The First Strike Ration, or FSR, is a compact, eat-on-the-move assault ration designed for use during initial periods of highly intense, highly mobile combat operations. The FSR is substantially reduced in weight and size and enhances soldier consumption, nutritional intake, and mobility.

The FSR was first announced in 2002 and by 2004, prototypes were available for testing. Finally, by late 2007, the FSR was available and shipping to the field. The NSN (National Stock Number) is the FSR is 8970-01-543-3458.

The development of the FSR came from the fact that prior to deployment, soldiers would “field strip” their MREs. Field stripping involves removing all the excess MRE packaging and unwanted items – bags, boxes, heaters, extra spoons, accessory packs, etc. Creative field stripping could reduce 3 MREs – one day’s worth – down to the same size as a single MRE. While this practice reduced the soldier’s load by only packing the most critical MRE parts, it also led to increased waste and a reduced consumption of food. A single FSR, which is 24 hours worth of food, is approximately 50% the size and weight of three MREs.

1 FSR = 2,900 calories
3 MREs = 3,800 calories

15 cases of MREs= 24 hours of rations for 60 soldiers
7 cases of FSRs = 24 hours of rations for 63 soldiers

As designed, all the components of an FSR can be eaten with little or no preparation. Pocket sandwiches, applesauce, energy bars, crackers, peanut butter, and beef jerky can be eaten as is while drinks can be mixed with water and consumed directly from their pouches.

FSR Facts:
	Calories: ~2,900 per ration Protein: 15% Carbohydrates: 53% Fat: 34%Shelf life: minimum 2 years at 80º Fahrenheit9 Meals per case 3 of each menu per caseNSN: 8970-01-543-3458

First Strike Ration Menus 2011-Present

MENU 1	MENU 2	MENU 3
Filled French Toast Bacon cheddar Breakfast Sandwich Pepperoni Pocket Sandwich Cheese Spread, Jalapeño Wheat Snack Bread Dessert Bar, Peanut Butter First Strike Bar, Chocolate Beef Snack, Teriyaki Beef Snack, Barbecue Snack, Pretzels Zapplesauce, Cinnamon Nut Fruit Mix, Type III Chocolate Protein Drink Beverage base Gum, Caffeine, Cinnamon Accessory Packet B	Toaster Pastry Italian Pocket Sandwich Chicken Chunks Tortillas Peanut Butter Crackers Dessert Bar, Mocha First Strike Bar, Apple-Cinnamon Beef Snack, Teriyaki Beef Snack, Barbecue Zapplesauce Dried Cranberries Almonds Beverage base (2) Gum, Caffeine, Peppermint BBQ Sauce Hot Sauce Accessory Packet B	Lemon Poppy Pound Cake Honey BBQ Beef Pocket Sandwich Lemon Pepper Tuna Tortillas Cheese Spread Crackers Dessert Bar, Chocolate Banana Nut First Strike Bar, Mocha First Strike Bar, Cran-Raspberry Corn Nuts Zapplesauce Nut Fruit Mix, Type III Beverage base (2) Caffeinated Mints Mayonnaise Hot Sauce Accessory Packet A
MENU 4	MENU 5	MENU 6
Filled Cinnamon Bun Mexican Beef Filled Wrap BBQ Chicken Chunks Cheese Spread, Jalapeño Wheat Snack Bread Beef Snack, Cranberry Nugget Dessert Bar, Peanut Butter First Strike Bar, Mocha Energy Gel, Mixed Berry Cheddar Filled Pretzels Zapplesauce Raisins Beverage base (2) Gum, Caffeinated, Cinnamon Hot Sauce Accessory Packet A	Filled French Toast Toaster Pastry BBQ Chicken Pocket Sandwich Mango Chipotle Salmon Peanut Butter Crackers Turkey Snack Corn Nuts First Strike Bar, Cran-Raspberry Energy Gel, Mixed Berry Nut Fruit Mix, Type II Zapplesauce, Cinnamon Chocolate Protein Drink Beverage base (1) Caffeinated Mints Accessory Packet C	Filled Apple Turnover BBQ Pork Filled Wrap Garlic and Herb Chicken Chunks Cheese Spread Bagel Beef Snack, Cranberry Nugget Cheddar Filled Pretzels Dessert Bar, Mocha First Strike Bar, Apple-Cinnamon Caffeinated Chocolate Pudding Dried Cranberries Dairy shake, Strawberry Banana Beverage base (1) Gum, Caffeinated, Peppermint Hot Sauce Accessory Packet C
MENU 7	MENU 8	MENU 9
Filled Blueberry Turnover Beef Nacho Pocket Sandwich Sweet and Spicy Tuna Cheese Spread, Cheddar Potato Bacon Crackers, Wheat Snack Bread Baked Snack Crackers, Hot and Spicy Cheese Turkey Snack First Strike Bar, Chocolate First Strike Bar, Apple-Cinnamon Nut Fruit Mix, Type III Zapplesauce Beverage base (2) Gum, Caffeinated, Cinnamon Mayonnaise Accessory Packet A	Filled French Toast BBQ Chicken Pocket Sandwich Albacore Tuna Bagel Cheddar Filled Crackers Beef Snack, Barbecue Beef Snack, Teriyaki Dessert Bar, Chocolate Banana Nut First Strike Bar, Mocha Fruit, Zapplesauce, Cinnamon Nut Fruit Mix, Type II Dairy shake, Vanilla Beverage base (1) Gum, Caffeinated, Peppermint Mayonnaise Accessory Packet A	Filled Cinnamon Bun Italian Pocket Sandwich Garlic and Herb Chicken Chunks Tortillas Cheese Spread, Cheddar Potato Bacon Crackers Corn Nuts Beef Snack, Cranberry Nugget First Strike Bar, Cran-Raspberry Caffeinated Chocolate Pudding Raisins Dairy shake, Vanilla Beverage base (1) Caffeinated Mints Accessory Packet B
Accessory A Coffee Creamer, Non-Dairy Sugar Towelette Salt Matches Tissue	Accessory B Beverage, Lemonade or Raspberry Towelette Salt Matches Tissue	Accessory C Towelette Salt Matches Tissue
Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon	Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon	Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon

First Strike Ration Menus 2007-2010

MENU 1	MENU 2	MENU 3
Filled french toast pocket Bacon cheddar pocket sandwich Pepperoni pocket sandwich Cheese spread, jalapeño Wheat snack bread ERGO drink ERGO drink First Strike! mocha First Strike! chocolate Dessert bar, peanut butter Beef snack, sweet BBQ Beef snack, teriyaki Applesauce, CHO enhanced Nut fruit mix Caffeinated gum	Brown sugar cinnamon toaster pastry Italian pocket sandwich Chunk chicken Tortillas Peanut butter Cracker, plain ERGO drink ERGO drink First Strike!, apple cinnamon First Strike!, cran-raspberry Dessert bar, mocha Beef snack, sweet BBQ Beef snack, teriyaki Applesauce, CHO enhanced Nut fruit mix Caffeinated gum Mayonnaise, fat free Hot sauce	Lemon poppyseed pound cake Honey BBQ beef pocket sandwich Albacore tuna Tortillas Cheese spread, plain Cracker, plain ERGO drink ERGO drink First Strike!, mocha First Strike!, cran-raspberry Dessert bar, chocolate banana nut Beef snack, sweet BBQ Beef snack, teriyaki Applesauce, CHO enhanced Nut fruit mix Caffeinated gum Mayonnaise, fat free Hot sauce
Accessory C Apple cider Towelette Salt Matches Tissue	Accessory B Lemon tea Towelette Salt Matches Tissue	Accessory A Coffee Cream substitute Sugar Towelette Salt Matches Tissue
Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon	Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon	Zip-lock pouch Towelette (2) Spoon

Components

FSR Component	Description
	A single First Strike ration comes in a single package and provides enough food for one day.
	Shelf-stable pocket sandwiches come in three flavors: Bacon Cheddar, Italian, and Honey BBQ Beef.
	Tuna pouch, flour tortillas, and fat-free mayonnaise. A chicken pouch is available in another menu.
	First Strike Bars – Theses were originally the same “HooAH!” bars found in some MREs but were renamed to “First Strike!” bars. These are similar to commercial performance bars (PowerBars) and come in chocolate, apple-cinnamon, raspberry, cran-raspberry, and mocha flavors. The mocha bars are fortified with 200mg of caffeine.
	Zapplesauce is the name of the FSR applesauce. It is made with extra maltodextrin, a complex carbohydrate, for sustained energy release.
	ERGO drink mix contains Maltodextrin as the key ingredient. ERGO tastes similar to a sports drink. It is intended to increase endurance by conserving glycogen, which is energy stored in the liver and muscles. The ERGO drink packs will have a “fill-to” line so users easily know how much water to pour in. Straws were desired but are not feasible, so the drink pouch was redesigned so as to be easier to grip and drink from.
	Beef Jerky comes in two flavors, Sweet BBQ and Teriyaki. The use of commercial off-the-shelf products like this is one of the ways development time of the FSR was lowered.

Early Designs

These are pictures of an early prototype of the FSR design: