XBradTC

With a little bit of luck, I'll be able to  film a review of one odd little ration produced for the Army, specifically the Tailored Operational Training Ration (TOTM).

The TOTM is unique in that it is specifically intended for the National Guard. In years past, when Guard units had their weekend  drill, feeding was sometimes done via sack lunch, or commercial vendor, or by issuing an MRE.  MREs cost the government about $9 each.  That's an expensive lunch. Sack lunches and  commercial vendors were unpopular. As it turns out, using a combination of MRE components, commercial packaging, and a reduced menu allowed the Army to field the TOTM for just over $4 each. 

With Hurricane Harvey heading to Texas right now, it's interesting to note that the Defense Logistics Agency explicitly  authorizes the TOTM as appropriate for humanitarian use. We've seen National Guard  units handing out MREs in the wake of previous natural disasters. It will be interesting to  see if the TOTM makes an appearance.