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