Last night we told you about how the BDF is transitioning from mess halls to a $17 daily food allowance. It sees soldiers and officers given a daily allowance to cover their meal expenses rather than eating in the mess halls.
But what about the field and fresh rations, and how will it be distributed to the battalions? The CEO explained:
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"So the field rations will be the MREs. The fresh rations will be bought in very small quantities. The reason we would still buy small quantities of fresh rations is because the camp guards and the standby, which are just two patrols-two small patrols-they will have a kitchen to be able to cook a meal there since they're on camp. They're not deployed to the jungle. But the field ration would be the MREs."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"Okay. And can you talk about the American MREs, which will be distributed to the battalions, and what that will be-what will be it going forward?"
Francis Usher:
"So the... we did get American military-grade MREs from a company that provides for the US military. That is a supply just until April. It was bought just to hold us over until we go through the open tendering process, which we will advertise and go through. We have specific requirements for the MREs for the entire year, which we will clearly lay out. And for any interested people, they can bid to supply the BDF. Not to segue, but we did an analysis in the Coast Guard as well, who will begin receiving feeding allowance in the new financial year. And I've had this discussion with them, but after sitting with the commandant and his team of planners, what we realized was that the MREs, because they are... they're not walking, and more often than not, they're not exposed to the elements for an extended period. They have kitchens at all of their forward operating bases on the islands. And so they can still get fresh rations and prepare meals there. They prefer to go that route. It was not an option in the BDF after we did our analysis. So their version of what they will receive will be slightly different, but the feeding allowance will be the same. Okay."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"And what about those who don't want MREs?"
Francis Usher:
"Those who are operationally deployed and don't want MREs? Yeah. They're still receiving their $17 a day and are free to buy their own meals."
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