Agudath Israel of America, an “Orthodox umbrella group,” recently highlighted that the Defense Logistics Agency (which orders supplies for the military) had dropped a solicitation for kosher MREs (but kept the one for halal meals). Facing implications they were running out of kosher MREs, the military responded:

“DLA Troop Support has sufficient stock of Kosher MREs on hand to satisfy the requirements of Jewish service members deployed to the Central Command region,” [Mark Wright, the Defense Department spokesman], said in the email to JTA.

The Central Command covers the Middle East and much of western Asia, and includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

So there were implications of an MRE shortage, and the DLA response was that there was no shortage…in CENTCOM. Kind of makes you wonder if there is a shortage somewhere else.

Ultimately, the DLA said they were re-bidding the kosher MRF solicitation and expected to have a supplier again soon.

Via the Religion Clause.

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