Ration pack overhaul with more caffeine and protein for super soldiers

Military scientists have created formula for the perfect caffeine brew to eat or drink to become the optimum soldier. See what’s in it.

Many of us can’t start the day without a coffee and it seems neither can our soldiers.

Defence has recommended more caffeine in combat ration packs to ensure optimum performance, while also ordering a “commander’s guide to caffeine” to train troops annually on most effective hits.

The shift is part of a raft of recommended changes to what our troops eat, drink and chew during deployments and training based on studies of their habits and health.

The Defence Science and Technology Group – the military’s premier scientific agency – has studied the perfect brew for the “utility and safety” to keep troops alert - but not so wired to impair actions.

Navy Maritime Logistics Support Operations Anjay Letch prepares coffee for colleagues at HMAS Stirling.

According to their formula, the effective dose is 1-3 mg per kilogram of body weight, such as 80-240 mg of caffeine for an 80kg combatant, both before and during exercises.

Safe levels of caffeine for troops is recommended to be 400 mg/day with single doses not exceeding 200 mg with supplementationfor “arduous duties” of up to 600 mg/day.

The findings are consistent with civilian health averages with 400 mg equal to about four cups of coffee, 2 50ml espressosor 5 250ml energy drinks.

According to findings, “combatants” requiring peak physical performance should have caffeine 60 minutes before activity with caffeine concentration in the blood found to be from 0.5–3 hours after ingestion.

ADF Combat Ration Pack serves of coffee the most discarded item in the “rat pack”. Picture: Monique Harmer

Combat Ration Packs (CRP), commonly known as rat packs, have only 280 mg of caffeine and their use, primarily in coffee sachets, were deemed suboptimal.

“Given its wide ranging benefits to military-relevant measures of physical and cognitive performance, general purpose CRP should provide the maximum safe level of caffeine to give users the maximum possible competitive advantage on the battlefield,” the study concluded.

ADF tactical reconnaissance unit NORFORCE with Private Misman Kris preparing ration pack food during patrol about Wudikapildyerr, NT. Picture: Dylan Robinson

It recommended rat pack configurations change for caffeine hits “when on the move” including bars and gels since instant coffeeand tea sachets were the most discarded items.

“The benefits of caffeine on aspects of cognitive function that are integral to safety during military operations involving sleep deprivation (eg continuous operations for 50 hours) include improved visual and auditory vigilance, alertness, logicalreasoning, live fire marksmanship as well as improving or maintaining reaction time and reducing driving errors,” it concluded.

Aussie Veterans Coffee Co owner John McNeill. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Former Army rifleman John McNeill knows only too well the benefits of coffee.

He and other veterans started up a coffee business out of Melbourne, Aussie Veterans Coffee Co, with profits to assist ex-servicepersonnel through welfare programs.

“I didn’t particularly see (health) benefits other than giving you five minutes downtime to chat with mates,” Mr McNeill said.

“I was always tired in the military. If you had the rat pack in the field or deployment you were working long days, as a riflemanwe were always digging in or on patrol or bush exercise. But on base, for sure a coffee gave you a bit of energy for the day.”

A second DSTG report completed last year also recommended more protein be added to CRPs with current levels for breakfastparticularly, only 50 per cent of the recommended intakes

Originally published as Ration pack overhaul with more caffeine and protein for super soldiers