UNCLASSIFIED
Judith Aylward, MS, RDIndividual Combat Rations TeamDoD Combat Feeding Directorate
US Army Natick RD&E Center
Fielded Individual/Assault Ration Improvement ProjectR&DA Boot Camp
UNCLASSIFIED
Government Agencies/AcronymsGovernment Agencies/Acronyms
• NSRDEC (Natick) – US. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center. Combat ration developer located in Natick, MA
• DSCP – Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia. Procurement agency that awards ration contracts
• JSORF – Joint Services Operational Rations Forum. Decision making authority for changes to rations
• VETCOM – US ARMY Veterinary Command. Inspects at ration assembly plants and inspects fielded rations
• OTSG – Office of The Surgeon General. Provides nutritional standards and approvals
UNCLASSIFIED
Combat Ration Development & Integration ProcessCombat Ration Development & Integration Process
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
Bench-Top Sensory
Evaluations
IS ITEM APPROPRIAT
E FOR COMBAT
RATIONS?
IS ITEM APPROPRIAT
E FOR COMBAT
RATIONS?
Packaging
Packaging
Produced/
Packaged in USA
Produced/
Packaged in USA
Nutrition Standards
for Operational
Rations
Nutrition Standards
for Operational
Rations
Shelf StableShelf
Stable
Historical Storage
Data
Historical Storage
Data
PRODUCT EVALUATION CRITERIA:
UNCLASSIFIED
Individual Combat Ration TeamIndividual Combat Ration Team
Meal, Cold Weather/Long Range Patrol
Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ (MRE™)
First Strike Ration®
Carbopack
Modular Operational Ration Enahncement
UNCLASSIFIED
Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ (MRE™)Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ (MRE™)
Requirements:• 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)
UNCLASSIFIED
Meal, Ready-to-Eat 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
UNCLASSIFIED
Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ Improvements Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ Improvements
Horizontal Tear PouchBeverage Pouch
Hot Beverage BagNew Graphics Breakfast Meals
Commercial Foods
UNCLASSIFIED
First Strike Ration®First Strike Ration®
FSR®:
• OTSG approved restricted ration (10 days)
• Calorie dense, 2900 kcals
• Modular- eat on the move
• Lightweight/low cube
• 3 menus, expanding to 9
• Performance enhanced
• 2 year shelf life
• Continuous product improvement
• Available for procurement
UNCLASSIFIED
Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Pack (MORE)Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Pack (MORE)
High Altitude Prototype Pack
Date: 01 Oct 08 JSN 06-11
Mountain Warfare Training Exercises
UNCLASSIFIED
MOREMORE
• 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
JSN 06-11
Date: 01 Oct 08
• 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
UNCLASSIFIED
Meal, Cold Weather/ Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP)Meal, Cold Weather/ Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP)
• Dual purpose in single product– 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
UNCLASSIFIED
Individual Combat RationsIndividual Combat Rations
• Acronyms:
– PCR: Performance-Based Contract Requirements• Document used for military unique items & includes
specific requirements & end item requirements
– CID: Commercial Item Description• Developed by DSCP or USDA. Used to describe
commercial off-the-shelf items
– PKG and QAP: Packaging and Quality Assurance Provisions• Document that provides specific requirements &
end item requirements relating to packaging and quality
UNCLASSIFIED
Individual Combat RationsIndividual Combat Rations
• Acronyms (cont):
− GFM: Government Furnished Material• Items procured by DSCP• Includes beverages, spreads, baked items (pound
cakes, breads, cookies, muffins & wet pack fruit)
− CFM: Contractor Furnished Material• Items procured by MRE™ Assemblers
• Ameriqual• Wornick• Sopakco
UNCLASSIFIED
New Item Introduction for Individual Combat Rations New Item Introduction for Individual Combat Rations
Item field tested
Yes
No
No
Natick In-House or Non-Developmental Item
submittal
Sensory score
acceptable ?
Is item appropriate for MRE?
Item storage tested (4 wks 120F, 6 month 100F)
Yes
Item score acceptable in the field?No
Yes
No further testing
Item recommended at Joint Services
Operational Ration Forum (JSORF)
Contact project officer &send to Natick if requested
2QY13QY1
4QY1
2QY2
UNCLASSIFIED
JSORFApproved?
DSCPSolicitation
NO
PDMSubmittal
END
Natick Sensory EvaluationPASS
DSCP KO
& USDA
Acquisition ProcessAcquisition Process
FAIL
YES
NatickDocument
LongTerm
Storage
Tech DataTo FEST
Develop &CoordinateDocument
Cutting &DocumentRevision,
PCRs/CIDs
DevelopMenus
Coordinate With:Services OTSGVETCOM DSCPUSDA FDAAMC Industry
2QY2 2QY2 3QY2 4QY2 2QY3 3QY3
4QY3
OTSGApproved
Contract Award
YES
Vendor Reproduces
Product
UNCLASSIFIED
Acquisition Process (continued)Acquisition Process (continued)
Periodic review &USDA Replenishment
& Natick Replenishment
TROOPISSUE
Contract Award/Production
RationAssembly
Natick SensoryEvaluation
DSCP KO
USDAInspection
FAIL FAIL
PASS PASSContractor Inspection
VETCOMInspection
FAIL
PASS
DATA DSCP KODSCP QA
USDA
Request for Waiver Accepted?
Discard
YES
NO
