Garrison ration

The daily ration scale in September 1941 was as follows;[9] Joint Service Publication (JSP) 456 Part 2 Volume 1[10] of December 2014, the Ministry of Defence policy on nutrition is as follows; Source:[11] The Daily Messing Rate (DMR) is used to provide the following daily calorific intake;[12] The current Daily Messing Rate is;[15] In accordance with current UK legislation and Government guidelines it is incumbent on the Armed Forces to cater for all personnel irrespective of gender, race, religious belief, medical requirements and committed lifestyle choices.

[16] During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress regulated garrison rations, stipulating in the Militia Law of 1775 that they should consist of: These proportions changed fairly little until the American Civil War, although the exact contents varied somewhat.

The development of early nutrition science in the late 19th century led to changes to rations in 1892 that emphasized a more diverse selection of vegetables in addition to meat and potatoes.

The principles behind the garrison ration came under fire after the Spanish–American War, as the long distance between American supply chains and troops fighting in Cuba, Puerto Rico and especially the Philippines left soldiers eating rotten foods and subsisting on canned goods that were made to very poor standards.

The American death toll from bad food in that war exceeded combat fatalities.

However, fresh vegetables were largely absent, and the ration was inadequate in terms of vitamins.

They are prepared in dining facilities and mess halls use a standard pounds per hundred sheet for all meats.