Odd, I've been told by several friends that when they've been deployed with Her Majesty's forces, that they get stuff for MREs. Probably a matter of eating the same 12 meals for so long, anything different looks good.

Lemme guess. In return you got an MC Hammer CD, a Penthouse Forum, and an MRE #12 desert (pumpkin-flavored figgy pudding--mmmm!)

BTW, what the hell is "Compo?"

Okay, chicken was Tyson, and was retort bag. But, Hormel produces DM Beef Stew, Chicken with rice and about 8-10 other precooked entrees in little plastic sealed tubs. The Chicken is good until Jan. 09 and the tubs are good until Oct. 07.

The tubs are microwaveable/boilable... not sure if they would work with flameless heaters though.

"Compo" is BritSpeak for Composition Ration Pack. And the case I heared about involved "trading" for the very good quality campbed kits that you chaps get provided with.

The only thing I haven't heard of people trying to trade is rifles. Basically, I think every soldier complains about the food. I know one guy who loves the steak and kidney meal your guys are issued- he used to swap our ham omlette for them in the first Gulf War! Another guy I know swapped american batteries for the coffee in the french ration packs while part of KFOR- better batteries for better coffee?

*shrugs*

Even the best rations have got to get pretty old after a month or two. I think after a month on MRE's I would be craving vegetables and fresh bread more than anything.