The K-ration was a United States military ration consisting of three separately boxed meal units: breakfast, dinner, and supper. It was originally intended as an individually packaged daily ration for issue to airborne troops, tank crews, motorcycle couriers, and other mobile forces for short durations.
Packaging of K-rations used during World War II and the Korean War on display at Fort Devens
U.S. Army 90th Infantry Division soldiers picking up K-rations before being assigned to combat units, 1944
K-ration breakfast
K-ration dinner
United States military ration
United States military ration refers to the military rations provided to sustain United States Armed Forces service members, including field rations and garrison rations, and the military nutrition research conducted in relation to military food. U.S. military rations are often made for quick distribution, preparation, and eating in the field and tend to have long storage times in adverse conditions due to being thickly packaged or shelf-stable.
U.S. Air Force airmen serving Unitized Group Rations prepared in a single palletized expeditionary kitchen
An American soldier boiling his rations using rolls of silk to create a cooking fire without smoke, 1917
U.S. Army soldiers eating C-rations during the Italian campaign of World War II, 1943
A U.S. Marine eating an MRE, 2005. This Marine is taking part in "The Crucible" training course, part of which has trainees ration their MREs over a three-day period.
