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Foreign military MRE question

tccoxtccox Member Posts: 7,379 ✭✭
edited July 2015 in General Discussion
Just got to thinking and that is usually bad for me. Do all modern military have MREs? Who has the best? I would make a wild guess that the French would really rank on up there. Then us or maybe GB?

Do any of you have any experience with foreign military chow? I'm really curious now. Tom

Comments

  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • Cornflk1Cornflk1 Member Posts: 3,715 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There is a site that sells all kinds of foreign MRE's (can't remember the site, sorry[V]). They list the things that are available in each pack. Some sound good - others not so good
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It depends on the country. The more developed country's have an MRE type meal. Most are pretty good but some are weird.

    Lower developed country's don't. In Africa some of the Military's supply locally procured food and commercial canned goods. It is kind of hit or miss.

    From all the places I have been and all the different Military forces that are out there you can catalog them in 3 ways:

    1. Military's that are organized to fight wars like the US and NATO country's. These will have an MRE type meal and uniform weapons and equipment. These will get paid on time and be professional.

    2. Military's that are more for show and used to guard the country from threats foreign and domestic. This is like most of your South American country's. They will have a mix of weapons and uniforms. They will be somewhat professional and will send their soldiers and officers to schools to learn to be professional. They usually have some standard meal but it is reinforced with locally or commercially procured food.

    3. Military's that are a social welfare system whose mission is to suppress the population, fight internal rebel forces, prop up the government and basically keep all the thugs in one place. They will have very little uniformity, will not be professional and the populace will be as scared of them as the enemy. They don't get paid often and when they do they get short changed. They will be poorly equipped. They will not have an MRE but will use locally procured food(not always paid for)and commercially canned goods. These are country's like most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example The Democratic Republic of Congo.
    RLTW

  • papernickerpapernicker Member Posts: 1,371 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,115 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Sam06
    It depends on the country. The more developed country's have an MRE type meal. Most are pretty good but some are weird.

    Lower developed country's don't. In Africa some of the Military's supply locally procured food and commercial canned goods. It is kind of hit or miss.

    From all the places I have been and all the different Military forces that are out there you can catalog them in 3 ways:

    1. Military's that are organized to fight wars like the US and NATO country's. These will have an MRE type meal and uniform weapons and equipment. These will get paid on time and be professional.

    2. Military's that are more for show and used to guard the country from threats foreign and domestic. This is like most of your South American country's. They will have a mix of weapons and uniforms. They will be somewhat professional and will send their soldiers and officers to schools to learn to be professional. They usually have some standard meal but it is reinforced with locally or commercially procured food.

    3. Military's that are a social welfare system whose mission is to suppress the population, fight internal rebel forces, prop up the government and basically keep all the thugs in one place. They will have very little uniformity, will not be professional and the populace will be as scared of them as the enemy. They don't get paid often and when they do they get short changed. They will be poorly equipped. They will not have an MRE but will use locally procured food(not always paid for)and commercially canned goods. These are country's like most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example The Democratic Republic of Congo.




    Yep, some will have field kitchens only and Asian counties distribute pre cooked meals in some kind of container not vacuum sealed. Shelf life low and dependent upon ambient temp. Some containers are cleaned and reused. Almost comparable to a carryout.
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As described, it varies a lot. Some countries have a ration like ours - that is, set up as single meals. Others distribute full-day rations that includes three meals. Most countries (including the US) depend mainly on chow halls or mobile field kitchens for most meals, using packaged rations only as a field expedient. Obviously, that's far better and highly preferred.

    Among the most highly esteemed military rations are the French, Italian, German, Australian, English, and Canadian. Russian rations are also well thought of, as are Japanese. Chinese field rations are surprisingly varied and good.

    Others are not as well liked, and come mainly from smaller/poorer countries like the Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, and almost all the African and South American countries.

    Then there are a few ringers; countries that have some poor and some surprisingly good rations. Spain, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Vietnam, and a couple more are in this group.

    In the end, what is "good" or "awful" depends on who is eating it and what your food background is. We Americans don't much fancy canned fish, fermented foods, or potted meats but soldiers from other places dote on them, for example.

    Forgot to add: You can learn a lot about rations of all kinds at

    mreinfo.com
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote: We Americans don't much fancy canned fish, fermented foods, or potted meats but soldiers from other places dote on them, for example.

    You can say that again Rocky.

    When I was in DR Congo I ate foofoo and canned pilchards in tomato sauce 2 times a day. Needless to say I am not a picky eater but that diet got old after the 2nd meal.

    Some of the Eastern European Country's have some good field rats. Croatia's are very good as are Hungry and Poland.
    RLTW

  • tccoxtccox Member Posts: 7,379 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the replies and info. I will do a little research on it now. I had really figured that USA would have very best but all NATO countries would be top of the list. I imagined the French to be tops with Truffles, Caviar & Escargo.

    Also figured that African meals would be something to avoid! Tom
  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Forgot to add: You can learn a lot about rations of all kinds at

    mreinfo.com


    "The First Strike Ration, or FSR, is a compact, eat-on-the-move assault ration"

    [:D] okay, that was entertaining
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know. Too bad there's a two-week cooling-off period before you can get your "assault ration" huh?
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • MG1890MG1890 Member Posts: 4,460 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Chinese MRE: Kitty in a Can!
  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have eaten Canadian and Spanish field rats- both pretty damned good.

    We had African exchange students at Benning. The ones living upstairs from me tended to buy a chicken, put it in the oven. We kept trying to get them to put it in a pan before they put it in the oven.
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