[Inside Chodong] The 'Combat Ration Incident' That Is No Laughing Matter

The first time I ate combat rations after enlisting was on a train. After completing the latter phase of training at Nonsan Army Training Center and boarding the train for unit assignment, the military handed out combat rations instead of lunch due to the difficulty of meal distribution in that setting. I don’t clearly remember exactly which combat ration I ate, but since it was in a retort pouch, I assume it was probably the ‘Type 1’ ration. Although the combat ration was not heated, I was surprised that it tasted better than expected. However, what left an even stronger impression than my first combat ration was the attitude of the Republic of Korea Army Railway Transportation Support Unit (TMO) soldiers in charge of leading the privates on the train. Because it was difficult to distribute lunch on the train, they repeatedly announced while walking through the train cars that combat rations were being handed out instead. They emphasized this fact so many times that I wondered, ‘Is missing a meal distribution really such a big deal?’

In fact, meal distribution is that important in the military, to the extent that TMO soldiers emphasize it repeatedly. Meals in the military are orders. Eating well is essential to maintaining combat readiness and serves as a measure to regularly check the supply chain for combat. Skipping meals can be punishable under military law in some cases. Because of this, our military pays great attention to meals. Although I was discharged over 20 years ago, even back then, eating combat rations regularly was rare. Anyone who has served knows this. Even during field training, the military supplies regular meals using food trucks. If outdoor living is expected to be prolonged, they bring vehicle-type kitchens to cook and distribute meals. When a unit was isolated by a typhoon, the higher command’s biggest concern was food supply, which shows how serious our military is about ‘rice’.

During the Chuseok holiday, I couldn’t help but chuckle after reading President Yoon Suk-yeol’s article about combat rations. On the 17th, Chuseok day, President Yoon visited the Army’s 15th Division and said, “You have to eat well to train well and build combat power,” and instructed to “sufficiently supply canned food or combat rations to units in remote areas.” The origin of canned food traces back to Napoleon’s attempt to create combat rations. Ultimately, canned food is an extension of combat rations. It seems the president mistakenly believes that soldiers regularly eat combat rations.

It is good that the president shows interest in combat rations for the convenience of soldiers. However, watching this ‘combat ration incident’ raises concerns about how policy decisions are made in the current administration. I also wonder if there were any aides around the president to dissuade him from making such decisions without fully understanding the military. There have been many cases where policies incomprehensible to the public have caused problems?such as cuts to science and engineering budgets, starting school at age five, removing killer questions from the college entrance exam, and the 69-hour workweek. Regarding the recent controversy over increasing medical school admissions, the government insists on increasing by 2,000 students annually but has yet to provide a clear explanation for this.

There is also the tax issue. Since it is the president’s directive, government officials must comply. As a result, the supply of combat rations will significantly increase. All of this involves taxpayer money. I have never heard of any supplementary budget being prepared. In the worst case, funds meant for other areas might be diverted to purchase combat rations. In that case, it is obvious that soldiers’ welfare will be reduced accordingly. Moreover, soldiers may have to eat more of the inferior combat rations instead of regular meals to use up inventory. This is why the ‘combat ration incident’ that provoked laughter cannot simply be dismissed.