Pte Adam Borg, 6RAR, tucks into a seafood risotto while waiting for the next move. Photo by Pte Simone Heyer, 1JPAU(P)

And I’ll have the pâté, merci

By Pte Simone Heyer
NEW Caledonian-based Exercise Croix Du Sud gave the Australian soldiers the unique opportunity to be immersed in the French Army culture from the way they dressed, right down to the food they consumed.

During daily mess visits, A Coy 6RAR discovered French soldiers were accustomed to dining on bread, chocolate and cheese.

This way-of-life had been transferred on to their ration packs.

With such delicacies as real chocolate, assorted biscuits, pâté, desserts and mains of risotto, shepherd’s pie or meat and vegetables, the soldiers were eagerly trying out the neatly boxed CRPs.

While they all agreed the assortment was a welcome change to our CRPs, there were some who said there wasn’t enough to satiate the Aussie soldiers’ hearty appetites.

Cpl Peter Marshall, section commander 2 Sect, 1 Pl, said that while their rat packs were small servings, they were delicious.

“There was a good variety of food but too little brew gear,” he said.

“The hexy stoves are excellent because they are compactable and take up very little room.

“Although, the hexamine tablets leave much to be desired as they burn out twice as quick as the Australian tablets.

“I think the water sterilisation tablets are good, they should be in our ratpacks.”

Weighing in at about the same as the Australian rat packs, the French CRPs are boxed instead of bagged.

They come in 25 variations, for people with dietary restrictions for religious reasons or just preference.

As Napoleon said,“An army marches on its stomach”.

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