A local nonprofit, Friends Of The Troops, donated a pallet of over 1,000 MREs to UTC’s Army ROTC program and to area military recruiters.
MREs, which stand for Meals Ready to Eat, are not an uncommon sight among the military and camping world. Yet due to production scale-backs and rising costs, some MREs have become difficult to find, officials said.
The Army ROTC program at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga utilizes MREs in both the classroom and during field training exercises.
“Normally we only have MREs when on a field training exercise, but with this donation we will be able to conduct additional training on the proper uses and disposal of MREs prior to going to the field.
We are greatly appreciative for the generous donation by one of our great local nonprofits,” said Major Kevin Beavers, department head of Military Science at UTC.
Area military recruiters also use MREs in local high schools. “We take MREs into area high schools for demonstration purposes and show local JROTC students and those taking culinary classes as examples of how soldiers might eat out in the field or on a deployment overseas when hot meals are not readily available,” said SSG Bryce Fazenbaker, the Operations NCO with Chattanooga Army Recruiting.
"This donation from Friends Of The Troops was made possible through a partnership with an area business. The nonprofit is always looking for new corporate and small business partners to assist with military support," officials said.
For more information about Friends Of The Troops, visit their website at www.friendsofthetroops.org or call 423-599-9901.