United States military ration refers to various preparations and packages of food provided to sustain United States Armed Forces service members, including field rations and garrison rations. U.S. military rations are often made for quick distribution, preparation, and eating in the field and tend to have long storage times in adverse conditions due to being thickly packaged or shelf-stable. The current ration is the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). History 18th and 19th centuries From the Revolutionary War to the Spanish–American War, the U.S. Army ration, as decreed by the Continental Congress, was the garrison ration, which consisted of meat or salt fish, bread or hardtack, and vegetables. There was also a spirit ration. In 1785, it was set at four ounces of rum, reduced to two ounces of whiskey, brandy, or rum in 1790. In 1794, troops about to enter combat or who were engaged in frontier service could receive a double ration of four ounces of rum or whiskey; this was extended in 1799 to include troops engaged in fatigue duties. It was discontinued in 1832 and replaced with a ration of coffee and sugar, which was increased in 1836. In 1846, a spirit ration was reinstated for issue to troops engaged in construction or surveying duties; this was discontinued in 1865. During the American Civil War, both armies struggled to keep their soldiers adequately fed. Difficulties with food logistics led to a multitude of rations. World War I In World War I three types of rations came into usage by the U.S. military: the Reserve ration, the Trench ration, and the Emergency ration (also known as the Iron ration). "Iron Ration" (1907–1922) The first attempt to make an individual ration for issue to soldiers in the field was the "iron ration", first introduced in 1907. It consisted of three three-ounce cakes (made from a concoction of beef bouillon powder and parched and cooked wheat), three one-ounce bars of sweetened chocolate, and packets of salt and pepper that was issued in a sealed tin packet that weighed one pound. It was designed for emergency use when the troops were unable to be supplied with food. It was later discontinued by the adoption of the "Reserve Ration", but experience with the Iron Ration went into the development of the emergency D-ration. "Trench Ration" (1914–1918) This ration was issued in the early part of the war to address a problem. Soldiers fighting