Word has it that the food in the United States military is pretty good these days. Even the kids going through boot camp are said to get bacon and eggs at breakfast--real eggs, made that morning--with salad bars, desserts and good eats at supper. Sometimes, even in the field, they can get more than a sack lunch.
The modern military has long believed in three squares a day. (This ain't the 1860s.) The Army certainly does march on its stomach. But it hasn't been that long ago since choking down what was offered was itself a battle. Emphasis on choke.
Some of us are old enough to remember the first MREs that came down from supply. Complete with menu items like chicken-a-la-death and the "pork patty product." Sometimes the troops just called their lunch Dead Stuff in Fat. (Hint: Any time the word "product" is on the menu, trade it for the cheese and crackers.)
MREs weren't exactly C-rations, but they weren't exactly home-cooking either. The Meals Refused by Everyone often found their way into the trash. Nowadays, we hear that some packets contain stuff to make pizzas. And tacos. And ravioli. All grunts will find something to complain about and find ways to make fun of even modern Materials Resembling Edibles, but the brass is making it tougher and tougher.
Word came down last week that UAMS--our UAMS--is in on the action. The Pentagon recently awarded the hospital a $2.1 million grant for research on how to get the best nutrition to the front lines. Arny Ferrando, Ph.D., was mentioned as the researcher in charge. The hospital's release said researchers will first look at how to get the essential amino acids into the various sergeants and lieutenants. Then test their ideas on real soldiers.
"There is a critical need for effective and feasible interventions that sustain and maximize warfighter health and performance during real-world operations," Ferrando said in a press release. "The use of a combat ration item designed from this research will be used to promote recovery and increase combat effectiveness by offsetting losses of body and muscle protein."
He talks like an expert, don't he? The sergeants will probably tell their squads something along these lines instead: You're being tested. Eat this.
It is all damn serious. A hungry grunt is a tired grunt. And a tired grunt easily becomes an injured grunt. And the soldier who isn't getting the right kind of food is going to lose weight and eventually lose muscle mass. Not only that, but there has to be something said about morale of the troops in the field. The very least the rest of us can do is to put the best food in his belly. Or, these days, in her belly. For these young people are standing between the rest of us and the bad guys.
The hospital notes that any lessons learned in this research might could be applied to athletes and patients in institutional care. Which makes sense.
Here's hoping that Professor Ferrando and his work prove high-speed, low-drag--and the United States military takes another step toward the best nutrition for the troops. And the Meals Refused by Enemy get a better reputation eventually.
Still, some advice to the grunts: Avoid the tuna.
Editorial on 08/20/2018