What is a field ration and name two types?

• A. A ration package used in field conditions; Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) and First Strike Ration (FSR)
• B. A shelf-stable snack kit
• C. A cooking set with utensils
• D. An emergency water supply

Answer: (A)

Field ration is a packaged, shelf-stable meal designed for eating in the field when cooking facilities aren’t available. It’s portable, quick to prepare or eat, and provides the nutrition a soldier needs during operations.

The two types commonly issued are the Meal, Ready-to-Eat, or MRE, which is a complete meal in a rugged pouch with an entrée, sides, dessert, and beverages, and often a flameless heater option for self-heating; and the First Strike Ration, a compact, energy-dense option intended for short-duration or special operations, easier to carry than a full MRE.

Other options aren’t complete field meals: a shelf-stable snack kit isn’t a full ration; a cooking set with utensils is gear for preparing food, not the meal itself; an emergency water supply is for hydration, not a ration.