE until I got in touch with my friend from high school. She introduced me to the MRE it was delicious I literally look at this Video every time like I’m hungry. She served as a drone operator in the US Army

  • @hugosinclair6798
    @hugosinclair6798 2 года назад +33

    fun fact, the self heating system for the MRE can be used as an IED to confuse the enemy, seen it used often back when i was doing mercenary work in the Philippines back in 2018,

    • @Primus_Phallus
      @Primus_Phallus 2 года назад

      Where did you fought in the Philippines?

    • @hugosinclair6798
      @hugosinclair6798 2 года назад

      @@Primus_Phallus rather not say other than in the southern end

    • @HighKnight
      @HighKnight 2 года назад

      They can be detonated? How does that work?

    • @kvtn1p
      @kvtn1p 2 года назад

      A mercenary? PMC or just contract work? That sounds fucking awesome.

    • @hugosinclair6798
      @hugosinclair6798 2 года назад

      @@kvtn1p contract work to hunt communist rebels

  • @Solnoric
    @Solnoric 2 года назад +63

    The P38 opener is one of those things to just have around. It's tiny, effective, and inexpensive

    • @fredgervinm.p.3315
      @fredgervinm.p.3315 2 года назад +5

      I have my original "John Wayne" from PI
      1979...

    • @tomfrazier1103
      @tomfrazier1103 2 года назад +7

      As a kid, a lot of middle aged men had them on their keychains, and trenching tools in the trunks of their Olds 98s.

    • @Solnoric
      @Solnoric 2 года назад +2

      @@tomfrazier1103 yeah, I've got a couple tucked away in the camping gear.

    • @steveskouson9620
      @steveskouson9620 2 года назад +1

      I've got 2, WWII famous airplanes, on my
      keyring. P-38, and the P-51. I prefer the
      P-51, both in can openers and fighters.
      the P-38 is too short.
      steve

  • @hyenapeacekeeper2220
    @hyenapeacekeeper2220 2 года назад +4

    Honestly, the vegetable crumble pasta MRE that you mentioned is pretty good, definitely one of my favorites. I'd eat it in a civilian setting anytime

  • @ironman2536
    @ironman2536 2 года назад +19

    Lived on MREs for 6 months with on Operation Restore Hope (Somalia). There were only the basic 12 different one during my military time ('91-'94). One fun game we would play is try and get your battle buddy to finish one of the crackers in 1 minute. No one ever could, cause it would expand in your mouth. It was so funny to watch. 🤣

  • @shadowrfox
    @shadowrfox 2 года назад +19

    The MRE now a days are actually pretty decent. I would recommend people try at least one to just get an idea of what they're like now.

  • @TheMilitantHorse
    @TheMilitantHorse 2 года назад +18

    I read at a fort near where I grew up (Fort McKavett, TX) that has a small plaque about early army rations. It talks about how early US Army tin can food was actually poisonous because the cans were usually improperly sealed. For context, Fort McKavett was a Plains Fort during the Indian Wars (1870s specifically for this fort). They were assigned members of the 9th and 10th cavalry regiments (Buffalo Soldiers), and were often issued canned rations for patrols.
    Something neat about the US Army of the time. Canning came a long way.

    • @lilyofshalott
      @lilyofshalott Год назад

      Probably botulism, it’s common in old improperly canned meat, actually a bacteria, but generally called a toxin

  • @DoingTheBestICan
    @DoingTheBestICan 2 года назад +95

    MREs actually have a decent selection of entrees now. I'm a sucker for Southwest Beef and Black Beans, or even the Beef Stew. The breakfast ones are still pretty terrible, though. Especially the omelet, lovingly referred to as the "vomelet", because it looks like puke, and makes you want to as well.

    • @billgalloway6383
      @billgalloway6383 2 года назад

      Never had an MRE, we ate C-Rats
      back when I served.

    • @kkbuilder695
      @kkbuilder695 2 года назад

      Ah yes the old scrambled eggs that tasted like you were chewing on salt water

    • @jonv8177
      @jonv8177 2 года назад

      Beef stew, I shudder just remembering it. Better is Chili mac, & shredded beef in bbq style sauce

    • @jaywill5352
      @jaywill5352 2 года назад

      Southwest black with cheese spread mixed in slaps

    • @jacobrardin2445
      @jacobrardin2445 2 года назад

      @@jonv8177 shredded beef is OK but god damn it gets old FAST compared to some of the others. there's only one side and the rest is just dedicated to making a meh tortilla wrap out of it

  • @alphabladelm2011
    @alphabladelm2011 2 года назад +93

    I’m amazed at the history behind all this. We’ve definitely come a long way. I might just try an MRE just for the heck of it.

    • @NFLYoungBoy223
      @NFLYoungBoy223 2 года назад +3

      Don’t eat it😵‍💫

    • @LycorisOni
      @LycorisOni 2 года назад +6

      I've had several different MRE's growing up with a grandfather who still worked for a national guard base. I will tell you some are really fucking good for being an mre like beef ravioli and Meatloaf with gravy. But most are not that great

    • @MattMerica76
      @MattMerica76 2 года назад +3

      Watch SteveMRE and choose one that sounds good to you.

    • @fpsgames8188
      @fpsgames8188 2 года назад

      Find one that sounds good, lower your expectations a bit, and maybe even wait til you are really hungry (hunger makes food taste better).
      Also, make sure you will have access to a toilet afterwards, just in case.

    • @regancorbett1562
      @regancorbett1562 2 года назад

      If you can, go for either the Meatballs and Marinara or the Southwestern Beef and Black Beans. Or the Veggie Crumble, that one’s fire.

  • @jaimemunoz5920
    @jaimemunoz5920 2 года назад +9

    I love MREs. I don't eat them as often as I used to. They're expensive. Hilariously enough I was at Cabela's and I bought some of the freeze dried food there and it was literally just repackaged mre items. Like one of them was pizza and you opened the package and then out came the MRE style package.

    • @Top2BottomGaming
      @Top2BottomGaming Год назад

      Humanitarian Rations
      (One meal, for a whole day)
      Are actually cheaper than eating a lot now. It’s kind of funny.

  • @ryansextremegaming
    @ryansextremegaming 2 года назад +16

    6:58
    Most soldiers wrapped the cans in spare socks.
    It was a requirement for soldiers to eat and change their socks every time they stopped.

  • @Oliveria663
    @Oliveria663 2 года назад +8

    I've eaten 3 years expired skittles out of a MREs, real moral boost.

  • @its.Andy1
    @its.Andy1 2 года назад +3

    Chicken pesto pasta, meatballs in marinara sauce, Mexican rice and bean bowl, Mexican style chicken stew, and maple pork sausage patty were my all time favorites🤣

  • @freelancenerd4804
    @freelancenerd4804 2 года назад +9

    In the mid 80’s I was camping with my dad and uncle and my uncle had a C ration I think from the late 50’s. I was 6 sugar cookies in a can, they were delicious and a really fun time. A lot cooler then the MRE’s I got in the 90’s

  • @aidanmolloy8813
    @aidanmolloy8813 2 года назад +22

    I'm a Canadian air cadet and I had the chance to have a Canadian MRE. I will say they are much better than people say. Nobody wanted beans so I took what was left stuffing it in my pockets. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the nutrition bar. It wasn't horrible but wasn't great either. It was great to stuff into my breast pocket and eat whenever I was a bit hungry.

  • @n3rdf0xx04
    @n3rdf0xx04 2 года назад +6

    Even though the only meat I can have now is fish and poultry, I've always wanted to try MRE's, both American and foreign, like the JSDF salmon and rice MRE

  • @Thomas-rl9xd
    @Thomas-rl9xd 2 года назад +4

    Please do a video on the battle of Delville wood. As a South African it would be truly amazing to see our troops remembered on this channel.
    Thank you...

  • @yowman98
    @yowman98 2 года назад +5

    Really cool to see how they have evolved over the years, kinda shocked you missed the cold weather MREs though! Far and away the best

  • @LITTLE1994
    @LITTLE1994 Год назад +2

    One thing that is forgotten to be said is MREs actually has a civilian counterpart that can be sold in stores and actually have the same meals and similar package.

  • @Patrick_3751
    @Patrick_3751 2 года назад +62

    A video on the history of US military rations? That's just really......
    NICE!!!
    (Props to anyone who gets that reference! lol)

    • @afailureofaanimator6744
      @afailureofaanimator6744 2 года назад +7

      Coffee type 2

    • @nathanjimenez2640
      @nathanjimenez2640 2 года назад +7

      Now let's get this on a tray

    • @ADHDWOOHOO
      @ADHDWOOHOO 2 года назад +4

      Nice, m'kay.
      Let's pull off that key...and lift that tab.

    • @ADHDWOOHOO
      @ADHDWOOHOO 2 года назад +5

      @@nathanjimenez2640 nice hiss.

    • @STLSF
      @STLSF 2 года назад +4

      All it's missing is a nice hiss.

  • @OdinsThirdRaven
    @OdinsThirdRaven 2 года назад +20

    MREs are tested by POGs in a controlled environment where they took their time and use the heaters. And add little tid bits to enhance the meal. I had to carry my own bottle of Tabasco sauce to cover the nasty taste of unheated meals because there wasn't enough time to heat it up properly.

  • @Splintercelmaster1
    @Splintercelmaster1 2 года назад

    It thinks like this that just show how far we have come. History is very important and its a beautiful thing. We must never forget our history, we should always want to improve

  • @mando686
    @mando686 2 года назад +4

    Best MRE's are the U.S. RCW (Rations Cold Weather) because some of the dehydrated meals are better than restaurant food and the Spanish MRE which has a big block of milk chocolate and rum in it. The Italian MRE is pretty good too, with all the pasta meals in it.

  • @iplyrunescape305
    @iplyrunescape305 2 года назад +12

    7:19 damn the rice so good, his hair grows for a few seconds

  • @Cuddlez
    @Cuddlez Год назад +1

    Back then when I was in the military I would always go far the pasta. Specifically either spaghetti or the ravioli and I would use the cheese spread and mix with it. For the sweets, I always hope I get the energy bar if I don't then I would ask my battles if they have and would trade. Lastly, for the drink I go with the mocha and mix it with the coffee if they have. MRE might not be to other people's taste but I rather have them than to none whenever I'm out doing field operation.

  • @hipcheck6611
    @hipcheck6611 2 года назад +18

    Fun fact, when my dad was in the 1st gulf war in desert storm, his squad was given exclusively chicken cacciatore for over a month or so straight for lunch and dinner. The man won’t eat it to this day 😂

  • @sonofkarma5461
    @sonofkarma5461 2 года назад +14

    I’ve actually Eaten an MRE Before (I got Menu item 4) (which is Spaghetti with beef and Sauce) and I loved it

  • @notfound4048
    @notfound4048 Год назад +2

    I wanna buy some for travelling ,looks surprisingly convenient

  • @ryanthede4689
    @ryanthede4689 2 года назад +16

    Wish you would have covered UGR-A, UGR-B, UGR-E, arctic, and First Strike rations as well. There's a lot more going on with modern rations than just MREs

    • @NoName-sy3di
      @NoName-sy3di 2 года назад

      So whats the difference between first strike rations and regular mres?

    • @ryanthede4689
      @ryanthede4689 2 года назад +1

      @@NoName-sy3di First Strike rations have a lot of the same components as a regular MRE, but they're meant to be eaten without heating and it's considered a whole day meal instead of a singular meal. Think of it as three field stripped MREs in one. They also have items that aren't in regular MREs like Bridgford sandwiches. They're normally only given out to people that are deployed

    • @NoName-sy3di
      @NoName-sy3di 2 года назад

      @@ryanthede4689 so mres are just general rations now and first strikes are ment for people who are deployed and are maybe on like a patrol or something and dont get the luxury of eatting multiple times or heating it? Thats cool

    • @ryanthede4689
      @ryanthede4689 2 года назад

      @@NoName-sy3di basically yes, but it's more eat as you go. There was always a saying when you were in the field or on deployment, "chow is continuous"

    • @NoName-sy3di
      @NoName-sy3di 2 года назад

      @@ryanthede4689 ahh id imagine its not so fun eatting like cold beef brisket that tastes like a bike tube out of a retort pouch

  • @arober9758
    @arober9758 2 года назад +9

    Very good job fellows!! Congratulations.
    Absolutely delicious. 2010-2014. The food was always one of the best parts of the army.

  • @zamoriansreign
    @zamoriansreign Год назад +1

    Can we have another episode of this? Perhaps explaining the evolution of this for countries such as Germany or Japan?

  • @jimgoebel7540
    @jimgoebel7540 2 года назад +12

    I learned real quick when I was in the army that depending on what MRE one got will determine weather one will get Constipation, Diarrhea, or an ungodly combination of both. Because that is what happened to me.😱

  • @Bushes21
    @Bushes21 2 года назад +4

    History that is SUPER intertaining is hard to make good job

  • @rescue08jrgaming72
    @rescue08jrgaming72 2 года назад +5

    00:01
    The bag says beef shredded in barbecue sauce but the bag spills spaghetti and meatballs when it’s dropped

  • @restyclips7572
    @restyclips7572 2 года назад +42

    The MREs are very tasty, when in holidays in Afghanistan, me and my friends sometimes come to a nearby bazaar to buy one and it was enough for 3 or 5 of us and we really enjoyed its food items but didn’t eat its bacon or pork as these were not halal and leaved them, and now people here liked them and would brought some from bazaar to enjoy it.

    • @2balkan4you
      @2balkan4you 2 года назад +1

      RealLy , I hope your safe

    • @ehrenzigeuner6917
      @ehrenzigeuner6917 2 года назад

      MRE enough for 5? lol are you serious?

    • @restyclips7572
      @restyclips7572 2 года назад +3

      @@ehrenzigeuner6917 I mean it has many items like cheese spread, crackers, chocolate bars, coffee, Dried fruits etc. which is enough as one time meal for 3

    • @dravenocklost4253
      @dravenocklost4253 2 года назад +3

      @@ehrenzigeuner6917 pretty sure he is a civilian , and clearly not American. Often a normal portion from a restaurant here is too big for a European.

  • @homiekitten6161
    @homiekitten6161 2 года назад +6

    I love how there is probably a ton of friendly fire going on there at 9:58

    • @dontkickmychick6076
      @dontkickmychick6076 2 года назад

      Walking in front of someone spraying lead down range. Smart.

  • @coiledsteel8344
    @coiledsteel8344 2 года назад +1

    I'm an Old Vietnam Era Veteran,
    That Liked Some of The Older C, And D Rations,
    Using The Famous Little P-38 Can Opener.

  • @randomperson58925
    @randomperson58925 2 года назад +13

    I've been eating MRE's for awhile. Almost all are pretty good. With exception to the maple pork. Candy can vary and sometimes if it's the skittles it's just a solid brick I ate like a candy bar.

    • @CRAZYUNCLE117
      @CRAZYUNCLE117 2 года назад

      The maple pork MUST be heated up. Eating it cold, it tastes terrible. Eating it hot is good, but a little messy.

    • @randomperson58925
      @randomperson58925 2 года назад +1

      @@CRAZYUNCLE117 Yea, we had a 5 min chow time so I couldn't heat any food up. It wasn't the worst thing, couple of guys got smoked for getting cracker crumbs everywhere lol.

    • @CRAZYUNCLE117
      @CRAZYUNCLE117 2 года назад

      @@randomperson58925 Yea, but you get used to it. When I had to lead some support personnel through a field problem, by the time they we getting their heaters running I was packing up to leave.
      You never heard such childish whining from adults outside an anifa rally.

  • @jamesthegoo7600
    @jamesthegoo7600 2 года назад +11

    At 7:12 one of the guy's hair glitches out when he takes a bite