Group Ration Update

1
Group Ration Update

• M. Susan Harrington
• Group Ration Team
• Combat Feeding Directorate
• Sue.Harrinton_at_us.army.mil
• [phone]

2
Unitized Group Rations (UGRs)

• UGR Heat and Serve (HS) shelf stable
  components 18 month Shelf-Life (SL)
• UGR A frozen entrees/components 1 year SL
• UGR B shelf stable ingredients 18 month SL
• 50 complete meals (3 boxes)
• Up to 7 breakfast 14 lunch/dinners
• Approx. 1450 calories per meal

3
Unitized Group Ration Express (UGR-E)
this could be the group ration that fits the
MiTT mission MG Gainey

• Complete, self-contained, self-heating group meal
  for 18 Warfighters pull tab activated
• Initiated in ST to provide new capability for
  the asymmetric battlefield
• Targeted for remote units / Military Transition
  Teams
• Alleviates reliance on MREs as sole means of
  subsistence
• Current remote site field feeding, when possible,
  exposes convoys / warfighters to IEDs and
  compromises unit location
• Reduced logistics (no cook, equipment, fuel,
  sanitation) and field waste (activate what you
  need, when you need it)

Extensively Used in OEF/OIF
UGR-E
Current System

• Integral, one step heating system
• No set-up
• 1 Warfighter
• NO Prime mover, fuel,
• equipment, water, sanitation center, cooks

• HMMWV, trailer plus Food Sanitation Center
• 1.25 gal JP8, 20 gal water
• 45 min setup
• 2 cooks

4
UGR-E Configuration

• Type I UGR-E Type II UGR-E
• Type I Over-wrapped heaters Inserted at time of
  use
• Type II Integral, sealed-in heaters Ready-to-use

5
Accelerated Acquisition UGR-E

• Advanced prototypes provided to CENTCOM AOR for
  remote units in OIF/OEF leveraged formal DT/OT
  and accelerated UGR-E development
• Over 260 UGR-E modules to OEF / OIF between 1Q05
  and 4Q06
• Modifications made to UGR-E based on Warfighter
  feedback
• Accelerated fielding request Army G-4/Senior
  Army Food Advisor, Feb 06
• Transitioned Type I UGR-E to DLA Dec 06, 6-9
  months early
• Maximum use of COTS, plus existing MRE, FSR and
  UGR-HS Items
• Performance-based documents and 1 MIL-SPEC
  (heater module)
• Management Plan approved by Army G-4 and DLA, Nov
  06
• Formal Army approval to field Type I UGR-E, Nov
  06
• Army initial (FY07) requirements 49,400 UGR-Es
• Expanded producibility contract to field interim
  quantities
• Secured non-CFREB funding (652K)
• 1188 additional UGR-Es available to CENTCOM AOR
  (Nov 06 Apr 07)
• Uses current ration assembler to enhance
  producibility / Tech Transfer
• First 680 modules contained holiday meals
  (Turkey/Stuffing/Mashed Potatoes)

Winner RD LOY Award Most Sign. Contribution
to GWOT, 2006
Winner Army RD Achievement Award
(Leadership) 2006
Winner - COL Rohland A. Isker Award, 2006
You have something here Something making a
difference. Something that the most forward
Soldier is benefiting from. Something that
causes his morale to be more positive - that
turns his energy into driving him further while
being out there to be better in dealing with
them. LTC Exton, CJTF76/CJ35, Jan 05
6
Accelerated Acquisition UGR-E

• POM strategy Procure UGR-E from existing UGR-HS
  dollars
• Technical documents drafted concurrent with 6.4
  development process
• Formed internal (NSRDEC) and external (DLA, USDA,
  Industry, Services, VETCOM) Integrated Product
  Teams
• Compressed preparation/coordination/approval for
  20 procurement documents by 30 (Dec 06)
• Acquisition fast tracked by DSCP based on urgent
  Army need
• Accelerated acquisition plan solicitation
  preparation
• Based on approved Program Management Plan
  approved/draft specifications
• DSCP to contract for components and conduct UGR-E
  assembly at DDJC
• Government team (NSRDEC, DSCP, DDJC) observed
  contractor assembly of UGR-Es, Feb 07
• Specifications updated based on industry and
  government feedback
• NSRDEC to support DDJC assembly as needed
• DSCP estimates first UGR-Es in CENTCOM AOR Jun 07
  (possibly end of May via airlift)

7
UGR-E Nutritional Intake

• UGR-E Menus (OTSG Approved Apr 06)
• 1300 Calories (Avg.)
• 12 protein, 38 fat, 50 carbohydrates
• Lunch/Dinner Modules to be procured initially

8
UGR-E Expanding Menus to Include Breakfast
Options

• Currently there are no Army
  approved UGR-E breakfast menus
• Why?
• Low acceptance of traditional thermostabilized
  egg entrées.
• Boil-in-Bag Freeze-Dehydrated Eggs not compatible
  with current UGR-E heating system.
• Undesirable breakfast entrée alternatives.
• What can industry do?
• Provide ideas which will lead to the development
  of highly acceptable, shelf-stable, heat serve
  egg and breakfast entrées.
• Provide NDI solutions for field test
  consideration

9
UGR-Heat Serve (HS) Update

• FY06 Field Evaluations results and
  recommendations were presented to the Joint
  Services Operational Ration Forum (JSORF) in Feb
  07 for UGR-HS, 09 Dinner Menus
• Based on DSCP procurement delays for the
  completely revised UGR-HS, 07 breakfast menus,
  no changes were recommended.

10
UGR-HS Update
JSORF Approved HS 09 Dinner Entrées
Remove Replace With
11
UGR-HS Update
Further JSROF Approved HS 09 Dinner Entrées
Add Split Entree
12
UGR-HS Update
JSORF Approved HS, 09 Dinner Starch
Remove Replace With
13
UGR-HS Update
JSORF Approved HS, 09 Bakery
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UGR-HS Update
Additional JSORF Approved HS, 09 Beverages
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UGR-HS Update
FY09 Approved Menus (ranked from highest to
lowest)
New FY09
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UGR-HS Update
UGR-HS FY09 Menu Distribution
3 are part of split entrée menus
5
7
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17
UGR-A Update

• UGR-A In-Process Review (IPR) Meeting conducted 1
  Feb 07.
• All Services invited as potential UGR-A customer
  base may expand.
• Presented Field Test results and product
  recommendations for decision to include in FY08
  menus.

18
UGR-A Update

• UGR-A results recommendations were presented to
  the UGR-A IPR on 1 Feb 07.
• Based on IPR, new UGR-A 08 Menus (Table I)
  developed (Mar 07).
• Table II (requirements) updated (Mar 07).
• UGR-A IPR held 18 Apr 07 in Conjunction with
  Spring RDA Meeting to Review Tables.
• UGR-A 08 Menus will transition to the field by 1
  Oct 07.

19
UGR-A Update

• IPR Approved FY08 Breakfast Items

20
UGR-A Update

• IPR Approved FY08 Dinner Entrees

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FY07 Field Evaluation
11th Air Defense Artillery, Ft. Bliss, TX Aug
2007 Approx 400 Soldiers 4 Groups 10
Days UGR-HS or UGR-A for breakfast and
dinner MRE for lunch
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2007 Field Evaluation

• Potential HS Breakfast Test Items
• Oatmeal with Craisins
• Skillet Potatoes with Eggs (potential UGR-E)
• Apple Turnover
• Assorted Shelf Stable Breakfast Bakery NDI
• Denver Omelet (BIB)
• Scrambled Egg with Ham Cheese (BIB)
• Fiesta Scrambled Eggs (BIB)

23
2007 Field Evaluation

• Potential HS Dinner Test Items
• Salisbury Steak - NDI
• Chicken Green Bean Stir Fry
• Chicken Marsala
• Grilled Steak Gravy
• Beef Ribs Asian BBQ Sauce
• Angry Cream Corn
• Assorted Shelf Stable Dinner Bakery NDI
• Assorted Beverages

24
FY07 Field Evaluation

• UGR-A Fully Improved 08 Menus as Control Menus
• UGR-HS Fully Improved
• 07 Menus as Control Menus
• Deadline for submitting new items for field
  testing was 27 April 07

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Questions?