The ethics of buying rations

kellywmj · Post by **kellywmj** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:34 am

Don't get me wrong here. I enjoy this forum, and kmans website is most enjoyable, arguably the best ration resource site on the net . My problem is this. I never bought a ration in my life. Had many issued to me, over 6 years in the infantry, but never bought one. They should not be for sale. I honestly think its part of the experience of being a soldier. And, this may be a minor point, but rations were never meant to be sold to the public, they are government property, like M 72's and 50 cal barrels. It bothers me to see so many cases of obviously stolen rations(British, Canadian and American) for sale on Ebay, and elsewhere. Am I wrong?

Mirage · Post by **Mirage** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:33 am

Having eaten MREs since the late 1980's, let me give my opinion on your posting:

I can see your viewpoint, however the majority of the cases you see for sale are in fact not stolen.

MREs come from the following sources:

Many if not most US units have a policy that once a case is field-issued it cannot be returned to stock (to prevent any possible contamination). So the choice is for them to be thrown into the garbage or allow the guys to take them home for their own use. Some people choose to sell them vs. eating them.

During disasters, the US Forces lately have taken to publicly distributing MREs to the general public. Once again some people decide to sell theirs instead of eating them.

Also many MREs are discarded in the field by the individual soldiers or even by the unit commander. People scrounge around and collect them for their own use or for sale. I have reliable information that in some instances when the unit moved locations, they left over 50 full cases behind because no one wanted to bother loading them up and making a separate trip to move these to the new location. If they are discarded, how can you begrudge someone of the general public taking them for their own use?

Foreign rations are usually surplused out and sold by their respective armed forces as "not for human consumption". The German Bundeswehr does this quite regularly and sells off truck loads of EPAs as "animal feed." The UK rations are surplused out in a similar manner.

I would wager to say that the vast majority of these rations you see for sale are not in fact stolen property, but do in fact come from the sources I listed above. There are possibly some other legitimate sources that I neglected to mention. No doubt there are some stolen boxes around, but a few rotten apples shouldn't spoil it for the others.

I fail to see what is so terrible about a member of the public owning a 50 cal barrel, but that's a different tangent altogether, which has no real basis of discussion here.

kellywmj · Post by **kellywmj** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:41 am

An M2HB has no place in civvie land, I know IMPs are never sold as surplus, thay are either issued, or if past expiry, destroyed. MREs are clearly marked, "Govt Property, not for resale".

Mirage · Post by **Mirage** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:50 am

To be properly correct - they are marked "Commercial Resale Is Unlawful".

Basically this is to stop a business from selling them by the truckload, this has nothing to do with an individual selling a few cases.

Another legitimate source - on some bases, the MREs are for sale in the onbase store. As well any retired forces personnel can buy these, not just current personnel - depending on base policy.

If ALL sales were meant to be banned as you feel, they sure as shooting wouldn't offer them for sale on the onbase store shelves, now would they?

As for the M2HB, I have NO problem with someone using them legally - it's no more "dangerous" than any other firearm. Note I used the word "legally" in my sentence.

kellywmj · Post by **kellywmj** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:53 am

As an an ajoinder, small unit commanders usually know how many troops they have to feed, ie 3 platoons @ 32 bodies each times 9 days equals 72 cases of rations. How hard can it be to figure out how rations are required per deployment. But hey, if I am the only one who has a problem with tax dollars ending up as profit to some hillbilly on E bay, then I guess I am wrong.

kellywmj · Post by **kellywmj** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:59 am

A 50 cal, either as a Barrett, or M2, or any other incarnation, has no place other than in the hands of a soldier. There is no other practical purpose for it!

Mirage · Post by **Mirage** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:04 am

I'm not saying that this many cases should be "wasted" by some commander - personally I am disgusted with how much waste there is in the Forces overall, not just with MREs. Unfortunately this is happening in more and more instances, with more and more gear and equipment. Why do you think the Forces budgets are in the mutli-billions? I'd wager 25% is to cover waste not legitimate usage and replacement.

I personally couldn't believe when they left over 50 cases behind, but it actually happened. In another instance on returning from a weekend manouveur, there were 72 cases that were designated for disposal - so the commander left them sitting outside for anyone to take who wanted them.

Blame the lazy attitude of the commanding officers.

Mirage · Post by **Mirage** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:05 am

Long range target shooting, a VERY valid usage.

kellywmj · Post by **kellywmj** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:09 am

It was a Canadian sniper, from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry(My old unit) that has the record for longest shot kill ever. 2400 meters, in the chest, sitting in the cab of his truck, in Afghanistan.

Mirage · Post by **Mirage** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:15 am

Which was a pretty impressive feat of marksmanship.

The ethics of buying rations

The ethics of buying rations

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