2020 and 2021 have been filled with a number of emergencies and challenging situations. As we move forward it is important to carry the lessons we’ve learned with us. One of these lessons may have led you to research MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) and how they can be used with law enforcement. There are several reasons why MRE’s are essential for law enforcement.
An MRE, officially called a Meal, Ready-to-Eat, is a self-contained individual meal delivered in lightweight packaging. The United States Department of Defense uses MREs for its service members when they are out in the field or in combat situations and organized food facilities are not available. While they have their origins in the military there are several reasons why law enforcement should consider them as well.
One reason MREs are so important for law enforcement is the ease of use MRE’s provide. Each MRE entree meal is pre-cooked and ready-to-eat. While there are differences between civilian and military grade MREs, what doesn’t change is that they are ready to eat immediately. Not only can they be eaten cold or hot straight from their pouch without any cooking or preparation, they are a complete nutritious meal in one package. Additionally, MREs are easy to transport. Having MREs on hand ensures law enforcement has food options on hand in case of a longer than expected emergency.
Another benefit is the extended shelf life of MRE products. This is a huge benefit to your organization because this is not a process or routine that needs to be updated on a regular basis. Instead you can distribute these and be confident that with their shelf-life of up to 4-6 years. It is important to check expiration dates but you will not need to set up a monthly distribution program due to the extended nature of their shelf life.
Emergency preparedness is another benefit to distributing MRE’s to your organization. Law enforcement officers encounter a wide range of emergencies on a daily basis. MRE’s can prove to be invaluable in a number of these emergencies, including extended power outages, severe weather, pandemics and a wide range of other unexpected emergencies. It can be difficult to prepare for every type of possible emergency, but one thing they all have in common is that you will need food during these emergencies. So when law enforcement keeps MREs on hand, they are then able to use and distribute a product that is vital in case of emergencies, food.
As you can see, there are several reasons MREs are essential for law enforcement including their ease of use, extended shelf life, and general emergency preparedness.