The difference between standard and enhanced field rations

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is actively working to ensure high-quality food for the military. One of the key elements is enhanced field rations, intended for service members operating under high physical exertion, detached from the main unit, or in situations where enhanced self-sufficiency in terms of food is required.

The Ministry of Defence explains how enhanced rations differ from standard ones.

A standard field ration includes three main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and provides basic foods to meet the energy needs of service members.

• First-grade wheat flour hardtacks.

• Dried bread (rusk) made from wheat or rye flour.

• Ready-to-eat first courses (borscht with meat and soups with meat, in retort packaging).

• Ready-to-eat main courses (porridge with meat and vegetables with meat, in retort packaging).

•  Instant coffee, tea, sugar, honey, fruit jam.

•  Ground black pepper, salt, a disposable tablespoon, napkins.

This food set provides the basic nutritional needs of the military for a full day and is suitable for consumption in the field, provided there is access to water and minimal storage conditions.

“Enhanced rations are designed for more challenging conditions of service, in particular for service members who perform combat missions to protect the state or are separated from the main unit to perform special missions. It includes additional components that enhance its caloric content, nutritional value, and suitability for operational independence:

The breakfast is supplemented with 30 g of dried fruit, 35 g of dark chocolate, a piece of chewing gum, and a flameless food heater.

The lunch is supplemented with a piece of chewing gum and a flameless food heater.

The dinner (evening meal) is supplemented with 200 g of ready-to-eat meat, a piece of chewing gum, a flameless food heater, 2 g of instant coffee, and 10 g of sugar.

A feature of the enhanced dry rations is their significant contribution to service members' self-sufficiency in food. Flameless food heaters enable meals to be warmed in the field without access to fire or other heat sources.

“Service members must receive enough energy to perform combat missions efficiently. The enhanced rations feature increased calories, enabling service members to sustain high endurance levels and physical activity under challenging conditions. Thanks to this, it supplies warriors with everything they need to effectively carry out their missions, even in the most remote or hazardous areas,” stated Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Dmytro Klimenkov.

The Ministry of Defence continues to enhance the food supply system to ensure defenders have everything necessary to sustain their health and combat readiness while carrying out their missions.