10.19.2010

MRE Rations. A Photo Essay by Photojournalist Ashley Gilbertson.



American Meal Ready To Eat, or MRE, Menu #2 'Pork Rib.'




British Multi-Climate Ration, Menu #14.




Canadian Military Ration, Supper Menu No. 1.




Danish Military Ration, Dinner Portion F1, Hakkebof.




Italian Razione, Viveri Speciali Da Combattimento, or Special Military Ration Pack, Module C.



South Korean Military Ration, Type I.




Ukrainian Officers military ration.



French Individual Reheatable Combat Ration, Menu # 9.

"Early in the Afghanistan war, among the international troops who mingled at Bagram Air Base, a single French combat ration (cassoulet, perhaps, with deer pâté and nougat) could be traded for at least five American Meals Ready to Eat (M.R.E.’s). Recently though, the barter values have changed. A journalist who just got back from an embed with the French said that today they look forward to visiting the Americans for a meal. Each year, among the 47 countries with troops in Afghanistan, tens of millions of dollars are spent researching how to fit the most calories, nutrition and either comfort or fun into a small, light package. The menus and accompaniments are intended not just to nourish but also to remind the soldier of home. Some include branded comfort foods: Australians get Vegemite, while Germans get national staples like liverwurst. In combat, eating is often the only good thing about a day." -Ashley Gilbertson.
See previous post on Ashley here.
ashleygilbertson.com

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