military folk or those who have tried MREs

bluefox · Post by **bluefox** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:19 pm

I have never had an MRE. I am saving up my tolerance for them for in the great war.

happydrunk · Post by **happydrunk** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:31 pm

this story reminds me of one I read in a body building magazine where the body builder guy was on a strict diet of orange roughy (a type of fish)

after a week or so of this diet, the results were not unlike those described above (if not much, much worse)

needless to say, I will not be consuming orange roughy ever in my lifetime!

Shmoo · Post by **Shmoo** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:33 pm

Holy shit that was funny! Glad I'm not drinking right now because I'd likely spill it. I think I just caught my breath.

Mister Priapus · Post by **Mister Priapus** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:25 pm

So what I want to know is how long ago was the piece written. In other words is he talking about the newer MRE's, which aren't too terrible, or the Gulf War I era MRE's which were dry enough to make desert sand seem like moist and delicous pound cake.

I took the rest of my bottle of Military
Special Vodka (yes, they DO make a type of liquor named "Military
Special"--it sells for $4.35 per fifth)

Now I've been to the AAFES package store years ago and I don't remember this (of course I was 15 at the time). I must have some! I must make brutal hammers with this on general principle.

mixed in four packets
of "Electrolytes - 1 each - Cherry flavored" (I swear, the packet
says that)

Ahh, bug juice. Good for rehydration and better for making your brightwork inspectable. Better than Coca-cola on your car battery terminals. I found this on "bug juice" from a Tom Clancy website and I think this just says it all as far as explaining military powdered beverages to the uninitiated.

http://www.clancyfaq.com/Books.htm#bug

Bug juice is a US Navy name for a fruit flavored drink served on board vessels of the US Navy. It is an alternative to coffee and water. It comes in several flavors and colors. The colors have no relationship to flavor. Those in the know prefer the red variety.

Now if you want to talk Government Issue, my personal favorite is GI peanut butter. Comes in a big, white bucket with black lettering, the most generic label possible. This is the best fucking peanut butter ever. Being a Navy brat I grew up on PB&J's with GI peanut butter and GI wheat bread. I'm here to tell you it makes for good drunk food as well. I've been unable to find any outside of the military community so if anybody who's still in or has Exchange priveleges wants to hook a brotha up, I'd be grateful.

But then again I grew up using olive drab AA batteries out of the freezer in my walkman so maybe I'm a little biased.

Savage · Post by **Savage** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:55 pm

[quote="Mister Priapus"]

Ahh, bug juice. Good for rehydration and better for making your brightwork inspectable. Better than Coca-cola on your car battery terminals. I found this on "bug juice" from a Tom Clancy website and I think this just says it all as far as explaining military powdered beverages to the uninitiated.

Thanks for reminding me about that. My lion knocker is all tarnished from the yukky weather we've been having lately. As for the G.I. peanut butter, I don't recall ever having seen it before, not in the States or overseas, but next commissary run I will look for it, and the vodka too.

Years ago, when I had seven people to feed every day, I bought some PB that might be similar. It came from BJ's wholesale club in MA. It was crumbly, and some of the kids didn't like it much. I don't know, as I only eat peanut butter in chocolate chip cookies.

Ranger6 · Post by **Ranger6** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:57 pm

I would load up my assault pack with cheese packets and peanut butter.

Tuffy · Post by **Tuffy** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:01 pm

rune wrote:Does anyone here remember the C-rats?

I've had both. MREs are glorious in comparison.

maltlicker11 · Post by **maltlicker11** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:43 pm

I'd say the young lady was quite the sport and a keeper. I would question her food eyeballing ability though. I mean, I like MREs - bought some by choice, eventually several cases worth, but that subtle flavor and texture, can you really hide it? (I haven't had many of the new generation. )

I hated the ham omlette - smelled like cat food to me.
Everything else I thought was more than acceptable. Ham steak was good. Pound cake was fun. That funny dehydrated ice cream stuff was fun to chew on dry. Never got to fool with those "add water" heaters, but yes they do taste much better hot. I was seeing a pretty good correlation between age and flavor. (google for the date code key)

If C-rats was just before MREs I have fond memories of them from cub scouts on Armed Forces day when we would get to eat "Army food" and thought it was the coolest thing and the can opener was a treasured souvenir (p38?)

Mister Priapus · Post by **Mister Priapus** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:44 pm

Savage wrote:
Mister Priapus wrote:
Ahh, bug juice. Good for rehydration and better for making your brightwork inspectable. Better than Coca-cola on your car battery terminals. I found this on "bug juice" from a Tom Clancy website and I think this just says it all as far as explaining military powdered beverages to the uninitiated.

Thanks for reminding me about that. My lion knocker is all tarnished from the yukky weather we've been having lately. As for the G.I. peanut butter, I don't recall ever having seen it before, not in the States or overseas, but next commissary run I will look for it, and the vodka too.

Years ago, when I had seven people to feed every day, I bought some PB that might be similar. It came from BJ's wholesale club in MA. It was crumbly, and some of the kids didn't like it much. I don't know, as I only eat peanut butter in chocolate chip cookies.

It occurs to me it may be the sort of thing you only get on ship nowadays. I haven't actually been in a commissary since the late 80's so that could have changed. But they definitely had it in the galley when I was on the Connie.

But it was definitely some raw as peanut butter.