Historical U.S. military ration reference

1999 MRE Menus & Meal Contents

Complete 1999 MRE menu list for MRE XIX: all 24 published entrée choices, menu-number changes, case structure, flameless heater context, and what was typically packed inside an MRE meal bag.

Research reviewed September 2026 · Historical reference, not a current-inventory guarantee.

1999 overview

What were the 1999 MRE meals?

This year retained the 24-menu MRE structure while rotating individual entrées and components as the ration continued to evolve.

This year used 24 menus. In the modern case structure, Menus 1–12 are Case A and Menus 13–24 are Case B; each standard case contains 12 meals.

Below, every numbered entrée is listed in its published menu position so researchers, collectors and shoppers can compare this year directly with earlier and later MRE generations.

Why this archive exists

A year-by-year MRE reference

MRE names, sides, snacks and accessories have changed repeatedly. This page separates the published entrée lineup from the supporting components, because component substitutions and assembler changeovers can vary even within the same production era.

DLA notes that menu changeover dates are not always exact because assemblers may delay a revision or use approved substitutions.

Year-over-year comparison

What changed in the 1999 MRE menu?

Compared with the published 1998 entrée list. A changed label can represent a new entrée, a reformulation, or a revised published name.

Menu 2Boneless Pork Chop w/ Noodles → Boneless Pork Jamaican
Menu 3Chicken Stew → Beef Teriyaki
Menu 5Chicken w/ Noodles → Grilled Chicken Breast
Menu 6Grilled Chicken → Chicken w/ Noodles
Menu 7Pork Chow Mein → Chicken w/ Salsa
Menu 11Pasta w/ Vegetables → Pasta w/ Vegetables in Tomato Sauce
Menu 12Cheese Tortellini → Rice & Bean Burrito
Menu 13Thai Chicken → Cheese Tortellini
Menu 14Chicken w/ Cavatelli → Pasta w/ Vegetables in Alfredo Sauce
Menu 16Bean & Rice Burrito → Chicken w/ Thai Sauce
Menu 21Beef Teriyaki → Chicken Stew
Menu 22Chicken w/ Salsa → Pork Chow Mein
Menu 23Meat Loaf w/ Gravy → Chicken w/ Cavatelli
Menu 24Pasta w/ Alfredo Sauce → Meat Loaf w/ Gravy

Inside the meal bag

What was inside a typical 1999 MRE?

The entrée name is only part of an MRE. A complete meal bag paired the main dish with menu-specific sides, breads or crackers, spreads, snacks or desserts, beverages, condiments, utensils and an accessory packet.

  • Fully cooked entrée
  • Bread, crackers or tortilla
  • Spread or condiment
  • Snack, dessert, fruit or side
  • Beverage component
  • Accessory packet
  • Spoon
  • Flameless ration heater in heater-era production
Why exact contents can differ

Component pairings can vary by menu number, assembler, approved substitution and changeover timing. The menu list above identifies the published main entrée lineup; it should not be used to authenticate a sealed vintage pouch or promise a particular side item.

Flameless ration heater

Did 1999 MREs include a heater?

This year falls in the flameless-ration-heater era. DLA states the heater has been packed into MRE meal bags since mid-1992; historical sheets and approved substitutions can still show menu-specific differences.

Quick answers

1999 MRE questions

How many MRE menus were there in 1999?

There were 24 numbered MRE entrée choices in the 1999 lineup, identified as MRE XIX.

Was 1999 a Case A and Case B year?

This year used 24 menus. In the modern case structure, Menus 1–12 are Case A and Menus 13–24 are Case B; each standard case contains 12 meals.

Did 1999 MREs have flameless ration heaters?

This year falls in the flameless-ration-heater era. DLA states the heater has been packed into MRE meal bags since mid-1992; historical sheets and approved substitutions can still show menu-specific differences.

Does every sealed 1999 MRE contain exactly the same supporting items shown in historical records?

No. The numbered entrée is the best anchor for the menu identity, but approved substitutions and production changeovers can affect sides, snacks, beverages and accessories. DLA specifically warns that revision dates and substitutions are not always exact.

Can I buy a guaranteed 1999 MRE from National MRE Supply?

This archive is informational. Current products are sold according to the inspection date, menu, case or supply option stated on the live product page; this historical guide does not guarantee vintage 1999 inventory.

Research sources

Sources & methodology

National MRE Supply compiled this historical reference from Defense Logistics Agency operational-ration records and MREInfo's historical menu archive. For modern menu revisions, DLA is the primary source. For early MRE generations, MREInfo's archive cites menu information assembled from Natick records and historical ration research.

Current inventory

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The 1999 menu list above is historical research. These are current products available from National MRE Supply.

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