Exploring 1970's Prepper MRE | Civilian C-Ration VS Military Meal Combat Individual (Commercial MCI)

Ever wonder what preppers stocked their bomb shelters with during the Cold War? These "MREs" would have been a good option! I managed to score a full case of commercially produced civilian Meal Combat Individuals (MCI), also known as C-Rations. Let's compare them side by side with their US Military counterpart from around the same time. This civilian MCI case was packed by Sopacko in 1979. The military MCI's in the video are from 1980. I wasn't initially planning on trying anything in this video but I couldn't resist tasting the 40+ year old Instant Coffee. I do intend on doing full reviews on a couple of these rations in the future so stay tuned!
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[@MultiMagnum62]

Howdy RR. This is cool friend. I have never seen civilian MCI. It looks like it held up better than military version? Great comparison on both meals. Peace, John.

[@ReadinessRations]

I suppose they must have been stored better than the military ones. They are in better condition and a year older

[@choossuck7653]

Who wlse gets extremely excited about little packets of coffee?

[@jermsMRE]

This was very interesting!! I didn't realize they made the civilian MCI's. Amazing the difference in coffee. Excellent video!

[@choossuck7653]

Great find Chris

[@marilynscull4585]

Awesome Review RR

[@SmittyMRE]

It's still so cool seeing cans that aren't blown up. Just so use to seeing rusty and crusty MCIs. Great video!

[@ReadinessRations]

It's almost like you could still eat it. I'd be surprised if they still look that good now after weathering two GA summers

[@vipergtsmre]

Your civi case! Was waiting to see this!!!!. You sent me one some time ago. Very cool

[@ReadinessRations]

It's about time I open one up and see if anything is edible

[@choossuck7653]

Great video

[@williammcdorman6426]

In 1978 we had units packed in 74 that we had to dump the bean menus, they were going bad or were stored wrong.

[@treasurefriend2151]

love it

[@Triumph-dg4bv]

Universal folding box company - i love that Name 😂

[@hrdknox2000]

Super cool 😎

[@gigz44]

Hm. Wanted to see you try the old rations. Always willing to test food storage life-with someone else's body!

[@mtarkowski1006]

Nice review. I never knew they made civilian rations that far back. Wonder when rations started to be produced for civilians? I'd have imagined the coffee would've been the same just different packaging. Interesting. Thank you. Look forward to the next review.

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Interesting one, if You had a Fallout Shelter, You could pack it up with those.

[@davidlynnprepperprincipal3540]

Thank you for sharing an excellent lesson on rations. 40+ years old coffee. Worse than deep rich? G.D. 👍🏼

[@mikeelder6298]

I ate a lot of C-Rats when I was active duty

[@dukecraig2402]

I was in the Army when they switched from the MCI's to MRE's. Those first generation MRE's were nasty, we were begging to get the "C-Rations" as we mistakingley called them at the time back. All our homemade recipes wouldn't work anymore like making an icing out of the coco packet and spreading it on the poundcake, or mixing the creamer packet with the canned peaches then busting up the crackers and mixing them in to make homemade peach cobbler, man we had that stuff down to an art and it wasn't bad, then one day out of the clear blue a Deuce n Half comes bouncing down a tank trail when we were out at NTC in California and 2 cases got kicked out of the back, we hadn't eaten all day from being out of rations and were famished, me and another guy ran over and grabbed them and tore them open only to find these strange brown plastic bags in them instead of the neatly packaged boxes, I was mad that I couldn't find the little yellow paper accessory package that were in each case that had P38's in them because mine at the time was worn out and was killing my thumb trying to open the cans with it. Little did we know what horrors awaited us in those dark brown plastic bags, dehydrated beef patties, dehydrated strawberries and more, I looked at everyone around me and said "Only the Army, in it's infinite wisdom, would give me a dehydrated meal in the desert, a place where water is precious". God we hated those MRE's and begged to get the old rations back like those poor guys in Vietnam who begged to get their M14's back after having the early failure prone M16's forced on them. I've read where over the year's the MRE's have improved greatly but I can assure you that the first generation of them were nasty, I mean really bad.

[@ReadinessRations]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I love hearing stories of what guys in the field though about the rations. It seems the first generation of most things the military does usually turns out poorly lol. Thank you for your service as well!

[@dukecraig2402]

@@ReadinessRations I appreciate the sentiment but no thanks are necessary, it was an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of my country and those who came before me, just enjoy your freedoms and don't tread on others freedoms and that's thanks enough for me.

[@choossuck7653]

Is minotaur still open? Haven't heard from bob in a long time

[@ReadinessRations]

Their website still has items in stock. I haven't tried to buy anything from them in over a year though

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

Hi Readi I am going to put an add in my local paper.. once a week paper." MRE's Wanted Vintage ..older the better." LOL lets see what happens.. I might be able to send you an MRE or two. 😅.. Also those C rats really bring back some Memories..Fruit Cake LOL.

[@applesauceisgood32]

Something about old MREs make me feel they are 'better', maybe cans vs pouches.

[@stephenwalsh1332triumph]

Way things are going,, you still might need them! 🤔😵

[@glenevans1527]

It seems none of the meals from the Vietnam era is ever any good! Is this because of the cans thats was in?

[@ReadinessRations]

Cans just don't hold up forever. If you can get 20 years out if a can you are doing really well.

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

id eat it

[@abefroman4953]

MCI Turkey was f'n nasty.

[@mbarreto8133]

Great rvw thanks for the info.

[@tomwery5155]

Before the dog food market got big.

[@austind9675]

Doesn't the C stand for combat... 🧐

[@bigbob1699]

Military issued fruit cake is cruel and unusual nourishment.

[@ReadinessRations]

😂