CCARS

[cavguy]

https://soldiersystems.net/2025/07/25/d ... ilability/

Availability;

The very first production of the CCAR occurred in May 2025 and the ration is now available for units to order through DLA-Troop Support. There are three menus that include 20 new components which leverage the MRE industrial base. Each pallet contains 48 cases with 10 menus per case (480 total meals).

Note on the Menu's;

There are currently only three menu choices which appear to be Spaghetti with Meat and Sauce, Beef Stew, and Chicken Burrito Bowl.

So all in all I was slightly off from my original estimate of when these would be available, more like end of FY25.

[Dekard]

excellent!!

[cavguy]

I am sure many of you have seen there is a guy that has been selling CCAR's on eBay for the last 2 weeks. I was also able to acquire one of each menu (1, 2 & 3) to try out and I must say after trying menu 3 (Beef Stew, High Energy), I am HIGHLY disappointed...

First off, this ration is a collection of MRE processed junk food that is worse than a regular MRE, worse than a MCW, even worse than a UGR-E (which is really bad in my opinion) and also worse than a FSR.... For a 24hr ration, the FSR is much much more palatable and way more filling.

While it was cool to try one, what evolved as the first production run of the CCAR was, in my opinion, a true waste of taxpayer $$$ as, in my opinion, it offers nothing over the FSR except for weight savings and compactness at the expense of soldier palatability!

Menu:
Beef Stew, High Energy - Nothing new here other than the pouch.
Cookies and Cream High Energy Beverage - Sugary junk food.
Salted Caramel Marshmallow Crisp Recovery Bar - Tasteless junk food.
Toffee Dessert Bar - Similar to peanut butter desert bar, but worse.
Teriyaki Meat Sticks - Nothing new here.
Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Filled Crackers - Nothing new here (think Combos)
Flavored Pan Coated Disks, Original - Substituted for Skittles (which are junk food...)
Chocolate Chip Toaster Pastry - Nothing new here
Plain Crackers - Nothing new here
Chocolate Peanut Spread - Nothing new here
Jalapeno Cashews - Probably the best tasing item in this menu (but is way too salty by the way!

[Amelieee1]

Compared to the prototype Menu 4 I have, produced around June 2025 iirc, the production ones are crap.

My only hope is that much like the FSR, these improve over time.

The FSR did only start with 3 menus, working its way up to 9, and I have seen prototype CCARs up to menu 8 (with new meals not in MRE/FSR). So in future I would expect and hope more menus and maybe more new stuff - it seems a waste to not use ANY of the new VMD stuff after investing and advertising it so hard.

My guess is the current 3 menu lineup is to fulfill the rations general scope - for the first 72hrs of ground combat, 3x24hrs, means you get a different menu each day.

[cavguy]

I too was expecting to see at least something included that was processed using the Vacuum Microwave Drying (VMD) process. But by checking out the reviews of those foods from YouTuber's it seems like the byproducts of that tech were maybe also not so popular with the soldiers were part of the CCAR trials!