There are many people today that are interested in purchasing MREs. These are meals that are made for the military so that they have the food and nutrition they need when in the field. MREs stand for meals ready to eat. Here we'll take a look at the differences between authentic military MREs and civilian MREs.
What Are MREs And Why Would Anyone Want Them?
These meal packs were designed for soldiers who needed to stay in the field for long periods of time and needed lightweight meals that wouldn't spoil and that could be prepared instantly. They also needed to have enough calories to give the soldiers the energy they needed to fight as well as basic nutrition to keep them reasonably healthy. The early MREs made for soldiers did not have much variety and the taste was bland and often tasted like cardboard.
As time went on, a wide range of choices became available and the MREs would come with a main course as well as snacks and desserts and drinks. It was found that by offering more choices and by making the food tastier that it improved morale and that in turn improved the overall results the soldiers often would get while fighting in the field. Often after a soldier is discharged from the military they still desire to prepare for disasters or emergencies and they want the ability to buy MREs.
Is It Against The Law To Buy MREs?
For an average civilian it might be surprising but MREs made for the government are not supposed to be sold to the civilian market. It is fairly common to find boxes of military MREs being sold on sites such as eBay. The military doesn't seem to be cracking the whip very much regarding those sales. But at any time they could begin to do so. In most cases, those being sold as military issued MREs are either older MREs that are likely to be at least 2 years old, or they are knock-offs.
Because MREs are designed to last and be edible for up to five years if stored properly, then it's often not a problem if the MREs are a couple of years old. But it is common for companies that are making knock-offs to claim they are military MREs when in fact they are not.
What Are The Main Differences Between Military MREs And Civilian MREs?
The fact is that all of the major manufacturers of military MREs now make civilian versions of the MREs. These companies clearly indicate that the MREs being sold to the public are civilian MREs. In large part, they are the same and the differences are mainly the choices that are available and a few other minor differences.
The Pros And Cons Of Military MREs
1. Currently, the variety of choices available for the military MREs is more than for civilian varieties.
2. The military MREs are authentic and the real deal and if for no other reason than that, some people prefer them over the civilian varieties.
3. The military MREs come with everything that's needed including entree heaters, condiments and sides, and the utensils that are needed.
4. They are not supposed to be sold to the public and therefore the ones you buy on sites like eBay are often older.
5. When a civilian buys military MREs they're doing so from someone who is selling them even though they are not supposed to, and you are not sure if they kept them stored properly or not which can affect the quality and nutrition as well as the length of time they can be stored.
The Pros And Cons Of Civilian MREs
1. They are often packaged in a way that makes them easier to carry inside small bags which makes them more convenient for civilian use.
2. Because they are specifically made for civilians they are fresh which means if stored properly you can keep them for up to the full 5 years.
3. You can buy these from companies that are the very same ones that make the military MREs and this means they're likely to be quality instead of knockoffs.
4. The civilian versions are often slightly more expensive than the ones made for the military.
5. For many ex-military, the fact that they are not the ones made specifically for the military means they are seen as being of less value.
MREs are great to have on hand for emergencies of all short. They can be kept for up to 5 years. With each passing year, the variety and quality of civilian MREs are improving.