How long can a UTA/MUTA last without food?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 02:41:30 -0400

we signed in at 0430 and didnt leave untill after 1900, we were only given one MRE for the whole day and only earned 2 MUTA. does this seem right??

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 3:07 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 03:07:02 -0400

One day, one MRE? Sounds legit. How long can they last without food though? I'm not sure there is a requirement as long as there is a training objective. There's nothing saying that they can't do it if they are conducting training to work through a certain scenario. An MRE has a boat-load of calories and nutrition. Unless you guys were undergoing RASP...one is probably meeting the requirement.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made May 20 at 2018 4:27 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sun, 20 May 2018 04:27:20 -0400

I don’t have an answer. I am in the Air Force. We get regular breaks for food, drink, naps etc...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 20 at 2018 4:29 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 20 May 2018 04:29:21 -0400

Sounds like something from SERE but someone was feeling generous and gave You One MRE!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 5:41 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 05:41:45 -0400

According to AR 30-22, The Army Food program, section 3-10 Reserve Component Sustenance Program and Table 3-1, a typical 0800-1700 2 Two MUTA Battle Assembly is only entitled to 1 meal. A Three-MUTA (overnight) 0800 to 1200 next day, is entitled to 3 meals. Yes it sucks to have extended drills...it happens for the mission, unless you are overnight, you get 1 meal. I have know of some commanders who will issue a MRE or allow a break for dinner if they intend on having a late night (like for NVG training) but I don't see a problem with the situation you had. I have been in 4 RC units and I have yet to find one where, unless impractical because of training, someone could not take a short break and hit the local coffee shop, fast food restaurant, or AAFES shoppette (with proper approval). Most Reserve Centers have vending machines, and several units run food tables to raise funds for FRG.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made May 20 at 2018 6:16 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Sun, 20 May 2018 06:16:36 -0400

One MRE has enough calories for one day - 3000 calories.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 9:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 09:11:43 -0400

Well I disagree with most of the comments on here, I get the gun hoe stuff, but it used to be if a drill went over 12 hours they owed you a second meal. Now this is a regular drill day not special circumstances.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 9:46 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 09:46:57 -0400

Over my 8yrs in the reserves, a standard procedure was getting a second MRE if you were at drill past 1900 on a Saturday. However, I always counted my blessings because a late Saturday meant we were off at 1400-1500 on a Sunday.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 6:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 18:35:28 -0400

Do you have access to vending machines or the FRG snack bar during BTA? 1 MRE sucks but it is doable. I suggest you prepare yourself for those long days by bringing some beef jerky or one of those Bumblebee tuna meals to keep you going. You can't always rely on others to empathize with you and nurture you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2018 7:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 May 2018 19:50:05 -0400

think of chow hall hours....07-0830, 1130-1300, 1700-1830....now say you are working a regular military day, you would be afforded the opportunity to get chow during those times....If you come in before 07 and stay past 1830 (or equivalent "chow hours"), then damn right, you are absolutely due to receive a meal! If your command does not allow time for it not provides a meal during those times, then I might be looking at higher resolutions.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 12:59 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 12:59:53 -0400

That seems a little off. You did not mention if this was some type of home station duty, or was it some field exercise or range. That might make a difference in how I would judge the situation.

If you had a good Supply Sergeant, they should always have extra MREs on-hand just in case.

Also as a former Scout, I believe in being prepared as their motto states. I would have some pogey bait on-hand. And I would never go anywhere without some sort of food I could survive on for 6-12 hours: Protein Bars, Bag of Almonds, etc. I might be hungry, but I wouldn't starve at least for a while.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 10:08 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:08:34 -0400

??? what commander approved that kind of training schedule ??

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2018 7:56 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 07:56:17 -0400

The training schedule will dictate what the answer will be.
Unless your commander is a sadist, he/she didn't plan to have a day like that, it just came out that way due to some issue or another.
If it was the plan, a second meal should have been planned for. The regulation says that in order for a second meal to be authorized, training has to be overnight. However, no First Sergeant worth a damn would have left his troops hungry and tired like that and would have come up with something. I could see why the day went long... everyone was out of gas.

Response by Pogo Papa made Apr 15 at 2019 3:26 PM

Pogo Papa — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:26:26 -0400