Every army in NATO has its own field ration, commonly known as MREs (meals-ready-to-eat). While perhaps not the height of culinary expression, these rations give soldiers the calories they need to power through a hard day in the field. From Ally to Ally, their contents differ in small, interesting ways.

Watch a US and Italian paratrooper swap their ration packs while on exercise in Italy. From warm pizza in a packet to ravioli in a can and toothbrushes, these soldiers may be from different continents but they find common ground in condiments.

Filmed during joint airborne operations, about 800 paratroopers from the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Italian Army’s 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment and the German Army’s 26th Airborne Regiment performed several jumps over a drop zone in northern Italy.

�� Drop Zone Juliet, Pordenone province, Italy


Every army in NATO has its own field ration, commonly known as MREs (meals-ready-to-eat). While perhaps not the height of culinary expression, these rations give soldiers the calories they need to power through a hard day in the field. From Ally to Ally, their contents differ in small, interesting ways.

Join a Norwegian soldier and her French counterpart as they exchange rations during Exercise Brilliant Jump 22, held in Rena, Norway in March 2022. Brilliant Jump tested the NATO Response Force’s (NRF’s) ability to quickly deploy a combat-ready spearhead battalion on short notice. France leads the NRF in 2022, and their infantry brought plenty of hearty mountain rations to see them through the long, cold days.

Being part of the NRF means being ready 24/7, 365 days a year – and you can’t do that on an empty stomach.

���������������� Five NATO troops from Denmark, Estonia and the United Kingdom compare ration packs.

Commonly referred to as ‘Meals Ready-to-Eat’ or MREs, each NATO Ally has its own unique approach to fuelling their soldiers when deployed. While the UK packs include tea and flapjacks, Danish soldiers are given tightly sealed packs of mackerel fish.

Footage of soldiers sitting in a controlled environment eating hot and cold rations while discussing the merits and drawbacks of each other’s food. It was filmed at NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Tapa, Estonia (before the COVID-19 pandemic).