MANNHEIM, Germany — The Department of Defense Combat Feeding program offered taste testers Monday the newest individual and unit combat rations during a showcase of the items at Mannheim’s 44th Signal Battalion Dining Facility.

About 15 Army cooks at Sullivan Barracks were some of the first soldiers to taste the field-tested and approved food and see the new technology aimed at getting hot, nutritional chow to warfighters in the most remote areas.

“This is just a snapshot of some of the cool things we’re working on for the warfighter,” Gerald A. Darsch, director of Combat Feeding, said while holding up an adaptor for CamelBaks that boils water straight out of the water pouch. This simple addition provides hot water for coffee and can be put directly into new zip-lock drinking pouches. During a mini buffet of new Meals, Ready to Eat and Unitized Group Rations, many cooks said they were impressed with the taste.

However, some worried that the new technology, such as the UGR-Express — known as a “kitchen in a carton,” would take over their jobs. Darsch put the cooks at ease, explaining that studies showed nothing increased morale more in the field than a hot cooked meal.

He said the kitchen in a carton is designed for troops who are in an area where a mobile kitchen trailer cannot be established — such as places where signal troops deploy.

“Signal battalions sometimes deploy to the most God-forsaken locations. This is a way to get hot chow to these warfighters,” Darsch explained.

To heat a full meal for 18, a servicemember simply tugs a string. A chemical reaction begins to heat a couple of entrees, side dishes and a dessert. Serving spoons, utensils, plates and condiments make the kitchen in a carton complete.

As more servicemembers noticed the little buffet line at the back of the chow hall, many discussed how the new flavors lingered on their pallet.

Pfc. John Frye said the buffalo chicken strips were horrible; Sgt. 1st Class Frank Tucker disagreed and said they were nice and spicy. The veal Parmesan got rave reviews by all who tried it.

“Nothing goes in or out of a ration unless it’s warfighter tested and warfighter approved,” said Kathy-Lynn Evangelos who was dishing out the new chow to the troops.

It might be a year before the troops start getting the new items.

After trying little bits of each meal displayed, Barry Montgomery, a food service work leader at the dining facility who was in the Army for 10 years, said, “Soldiers should be happy. I was always hoping the MREs I ate while in the Army tasted that good.”

What’s being cooked up in the laboratory

The Combat Feeding directorate at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass., uses leading-edge technology to ensure troops’ feeding requirements are met. New products were displayed Monday at the 44th Signal Battalion Dining Facility in Mannheim, Germany.

Some of the new and developing products include:

The First Strike Ration, a compact, eat-on-the-move ration designed to be consumed during the first 72 hours of a conflict. The FSR substantially reduces the weight a soldier must carry — compared to Meals, Ready to Eat — and enhances warfighter physical performance. The ration features carbohydrate- and vitamin-enriched applesauce, energy gels and bars and caffeinated gum.Water purifying system case, a small bag that soldiers will be able to put nonpotable water in and get fresh water out.Electrochemical heaters that convert the hydrogen gas coming off MRE heaters to usable gas to recharge batteries.— Jessica Inigo

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