action is certainly likely to be much greater. Carefully evaluated feedback from soldiers who were deployed in operations such as Vietnam, Desert Storm, and possibly Somalia and Panama could add further insight and realism to the possible extent of underconsumption and influencing factors (e.g., the degree of anxiety, fear, and climatic condition) that would go beyond the information obtained in training exercises. Acquiring information on the coping mechanism used by soldiers under these conditions may be useful in considering how to overcome these problems and suggest important areas for research.

The CMNR recognizes the concern that the loss of weight by personnel during training and operations poses to the military. The scientists at USARIEM and NRDEC have conscientiously followed this issue and conducted carefully planned research programs that have evaluated the impact of food-intake patterns on performance and the factors influencing food intake. The committee made suggestions for future areas of study that would build on this excellent research base.

The committee also commends the development of Kitchen Company Level Field Feeding-Enhanced (KCLFF-E) equipment and the concept of having cooks forward with combat units. After implementation, this system requires follow-up evaluation as to its effectiveness and ways it can be improved.

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The full conclusions and recommendations from this report are included in Appendix C.