US Military MCI (Meal Combat Individual) "C-RATION" 1980 Vintage MRE Meal Ready To Eat Taste Test

Before the MRE became the standard US military ration, the MCI reigned supreme. Sometimes referred to as C-Rations, the Meal Combat Individual was actually a replacement for the original 'Field Ration, Type C' from World War 2 and Korea. The MCI consisted mostly of canned items. Introduced in 1956, this food pack remained in service until being replaced by the Meal Ready to Eat in 1981. The MCI is most famous for its use in the Vietnam conflict and for including miniature cigarette packs until the mid-1970s.
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[@snowjoe43]

Old 1961 Combat Engineer here. I used to love “C rats” I ate a lot of pork slices (because everyone else hated them!). I always had at least four boxes in my pack (most all of them missing the pb). If we had the time we would heat the entree by tearing up the box then set it on fire with a match.

[@thetankhunter100]

Ayy thats pretty clever

[@SmittyMRE]

Could have swore I had a flashback when I opened a 1979. The smell of metal and sweet fruit rot when you cracked it open hit me suddenly. The memories and the horrors, hahah

[@ReadinessRations]

Lolol

[@quinrhan]

I remember 1980 very well. When I was little, my military dad brought WWII C rations for our food during vacations. I loved them.

[@ReadinessRations]

I loved MREs when I was a kid.

[@lancerevell5979]

I ate C-rats in the Civil Air Patrol as a teen in the early 1970s, then again in my Airforce hitch in late 1970s, and once again during my Navy enlistment in early 1980s. Never had MREs until I bought them surplus in the late 1990s as a civilian. 😎👍

[@sqike001ton]

so i got a question in your navy days did they serve MCIs on ship my old man says they served them 45 vintage (they at least had cigarettes) one meal a day for about a year in 80 -81i have questioned that but his ship was sailing to the razor blade factory at that time

[@donaldparlett7708]

I loved the old MCIs.used them in my Army days. The pound cake was so good and the fruit was the bomb.

[@RationNerd]

Great review RR!

[@RandyLind-mt9ys]

Great show had flashback to "ALPO" beef sith spices sauce love it. Keep going.😂

[@hrdknox2000]

Yep! I had that one in 1984! I was maybe just-turned seven, and the moment my mother opened that can, and I smelled that "Alpo" smell, and gagged onsight!

[@brianboulio6457]

Old Marine here. I actually liked all the meal choices, and I was considered odd. At the time, even back then, the crackers tasted like cardboard. That's why you had to use the cheese, peanut butter, or jelly. The cheese was 98% salt. The FAVORITE candy type was what we called the "John Wayne Bar." It was kinda like a Nestle's Crunch combined with a Heath Bar. They got rid of it with the MREs. But, the first MREs had Charms hard candy, and of course Tobasco, which made anything alright

[@ReadinessRations]

I'd love to get my hands on one if those candy bars! Thank you for your service!!

[@marilynscull4585]

Awesome look at the oldies RR

[@ReadinessRations]

It was a fun one! My wife was not happy about the smell though lol.

[@marilynscull4585]

@@ReadinessRations I bet

[@hajohajo6040]

When I was a youngster in the 80s, we used to swop rations with the guys of the US Army, when they were on maneuver here in the northern part of Germany. We took cheap canned beer from ALDI and exchanged it for military stuff and combat rations. I still remember how tasty fresh ham in gravy tasted.😁 Btw, I enjoy your channel👍🏻

[@Arcane359]

Outstanding review for something not quite 50 years old. Steve might have tried the pork, but I don't even think he, on his bravest day, would have attempted the applesauce (and he's eaten WW2 rats). Can't blame you for not wanting to attempt it. I am amazed the peanut butter lasted this long and was not only edible, but not all that different from freshly made PB. It's probably meals I would have eaten, but in that condition and at that age, I think I would pass. I love MRE's...but not that much.

[@kevinroche3334]

Steve has also had botulism twice, so I doubt even he would risk a third time!

[@sqike001ton]

Steve has eaten so questionable stuff i mean he hate hardtack for 1865

[@arthurcrego8297]

In Viet Nam we sometimes got C rats from 1950 the oldest one I ever heard of was from 1943

[@ReadinessRations]

That's wild. I've had guys tell me they were still getting Vietnam era rations during the first Gulf War

[@MC-jd1cc]

An old Marine here. I usually ate in the chow hall as I was riding in an A-6. But prior to this, I had to go to TBS (The Basic School) and we had various field exercises where we were given C rats to eat. Back then, all C rats came with a package of cigarettes (as I recall, came in a pack of 3). As a non smoker, I traded these as barter to get something sweet from one of my fellow butter bars.

[@ReadinessRations]

Thank you for your service!!

[@Tonys_House]

Coffee lives forever!.. 😆 The accessory packet brought back flashes of living on the "new" MRE for 90 days at a time. Must say that the peanut rocked then too. 😀

[@ReadinessRations]

I think the peanut butter would still be perfect 100 years from now.

[@chris7infdiv835]

Great review, that peanut butter looked good too.

[@ReadinessRations]

It really was delicious

[@misterx6851]

Thank you, it was interesting to see how iron and time spoil food. Apparently iron triggers corrosion processes, and it also interacts with food. A very interesting chemical process occurs. I think the applesauce went bad due to the corrosion of the iron can.

[@ReadinessRations]

Acidic foods eat away at the protective lining in the cans. Once that lining is compromised the steel mixes with the food and bad things happen.

[@NKdidit.24]

Steve's channel is better when it comes to this stuff

[@hrdknox2000]

Hey! Could I score a few of the spoons (preferred still in the wrapper) and accessories packets?

[@Nerathul1]

That Ham was amazingly preserved, looked like it was at the back of the fridge for a few weeks, not in a can for 40 years

[@ReadinessRations]

I know right! Wild

[@r.awilliams9815]

I always got the beanie-weenies. Every damned time. I didn't have to eat C-Rats very often, since I was a REMF, but when I did I got beanie-weenies.

[@hawkeyedayz2725]

Ate allot of those while in germany in 80/ 81 ALLONS

[@SkullyBones1]

I kind of wish someone made reproductions. C Rations were long gone by the time I joined the Army. I've always wondered how something as simple as ham and lima beans got screwed up so epically.

[@RandyLind-mt9ys]

For got to say case comes with 4 can opener in case😅

[@Rhaenspots]

😂 the mold was absolutely growing during the review, what a science experiment 🤢

[@ReadinessRations]

I know, right!

[@user-yw9cg1zs8n]

I'm gaging just watching the ham.

[@ReadinessRations]

It's alive!

[@huyngoc40]

How we can get this ?

[@jw6210]

That’s impressive for the age.

[@ReadinessRations]

It really is and this one doesn't seem to have been stored all that well either

[@journeyman2003]

Need a shirt that says “IRON GUTS”

[@ReadinessRations]

Haha

[@journeyman2003]

@@ReadinessRations or “IRON GUT RATIONS”

[@ahsanial_banjari]

1 is missing, a Cigarette.

[@ReadinessRations]

Cigarettes were removed from MCIs in the mid 1970s

[@tomritter493]

Kinda looks like the way they were lol

[@zZiL341yRj736]

Grim reaper is also calling your name.

[@ReadinessRations]

Not today!

[@indianasunsets5738]

Why do you use a stemmed water glass?

[@ReadinessRations]

I'm fancy. Lol jk. I like how it shows the contents.

[@indianasunsets5738]

@@ReadinessRations okay, just wondered.

[@ratdaddy7774]

Your braver than me

[@ronman33]

"Library book" smell. Books smell like that due to dry mold.

[@ReadinessRations]

Yum

[@acharis]

I was just thinking that it's a good idea you didn't try to eat that ham or whatever it might be. It made me gag too.

[@ReadinessRations]

I think I would have ended up in the hospital

[@prowlus]

no hiss ?

[@ReadinessRations]

Didn't get a single one out if this one did I

[@mtarkowski1006]

Applesauce or Zapplesauce and fresh fruit should be ditched from MREs and bring back the freeze dried fruit packs !!!!!!

[@ReadinessRations]

The freeze-dried fruit was awesome

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Bonded? That said “boned”

[@ReadinessRations]

Apologies, I'm slightly dyslexic. The process of filming and having to think about what I'm going to say next makes it worse.

[@platypus1287]

Leave the meat outside and see what happens to it

[@ReadinessRations]

I'd be afraid a neighborhood dog might get to it.

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Wipe the can off first, how dumb

[@AdamMann3D]

So now I know it is Steve1989 that makes those videos worth watching, not C rations.

[@danielmckee3556]

Would love to see you eat mre omelet 1st gen @88,89 time frame

[@miguelboricuapatientlongsu1855]

Nowadays people attempt to make themselves throw up for show effect. If it's that bad nature would take its course and make you flip backwards . You are not an actor.

[@ReadinessRations]

I was just trying to fight off gagging when the pork came out.