Nutritional Status and Physical and Mental Performance of Special Operations Soldiers Consuming the Ration, Lightweight, or the Meal, Ready-to-Eat Military Field Ration during a 30-Day Field Training Exercise
Abstract
A 2000 kcal lightweight ration (RLW-30) was tested as the sole source of food for 30 continuous days during a Special Forces field training exercise (FTX) in September and October, 1986 at Camp Ethan Allen, VT. Eighteen Special Forces soldiers were assigned to the RLW-30 group and another 18 were assigned to a calorie adequate control ration (MRE VI). Both groups of soldiers performed similar missions at the same location but were physically separated from each other. A battery of physical and psychological tests was conducted before, during and after the 30 day FTX. The RLW-30 is a compact ration that is palatable and easy to use by the soldier in the field, provided an adequate supply of water is available. It supported physical and mental performance reasonably well in a low stress temperate environment. The results of this study indicate that the RLW-30 ration, if used as a sole source of food for 30 days, can be expected to cause some uncomfortable physical symptoms and a small to moderate decrement in physical performance capacity that should be considered in mission planning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA179553
Entities
People
- C. P. Shaw
- D. Engell
- E. W. Askew
- H. R. Lieberman
- I. Munro
- J. W. Martin
- K. Reynolds
- M. A. Sharp
- M. S. Rose
- R. Popper
- R. W. Hoyt
- S. Siegel
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine