Grumpy Old Soldier Tries Firststrike MRE For The First Time

[@MREScout]

Thanks for watching. If you're looking for a BEAST of a 24hr MRE, check this one out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3yziWWrhNeIrbs

[@vipergtsmre]

Yeah, those are big, I've never had that version. I have a Russian mtn that I need to get to. It's the older style plastic carton with handle. It's well expired, so should be an interesting 5k calories.

[@ukraine7249]

You ever tried a British rat pack? There are some truly evil meals in them. Track pads 😢 Corned beef gash Biscuits brown Biscuits fruit For the life of me I don’t know why this devils food is still included???

[@tomkratman4415]

Something I discovered in the First Gulf War, 1) MRE peanut butter and fresh pita, 2) old style MRE shelf stable bread and tahini. Food of the gods.

[@jmmck2361]

I used the bread, sliced like two loaf ends, and made PB&Js with it! I was with the 301st MP POW camp southeast of Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia. Came home 30 lbs lighter.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

We used to set cration peanut butter on fire to make hot water for coffee..

[@tomkratman4415]

@@mitchellsmith4690 A little insect repellant mixed in helps.

[@michaelsanders1629]

When my old man was in the British army, he was in the Gulf war. He was in the Royal Corps of Transport under the 7th Armoured, him and his mate found a broken down American truck and found the motherload with a trailer full of American MREs; They were better than the British rations of the time and were sought after by the squaddies of the British army, so him and his mate kept a bunch but sold off the rest for a very nice profit!

[@tomkratman4415]

I ended up attached to 29 CDO, 7th Battery, for the Kurdish rescue after the First Gulf War. I took it upon myself to tech the Brits how to latch onto the tit of the US supply system. Got them an immersion heater, a cubic meter water tank for showers, folding cots, food, all that. The problem was that they didn't understand restraint. I got the Air Force, for example, to let them have some cots from a shipping container. While I'm shooting the breeze with the USAF sergeant, to preserve good relations, I had them loading a truck. I go out and find that they've taken _every_ _fucking_ cot in the shipping container. Without going into excessive and vulgar detail, I counseled them on their bad behavior, and how they would potentially fuck up everything for every Brit unit concerning every American unit within 200 miles, then made them put all the cots back. Then I let them have a half dozen, IIRC. As for rations, menu fatigue is a reality and the Brit Compos just didn't have enough menus. And some of those menus weren't even to British tastes. The ideal was to be able to trade, so we were eating US, Brit, Dutch, French, Spanish...I think that was it. But, that said, there were things in the Compos that were worth having, enough sugar, for example, tea, for example (I'm from Boston where people really do prefer tea), the can of margarine for example, and though a lot of Brits professed not to like them, Biscuit Browns, though those were issued separately. Me, I liked the Biscuit Browns enough that I order them from the UK and have about 2 dozen packages in a box behind my desk as I write. @@michaelsanders1629

[@lorensmith8861]

I bought a few extra once, for a friend. When you start a new job, it's another two weeks until payday, but you still have to work, with or without food. He was former Army, so he was used to it. Sometimes, your Air Force buddies, have to save the day.

[@kevinhayes1656]

When I was in the Marine Corps that looks like an MRE in 1998-1992 that we called Slav of goat lol

[@barryoconnor721]

While in AIT we heard rumors that Special Forces guys were building a variety of IEDs and trip wire devices using MRE spoons as a component... but you didn't hear that from me.

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

Tabasco is Back?!?! I grew up in C ration days…(I carried my own Tabasco!)

[@Uberalles02]

The KZbin gods thought i needed to see this. Bless them. Enjoy your new sub.

[@wlewisiii]

Your comment on the coffee reminds me of how, as the driver on road marches in my M-60A3 in Germany, I'd take that packet of Tasters Choice, rip it open pour the bitter powder in my mouth and wash it down with a gulp from the canteen. INSTANT CAFFINE BUZZZZZZZ :)

[@chris7infdiv835]

Love the first strike mre. Wish I had them in the 80s. Great review.

[@MREScout]

Thanks 👍

[@timsmith5335]

I loved the MREs from the 80s and early 90s

[@Jarlemoore1]

@@timsmith5335 Even the 80's Chicken Ala King aka Chicken ala death.

[@redneckraconteur]

"Nice. Let's get this on a plate..."

[@marka4891]

FYI, those wraps, some of them anyhow, are available on the civilian market, just look for the brand name Bridgford. You can get three or four different varieties at Bass Pro or Cabela's.

[@jeffreydavidconner]

Mini thins was my go to to stay awake driving a 33 ton tank. The edit is the pound cake was the best thing you could ever get. Back in the day.

[@johnwetta9385]

Zapplesauce and that First Strike bar got my crew through many nights in the ‘Stan

[@muddrudder2656]

The Cranberry first strike bars are amazing

[@ja37d-34]

Not from the US but I can still say "Thank you for your service" I hope? I´m from friendly Sweden so.. ;)

[@shawncollier571]

Yes you can we appreciate it.

[@williamharvey8895]

Sweden, a place I would really love to visit

[@alangwhiteTheBoss]

Thanks bro.

[@takotako808]

I appreciate anyone who will go out of their way to serve their country

[@TokinChump]

First Strikes are awesome, we used them for our Air Assault operations in Kunar back in 2010. Zapplesauce was the greatest thing on earth.

[@Jarlemoore1]

FRS rations are great, I get them to put into my emergency food supply and bug out bags, have three in my main bag. I first had one of these as when I working security in Iraq as a contractor, they had just came out in 2008 right after I shipped out of service and it was a treat to say the least and big step up from regular MRE's and they have gotten better as time went by as well.

[@alangwhiteTheBoss]

So many memories. That caffeine gum would make my mouth bitter and numb

[@Jarlemoore1]

The BBQ pork wraps are the best of the wrap series they offer.

[@jimkunkle2669]

That apple sauce is made in the factory across the street from my house. Gov contracts are not filled with the best apple sauce but you are getting better than the stuff that goes to prisons.

[@DanielStPierre]

Thx 4 sharing.

[@davidlynnprepperprincipal3540]

Thank you for your service and for sharing an excellent review. Blessings 🙏🏼👍🏼

[@nichoth1]

Every one of the items you used the knife on, open by hand. The waffle edge of the packaging is the tearable portion of the packaging. Just like a Cav Scout to use a knife when it isn't needed, I guess you keep the medics in bidness!

[@MREScout]

Yeah they open by hand except when they don’t. You can be the guy desperately pulling at it or you can get it open nice and quick and clean.

[@petesheppard1709]

It's nice indeed to have some time to actually 'prepare' a meal in the field, even if it's just warming a ration component; but being able to grab a snack when you can't stop has its bit of pleasure as well.

[@beehambonio3378]

I remember Combos from when I was in grade school in the US. Here in Australia they were called Muncheros. The commercial had people dressed up as native Americans singing " Munch on muncheros, I'd rather munch on Muncheros. Munch on Muncheros, munch on Muncheros." to the tune of Guantanamera.

[@davidtucker7219]

Interesting....When I first got out into the FMF ( Fleet Marine Force) back in 83...We were just getting the first batch of MRE's out....So we got a mix of C Rats and MRE's....I used to break them down and repack. It worked out pretty good....Add a bottle of hot sauce and a few heat tabs. Chow time in the field!! Mix those oils......And have some H20....MRE ( Meals Rarely Ejected)

[@MREScout]

The MRE Baby is born when it wants to be, and at the most inconvenient time.

[@davidtucker7219]

@@MREScout Well no SHIT there...And labor in delivering the MRE baby.... Well, if you have experienced it for yourself....I need not elaborate further.

[@tylerfreal6472]

other then weight that blend sounds like a good idea as u et fresh fruit and better cheese

[@williammitchell4417]

The Zapplesauce is an unexpected treat. As you said it yourself it's high carb high energy.

[@Andy152R]

They definitely improved the menu. I got these back in 2009 in Afghanistan. The cold pepperoni "hot pocket" sucked. We did have the caffeine gum and zapplesauce.

[@MREScout]

I'm trying to understand what purpose the maltodextrin serves in the zapplesauce.

[@Andy152R]

@@MREScout it is a rapidly digestible sugar compound. It is a quick way to get an energy boost. I have a buddy who is a gym rat. He uses it before workouts.

[@kevinbrown9831]

Shelf stable... looks like it stabilized the shelf for some time.

[@billmccormick874]

I wonder how he would of done on Navy chow. We were feed a constant diet of chicken or fish covered in cheap margarine sprinkled with paprika. All cooked till technically done yet vastly unappealing. Plus they got rid of the Tabasco due to over reliance

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

I'm racking my brain trying to recall how my canteen was issued to me in 68, it was green plastic but I do not recall ever getting a base cup to drink coffee from. I had one in my canteen I had as a kid from Korea and WWII but not for Viet Nam? OH well, brain fart or senior moment?

[@weetak]

Greetings from Malaysia. Enjoy ur videos immensely and just subscribed. Even as a ethnic chinese who eats all kind of stuff, the chicken look like need heating up before tasting decent.

[@andrewcombe8907]

If you’re exhausted beyond the point of all redemption then it’s time to use the Tabasco as eye drops and SWEET JESUS! you wake up and are wide awake for the next 12 hours at least.

[@larrypowers2515]

After seeing the expression on your face while eating that first strike bar, I felt sorry for you brother.

[@13aceofspades13]

My friend who was in the Army in Iraq told me exactly what you told me about the old m.r.e. that quite frequently they would take out the stuff they wanted and tossed the rest so they could carry more. He said he would even toss the flameless ration heaters because that would leave more room for other things.

[@evinduggins2431]

I have had that chicken breast. Is it what I would cook on my barbecue, hell no, but I would destroy it on a movement to contact situation. The first strike bar would go either in my back pocket or under me when I rode in a vehicle, they need a little warmth to soften, even in the desert they tend to need a knife to get a bite or you might lose a tooth. The rest is all down to mixing and matching. I would hope for the cranberries but either way if you get raisins mix them with the powdered electrolytes, makes them taste better, mix water with the remaining powder and you still get a little drink. The combos and bread pair well with the remaining bbq sauce from the chicken breast. I would get greedy with the cheese and tobasco but people that don’t like them use them for trades. I never served but my dad did, he was good about making the rations he ate better through mixing them up. He was in Vietnam though with the old canned stuff. I get these for hikes and camping and just love it when an old Vietnam vet says, “try this! This is the right way!” All though I showed him the fruit in the powdered juice drink trick. These are great for prospectors. Love the video.

[@tomobrien6983]

I miss the MREs of the 80s....you being a babysan would not know the joy of the dehydrated pork patty....eat it dry, chase with water.... you're a happy camper for twenty four hours

[@tomobrien6983]

@@benhenderson5664 nope Babysan. You had to be there!

[@johnpaddock3979]

Can you do a review of the XMRE 3000xt 24hr ration?

[@victorbloom8286]

We fieldstriped the Cans as well .

[@loudelk99]

A very common sense ration pack. Wish we had them when I served.

[@ulfricthorsson8347]

That first 48 hours is also a complete Charlie Foxtrot

[@floydvaughn9666]

A main reason they went to spray dry coffee vs freeze dried is spray dried mixes better in cold water. You're S.O.L. on the creamer.

[@HoboFreightHamRadio]

Very interesting video, and the peep show comment was funny, albeit the visual is jarring. Nice work

[@MREScout]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LongWalkerActual]

After more than 28 years of service, I've yet to have a ration with BBQ sauce that didn't taste like dog food smells. Come on, #DOD!!!

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

The snack bread is for BBQ chicken patty to make a sandwich. Definitely got some items out of order. The BBQ pork riblet is better then the chicken one.

[@zulubeatz1]

That Chicken main good god who thought that would be a good idea?

[@udp1073]

the MRE spoons is supplied as a makedo weapon and self defense tool ;-)

[@jacksonsmith1715]

Also, the only good first strike bars are the apple cinnamon and cran-raspberry ones

[@yeetoules9765]

68w here, those first strikes are positively smacking, especially when it’s three in the god damn morning

[@vipergtsmre]

Hell of a snack pack. I don't think I have this menu. Thanks for showing.

[@MREScout]

Thanks. I appreciate you being here. I enjoyed your videos on the older stuff.

[@EatsTreatsMREs]

I think MRE Empire does mate

[@eloiseharbeson2483]

Jalapeño cheese spread is the bomb!

[@Ancientcaptain]

Some of those MREs you dont want to smell if you do you won't be able to choke it down 😂

[@gdelan1]

i miss those apple cinnamon first strike bars. tough to find these days.

[@kevinhayes1656]

I mean slab of goat

[@gunraptor]

Dude, the MRE pound cake is one of the absolute best items in an MRE! I feel insulted!

[@jessekauffman3336]

I love your channel

[@CragScrambler]

I agree about the first strike bars they are pretty bad, though the apple cinnamon ones are kinda okay but once the temperature drops you'll lose teeth trying to chew them 😆

[@LilPistachiofr]

Great content!

[@jacksonsmith1715]

First strikes are the best honestly, I wish we had them on every field op.

[@BringerTeaOf]

Got the same gerber multitook :D

[@iskandartaib]

There was something called the "Hoo-Ah Bar" around 5-7 years ago, came across it in Wikipedia. I think it's since been re- named (maybe it's that First Strike Bar). What I found amusing was it said "Hoo-Ah Bar" on one side, and "Oo-Rah Bar" on the other, because that's what the Marines say instead of "Hoo-Ah".

[@iskandartaib]

Went and looked it up again.. the Hoo-Ah/Oo-Rah Bar is now called Soldier Fuel. And the First Strike Bar is the same thing, just smaller. Maybe it doesn't taste good to keep everyone from eating it until it was really needed, that was the reason the old D Ration chocolate bar was made to be unpalatable on purpose.

[@tylerthegrimm]

You're crazy. The pound cake is the best part.

[@jeff7.629]

Country Captain Chicken is what you're trying to remember?

[@MREScout]

No Jamaican pork chop. Country captain was basically chicken cacciatore

[@jeff7.629]

@MRE Scout I vaguely remember the Jamaican pork chop. I do recall the country captain chicken was rather bad tasting.

[@행보관TVmilitary]

i'm korean ration youtuber nice to meet you

[@alankohn6709]

I'm enjoying your channel a lot especially the historic rations but can I suggest if you are going to do a voice over don't fast forward but good work. Me I'd be in trouble I hate coffee.

[@ukraine7249]

Jaelepino cheese nom nom 🤤

[@Raycheetah]

Dayum, man! Your videos always make me hungry! =^[.]^=

[@ukraine7249]

I’ve tried a few nations rations on tour, British, German, Dutch, French, Italian and US. By far the best was the MREs Maybe it’s because I’d eaten so many British rations my stomach craved anything different?

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

What is the model of your Gerber Tool?

[@lllllREDACTEDlllll]

What year did you deploy?

[@EatsTreatsMREs]

Some of this ration isnt too bad tbf. I like most of the items in here, most lol.

[@MREScout]

Generally was disappointing. Most of the “new” MREs are. I prefer the old ones.

[@MultiMagnum62]

Cool history lesson, and, cool ration. I am subscribed, to, over 300 channels, mostly, MRE reviews. I do A few myself. I never lucked into one of these, however, tried many countries, and, many U.S. rations. I am always looking for something new, to subscribe to. I just found your channel, and, subscribed. I am familiar with all items, tried most. First strike bars, are usually good. Mine were at least. That cheese spread, is trading material, agreed. Instant coffee, is, what it is, LOL. Suffices. I see some disappointments, along the way, LOL. Most meals, have 1 or 2. You can mess up raisins, by going, Osmotic. They have, weird after taste to me. Most osmotic fruits, seem to supply the same taste? Some good food, some bad? So goes the MRE life. I enjoyed your review. Peace from Kentucky, John, AKA, Magnum, around the group. I hope you and yours are well sir. Ever want to yell, feel free to do so. I will send email, and, I am on Facebook. Peace.

[@victorbloom8286]

MCIs were My joint. . We would of died to get this .

[@DustyRhoades]

I’m going to sound like the old dude here, but until you’ve eaten some C-Rations as I had during my years in the 82nd Airborne, don’t knock any MRE. Those C-Rat pork patties with the thick jell on top, yuck. My last year in, 1983, we finally had the MRE’s, they didn’t come with Tabasco sauce initially.

[@jackfinks9092]

Taco Bell in a package that made me laugh

[@wildernesshermit2126]

Put the zapple sauce on the cinnamon roll...

[@normanpotts3169]

I actually like all of that stuff. I guess I'm wierd...

[@Xarcht]

Does't anyone use sissors?

[@alancranford3398]

At least it's not pemmican or the old D-ration bar!

[@cherchil]

Have you killed anyone during your seevice?

[@buffewo6386]

Is the cinnamon bun better with the jalapeño cheese spread?

[@liliwinnt6]

10:21 wow as red as transmission fluid

[@blueskin58]

First Strike bars are not great. When I got the apple cinnamon one, I'd put some peanut butter with it and it helped. I'd only eat them if I was decently hungry and had nothing else

[@benmacklin3531]

We had First Strike rations my first deployment in 2012, and they included a "Pepperoni Sandwich" that was 2 pieces of Wheat Snack Bread sandwiched together with a single, Slim Jim sized stick of pepperoni laid across the middle. I would throw away half of the bread and just eat the middle part, because who the fuck wants to eat 2 pieces of plain Wheat Snack Bread? The first time I tried it was immensely disappointing.

[@jameskelly1680]

The chicken should have come with a tortilla or another Wheat Snack Bread.

[@MREScout]

Take a gross main and add a gross side... sounds awful.

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

@@MREScout Tabasco would probably help it. But I doubt the snack bread is ever good.

[@glenevans1527]

Would a soldier carry this whole pack with them or strip it done and carry the bare minimum?

[@MREScout]

Depends. If you're on foot, and you have to carry everything in your ruck, then yes very likely they would field strip it down to just the bare bones. If you're on a vehicle, you'd just throw cases of them in a rack.

[@SafetyBriefer]

I'm getting constipated just watching this.

[@zulubeatz1]

I did not know Tabasco sauce is such a staple in the US.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

Actual0ly it's not...but to zing up military rations it is...an American tradition that goes back to the indian campaigns that of the post civil war era.

[@zulubeatz1]

@@mitchellsmith4690 Ah so it's really just a military or camp ration thing. Thanks.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

@@zulubeatz1 not so much in camp...but when we were to go i too the field...when we got regular cooked meals, they were good. Whem we had field rations, we used hot sauce.

[@jak356]

Tabasco taste like how gas smells.

[@ferdonandebull]

I don’t think they were designed to just sit down and eat as meals.. you eat every couple of hours are when you have a chance.. so some are pocket food and a few are sitting still food.. It is important to get calories.. taste is important but calories are everything.. look at it like medicine.. chew and swallow.. just get it done..

[@MREScout]

Eat it now... taste it later.

[@ironboy3245]

Hunger is the best spice

[@SLACKPLAN9]

Hell, all I got was the dar brown bag MREs when I was in, and, though I had my share of Meatballs w/BBQ Sauce, ham, and Turkey ala King, the majority of the time, I was handed that NASTY OMLETTE! I tried the omlette of later TAN bagged MREs, the BROWN bagged one was the WORST! I am surprised they didn't preserve it an FROMALDEHYDE!

[@MREScout]

The vomlet was the worst

[@koribokhari7989]

In other words military fast foods or instant foods 😅

[@jackfinks9092]

Eat the vomlet next time

[@panpiper]

Pack a few pounds of gorp and toss the MREs.

[@blueduck9409]

Every mre should come with jalapeno cheese spread, tabasco, and coffee. Too bad not all mres have them. Very upset about that.

[@mtw56or]

toujours pret 1/2ACR 1974-76

[@MREScout]

Always ready

[@mitchellsmith4690]

Toujours pret 1/2ACR 84-87. Bindlach, Mamma Jetti's

[@AreUmygrandson]

The Russian one had an obscene amount of sugar, but why does this one only have 1 coffee?

[@MREScout]

Had some tea too

[@AreUmygrandson]

@@MREScout gotcha, plus I guess you don’t need extra coffee considering all the caffeine in the food. I know I’d want more coffee

[@victorbloom8286]

Osmatic Raisins . No thanks

[@miyosu20022002]

I could eat that but I couldn't sit through another one of these videos.

[@MREScout]

So don't watch. I ain't forcing you.

[@miyosu20022002]

@@MREScout Roger, dodger. Unsubscribing now.

[@1johnmthompson]

Kinda dog food like 🤔 seems like a MRE. Why yes it is in a retort pouch then it was made that way on purpose tada brought to you by NADIC just the way the government shows love.

[@iofiv8009]

First strike chicken is always unpleasant regardless of variety.

[@MREScout]

The only MRE chicken I’ve ever liked was the old school chicken and rice. That’s been gone for 20 years now.

[@Fireguy112]

@@MREScoutif I’m not mistaken, you can get the chicken and rice in the ration cold weather!

[@srdutch4422]

i love your channel man but too much asmr chewing