Field Rations Through the Years Published Nov. 9, 2015 By Senior Airman Sean D. Smith Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The logistical challenge of keeping soldiers supplied has always been one of the considerations of war, and ensuring an army has food is just as important as making sure it has bullets. Over time, field rations have come a long way, but certain principles remain the same throughout the centuries: military field rations prioritize concentrated calories and shelf-stability. In the distant past, rations weren't individual items; they were literally rationed from a shared store of materials, but in World War I, the introduction of gas attacks created a need for sealed rations that would be safe from contamination. In the days of the American Revolutionary War, both sides struggled just to keep their armies fed. Now, the business of providing military field rations has turned into an exact and competitive science. Energy, nutrition and portability are all taken into consideration in the development of new rations. Even flavor is a priority, as rations do no good if no one wants to eat them. During the Vietnam War, the American field ration at the time, the Meal, Combat, Individual ration, or MCI, caused problems because it relied heavily on canned goods, which were extremely difficult to carry for men who were already overburdened. Many American troops chose to go hungry rather than weigh themselves down in an environment where stealth, maneuverability and situational awareness were paramount. The MCI was later replaced by the Meal, Ready to Eat, which has been adjusted and improved over a period of more than 30 years. Individually-packaged meals with long shelf lives and nutritious, calorically-dense contents aren't just for use by the military. These types of meals are commonly employed for humanitarian purposes in scenarios where extreme weather or other circumstances displace large numbers of people. MREs were distributed widely during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and meals of this type have been designed explicitly with humanitarian crises in mind, like the Humanitarian Daily Ration, which can be air-dropped without a parachute. Many different countries have their own take on the MRE, and American armed forces have several variations of ration systems suitable to different environments, even a meal system meant to be eaten on the go, called a First Strike Ration. The difference between modern field rations and what was being issued less a century ago is jarring. As time passes and requirements change, militaries around the world will continue to alter their ration systems to meet emerging needs.