Field Rations 23 ~ US MRE Part 4 ~ HDR

In this fourth part of the US Army Meal Ready to Eat, or MRE, series we very briefly look at the the Humanitarian Daily Ration, or HDR, writes Bob Morrison.

Technically the US Forces Humanitarian Daily Ration (HDR) is not strictly an MRE but it is very closely related. For several years, in addition to being distributed in bulk as Humanitarian Assistance, it was often also provided to Iraqi or Afghan personnel working alongside US troops issued MREs. The HDR provides no less than 2200 calories per day, with a minimum of two entrée (i.e. main meal) courses per bag, and was usually distributed on a one bag per day basis.

Intended primarily for feeding large populations of displaced persons or refugees under emergency conditions, the HDR was packaged to withstand extreme environmental conditions and to also allow air drops when necessary. The outer bag was similar to the MRE, but from 2002 onwards was salmon pink in colour; originally the HDR bag was yellow, but as air-dropped cluster munitions were also often yellow and there was a very real danger of the militarily uneducated picking up the wrong thing, with deadly consequences, the bag colour was soon changed following the start of the post-9/11 Afghanistan campaign.

According to the US Defense Logistic Agency in 2011: “The original requirement for the HDR was based on a need identified by the [US] Defense Security Cooperation Agency-Humanitarian Assistance/Demining Activities (DSCA-HA/D), for a means of feeding large populations of displaced persons or refugees under emergency conditions. The HDR is similar in concept to the Meal, Ready-to-Eat as it is composed of ready-to-eat thermostabilised entrées and complementary components and is packaged in materials structurally similar to the MRE.”

The HDR, which was produced by the same primary contractors who supply the MRE, was supplied ten to a carton with five different Menu choices packed in pairs; each of these five Menus could have three slight meal component variations but calorific and nutrition values were identical. The US DLA also asserted: “In order to provide the widest possible acceptance from the variety of potential consumers with diverse religious and dietary restrictions from around the world, the HDR contains no animal products or animal by-products, except that minimal amounts of dairy products are permitted. Alcohol and alcohol based ingredients are also banned.”

Just like the MRE the HDR in addition to the entrées included snacks, usually consisting of both biscuits and crackers, a fruit bar, peanut butter and jam, plus an accessory pack. The latter was not as comprehensive as that found in the MRE with contents limited to red pepper, black pepper, salt, sugar, spoon, matches, moist (non-alcohol) towelette and napkin. There were no sports drinks or drinks powders included.

According to the US DLA May 24th 2017 (MRE XXXVII) Individual Rations Update for suppliers, at that time there was no current procurement requirement for the Humanitarian Daily Ration.

• Field Rations 20 ~ US MRE Part 1
• Field Rations 21 ~ US MRE Part 2
• Field Rations 22 ~ US MRE Part 3