Sep 25, 2007
BY NSRDEC Public Affairs
NATICK, Mass. - A new compact, eat-on-the-move assault ration is well on its way to Warfighters' hands. "The First Strike Ration is intended for the first on the ground, first to fight Warfighter," said Barbara Daley, food technologist and FSR project officer, Combat Feeding Directorate, U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.
Usually when Warfighters are issued two or more Meals, Ready-to-Eat they "field strip" them to lessen the bulk and weight they are carrying. Personnel at NSRDEC found that not only were Warfighters tossing what they considered extra weight, such as the flameless ration heater and Tabasco sauce, but they were also tossing food items. According to the Product Optimization and Evaluation Team at NSRDEC, if a Warfighter is given 3600 calories, often he or she will strip it down to 2500 calories.
The First Strike Ration attempts to reduce this stripping by providing a lighter and smaller sized package with eat-on-the-go items that are also performance enhancing.
More at http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/09/25/5041-first-strike-ration-on-the-way-for-the-first-to-fight-warfighter/
