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Unitized Group Ration

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UGR-H&S rations being heated in an immersion heater before serving

The Unitized Group Ration (UGR) is a United States military ration used to sustain groups of American service members with access to a field kitchen, serving as both a field ration and a garrison ration.[1] It is the modern successor to several older alphabetized rations—namely the A-ration, B-ration, and T-ration—combining them under a single unified system.[2] UGRs are designed to meet the Military Daily Recommended Allowance when averaged over a 5 to 10 day period, with each meal providing between 1,300 and 1,450 kcal.[3]

The UGR was introduced in 1999, and is currently known to be used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and National Guard.[4] The U.S. Navy also reportedly uses the UGR, but primarily uses their own group rations, the Navy Standard Core Menu (NSCM), aboard naval vessels.[5][6]

The UGR's primary field and combat equivalent is the more well-known Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), with the First Strike Ration (FSR) and Long Range Patrol (LRP) serving as specialized field equivalents.[7][8]

History

Prior to the UGR's implementation, the U.S. military had several different types of rations used to feed service members in the rear or out of combat. Among them were the A-ration, consisting of fresh, refrigerated, or frozen food prepared in a kitchen and served in a mess, dining facility, or elsewhere; the B-ration, consisting of packaged, preserved foods prepared in a field kitchen; and the T-ration, a semi-perishable meal packaged, heated, and served in a tray pack similar to frozen meals; among others.[5][9]

Around 1995, the U.S. military launched a modernization program to increase the quality and decrease cost of the existing rations. Research was headed by the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School. In an effort to simplify logistics and ensure all necessary ingredients were provided, the UGR was created in 1999, combining elements and offerings of the A-ration, B-ration, T-ration, and brand-name items.[2] The UGR was initially trialed with the U.S. Army, with their first shipments received around 2000; the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps also began receiving UGRs at unspecified dates.[5]

Types

As of 2023, four types of Unitized Group Rations exist.[5]

Heat & Serve

U.S. Air National Guard airmen preparing UGR-H&S meals

The Unitized Group Ration – Heat & Serve (UGR-H&S) consists of precooked, shelf-stable tray pack entrées. The UGR-H&S is hermetically sealed can be prepared using a tray ration heater or by immersing it in boiling water, ready to serve in 30 to 45 minutes. The UGR-H&S has an offering of 5 breakfast menus and 10 lunch/dinner menus; each meal provides an average of 1,450 kcal. Each UGR-H&S module contains 50 meals, with each pallet holding 400 meals. UGR-H&S modules have a minimum shelf life of 18 months at 80 °F (26.6 °C).[5][7][10][11][12]

A Option

A U.S. Marine looking through UGR-A boxes in a freezer

The Unitized Group Ration – A (UGR-A) consists of perishable and frozen entrées alongside commercially-produced goods. The UGR-A is the only UGR with frozen food, and requires refrigeration and a field kitchen to store and prepare. The UGR-A has an offering of 7 breakfast menus and 14 lunch/dinner menus; each meal provides an average of 1,450 kcal. Each UGR-A module contains 50 meals, with each pallet holding 600 meals. UGR-A modules have a minimum shelf life of 9 months for deliveries outside the contiguous U.S., and 3 months within the contiguous U.S., at 80 °F (26.6 °C) for semi-perishable modules and 0 °F (-17.7 °C) for perishable modules.[7][5][11][12][13]

A, Short Order

The Unitized Group Ration – A, Short Order (UGR-A, Short Order) consists of meals intended to supplement the UGR-A and expand the food options available to service members, especially where alternate dining facilities or existing meal options are unavailable. Most UGR-A, Short Order meals are based on fast food. The UGR-A, Short Order has the same kilocalories and minimum shelf lives as the regular UGR-A.[5][7][12][13]

M Option

U.S. Marines eating UGR-M meals at Camp Lejeune

The Unitized Group Ration – M (UGR-M), formerly the Unitized Group Ration – B (UGR-B), consists of dehydrates and commercially-produced goods. It is intended to suit the needs of the U.S. Marine Corps. The UGR-M has an offering of 7 breakfast menus and 14 lunch/dinner menus; each meal provides an average of 1,300 kcal. Each UGR-M module contains 50 meals, with each pallet holding 400 meals. UGR-M modules have a minimum shelf life of 18 months at 80 °F (26.6 °C).[7][5][11][12][14]

Express

U.S. Army soldiers activating the heating unit of a UGR-E

The Unitized Group Ration – Express (UGR-E or UGR-Express), nicknamed the "kitchen in a carton", consists of meals in self-heating steam table trays. The UGR-E is designed to provide hot meals where feeding a group with hot food would otherwise be unfeasible; unlike other UGRs, it uses a flameless ration heater and does not require a separate field kitchen. The UGR-E begins heating with the pull of a tab, and can fully heat a meal within 30 to 45 minutes. The UGR-E has an offering of 4 breakfast menus, 8 lunch/dinner menus, and 1 holiday menu; each meal provides an average of 1,300 kcal. Each UGR-E module contains 50 meals, with each pallet holding 400 meals. UGR-E modules have a minimum shelf life of 18 months at 80 °F (26.6 °C).[5][7][11][12][15][16]

U.S. Air Force airmen serving UGR meals

Each UGR comes in two menu variations: breakfast and lunch/dinner. Menus are intended to be cycled through regularly, and include both standard American cuisine and diverse cuisines.[5][17] The UGR-E also has a unique holiday menu variant.[18]

UGR modules come with mandatory and optional meal supplements—namely UHT milk, cereal, bread, fruits, vegetables, salads, powdered beverages, and condiments—as well as eating utensils, kitchen utensils, disposable compartment trays, cups, napkins, and trash bags.[5][18]

These menus are adapted from lists in the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's 2015 publication Operational Rations of the Department of Defense[5] and the Defense Logistics Agency's website.[10][13][14] As the latter is more up-to-date, most of the menus below follow its lists where possible. Note that these do not include milk, bread, fruit, or salad supplements.

UGR-H&S menus
Menu and No. Meals Desserts Condiments and beverages
Breakfast 1 Egg mix

Pork sausage links in brine Beef and potatoes in cream gravy

Apple spice breakfast cake

Apple dessert

Salsa or hot sauce

Grape jelly Grape juice

Breakfast 2 Egg mix

Turkey sausage patties in brine Corned beef hash

Apple cinnamon oatmeal

Blueberry pastry

KetchupStrawberry jelly

Orange juice

Breakfast 3 Egg mix

Beef and potatoes in cream gravy Bacon

Breakfast cake with maple syrup

Blueberry dessert

Ketchup

Grape jelly Grape juice

Breakfast 4 Turkey sausage skillet

Corned beef hash

Golden harvest cake with icing

Frosted chocolate chip pastry

Ketchup

Strawberry jelly Orange juice

Breakfast 5 Egg mix

Turkey sausage patties in brine Beef fajita fillingTortillas

Apple cinnamon oatmeal

Carrot cake with icing

Salsa or hot sauce

Grape jelly Grape juice

Lunch/Dinner 1 Chicken chili

White rice Corn

Fruit cocktailCarrot cake with icing
Lunch/Dinner 2 Spaghetti and meatballsGreen beans Pan-coated chocolate disksWhite chocolate chip cookies with cranberries

Pears

Lunch/Dinner 3 Burgundy beef stew

Brown rice and wild rice pilaf Peas and carrots

Peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips

Peaches

Lunch/Dinner 4 Buffalo chicken strips in sauce
Lunch/Dinner 5
Lunch/Dinner 6
Lunch/Dinner 7
Lunch/Dinner 8
Lunch/Dinner 9
Lunch/Dinner 10
UGR-A and UGR-A, Short Order menus
Menu and number Meals Desserts Condiments and beverages
Breakfast 1
Breakfast 2
Breakfast 3
Breakfast 4
Breakfast 5
Breakfast 6
Breakfast 7
Lunch/Dinner 1
Lunch/Dinner 2
Lunch/Dinner 3
Lunch/Dinner 4
Lunch/Dinner 5
Lunch/Dinner 6
Lunch/Dinner 7
Lunch/Dinner 8
Lunch/Dinner 9
Lunch/Dinner 10
Lunch/Dinner 11
Lunch/Dinner 12
Lunch/Dinner 13
Lunch/Dinner 14
Short Order 1
Short Order 2
Short Order 3
Short Order 4
Short Order 5
Short Order 6
Short Order 7
UGR-M menus
Menu and number Meals Desserts Condiments and beverages
Breakfast 1
Breakfast 2
Breakfast 3
Breakfast 4
Breakfast 5
Breakfast 6
Breakfast 7
Lunch/Dinner 1
Lunch/Dinner 2
Lunch/Dinner 3
Lunch/Dinner 4
Lunch/Dinner 5
Lunch/Dinner 6
Lunch/Dinner 7
Lunch/Dinner 8
Lunch/Dinner 9
Lunch/Dinner 10
Lunch/Dinner 11
Lunch/Dinner 12
Lunch/Dinner 13
Lunch/Dinner 14
UGR-Express menus
Menu and number Meals Desserts Condiments and beverages
Breakfast 1
Breakfast 2
Breakfast 3
Breakfast 4
Lunch/Dinner 1
Lunch/Dinner 2
Lunch/Dinner 3
Lunch/Dinner 4
Lunch/Dinner 5
Lunch/Dinner 6
Lunch/Dinner 7
Lunch/Dinner 8
Holiday 1

Production

A variety of contractors are involved in the production, management, and distribution of UGRs and their contents, including ABC Ventures, AmeriQual, Atlantic, Chef Minute Meals, Club Tex, Envision, Inc., Epic Foods, Gossner Foods, Hershey, HOIST, LC Industries, Nex-Xos, OhSix, Oregon Freeze Dry, Sterling Foods, Sopakco, Valley Foods, Werling Meats, and Wornick.[10][13][14][19]

UGRs are supplied by the Defense Logistics Agency. They are unavailable for direct civilian purchase, though they are often sold by military surplus vendors.

Reception

Most American service members generally find UGRs palatable. The UGR-E in particular was positively received by soldiers, with the holiday menu singled out as "a morale booster" for soldiers otherwise unable to have proper Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners on deployment.[18] However, some items—namely egg dishes, as reported by Stars and Stripes in 2005—are disliked, reportedly due to poor taste.[17] Some soldiers have cautioned against mixing or switching between UGRs and MREs, which is said to cause constipation.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Operational rations". Defense Logistics Agency. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Institute of Medicine, Committee on Military Nutrition Research (1999). Not Eating Enough: Overcoming Underconsumption of Military Operational Rations. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-55656-9. OCLC 923266927.
  3. ^ Reynolds, Jonathan (March 16, 2003). "FOOD; Ration-al Thinking". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Suro, Roberto (November 30, 1999). "Up in Arms: Department of Defense". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Operational Rations of the Department of Defense" (PDF) (9th ed.). U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command. August 1, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Sailor, Supplier, Service, and the Navy Standard Core Menu". Free Online Library. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Joint Culinary Center of Excellence, Army Field Feeding Specialist (September 1, 2015). "Operational Rations" (PDF). U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Thanks for the MREs: Soldiers digesting improved food rations - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Las Vegas Sun. April 9, 2003. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Motrynczuk, Peter (August 26, 2022). "The Army Family of Rations - Army Quartermaster Foundation, Inc". Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Unitized Group Ration, Heat & Serve (UGR - H&S)". Defense Logistics Agency. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d Joint Culinary Center of Excellence (July 28, 2011). "UGR-A Product Selection "New Items and New Sources"" (PDF). U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e Barrett, Ann H.; Cardello, Armand Vincent (February 28, 2012). Military Food Engineering and Ration Technology. DEStech Publications. ISBN 978-1605950495.
  13. ^ a b c d "Unitized Group Ration, A Option (UGR - A)". Defense Logistics Agency. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c "Unitized Group Ration, M Option (UGR - M)". Defense Logistics Agency. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "ACR-E-21" (PDF). Defense Logistics Agency. April 1, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Military Group Meal Case Study". Global Heating Tech. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Murray, Ben (March 26, 2005). "Unitized Group Rations gain some fans". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c Luttrell, Martin (November 22, 2006). "A taste of home". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  19. ^ Wilson, Rodney (February 24, 2022). "HOIST Is in the Business of Hydrating". Cincinnati Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Berry, Chad (April 22, 2003). "Eating in the desert". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved February 21, 2023.

Category:Food packaging Category:Military food of the United States Category:Military food

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