GETTING CREATIVE WITH COMBAT RATIONS

At least one of the soldiers mentioned here is in CPT Patti's company.

Like many soldiers, Nonemaker is a fan of the cheese packet that’s included in several MRE varieties. Mix it with the main course, add a small bottle of Tabasco sauce, and you’ve got a different entree.

In theory, the cheese is designed to go with some kind of bread or crackers included in the MRE. But there are other uses for those crackers — and not just as additional flak protection, as some joke. Crumpled up, they can be added to just about anything.

“They add some crunch to [the food],” said 1st Sgt. Luis Gonzalez of the 501st Forward Support Battalion.

That crunch also includes dessert. Some soldiers take the pouch containing chocolate drink mix and add less water than suggested. That creates a pudding. From there, you could add crackers for more bulk. Or add peanut butter to create something akin to Reese’s candy.

That’s one of few uses for the peanut butter packages, according to many soldiers.