A Comparison of the Meal, Ready-to-Eat, Ration, Cold Weather, and Ration, Lightweight Nutrient Intakes during Moderate Altitude Cold Weather Field Training Operations
Abstract
In January 1988, an 11-day field test comparing the Improved Meal, Ready-To-Eat (IMRE), the Ration, Cold Weather (RCW), and the Ration, Lightweight (RLW) was conducted during the second two weeks of a six week Marine Mountain Leaders Course taught at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA. This testing site was selected because the environmental conditions and physical training regimen required substantial energy expenditures. Twenty-eight Marines, including instructors, were separated into three groups and consumed one of three rations exclusively for 11 consecutive days. The first five days were spent in the field. Both the RCW and RLW groups were required to carry their entire rations (5 days) into the field while the IMRE group was resupplied in the field midweek. Food and water intakes, hydration status, body weight changes, blood chemistries, and ration acceptability were recorded. Although all three groups lost a significant amount of body weight (3.3-4.4%), the differences between groups were not significant. For these highly motivated, well equipped Marines all three rations were adequate to sustain field operations for 11 days in this type of moderate altitude, cold weather environment. As has been seen in other field studies, soldiers consumed insufficient calories to maintain their body weight and the approximately 1500 kcal/day caloric deficit observed cautions against the use of these rations beyond 10-14 consecutive days under conditions of heavy physical activity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA206225
Entities
People
- D. Schilling
- E. J. Iwanyk
- L. A. Hodgess
- R. W. Hoyt
- T. E. Morgan
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine