VMC Event | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
On Friday, Oct. 25, the Veteran and Military Center hosted their second annual MRE Luncheon outside of Allyn Hall. Students and staff poured in, picked their military meal kit, and learned how to prepare and enjoy them.
VMC’s event
Seth Gordon is the Director of the Veteran and Military Center at Wright State University. He is interested in educating students across the campus about veteran and military lives and what it entails to be someone in these groups.
The Champion’s Garden, where the luncheon was held, has dog tags that hang from the overhead shelter, and Gordon shared that these dog tags each hold a QR code that links to videos of oral histories being shared. Gordon explained that the goal of the luncheon is to create these same conversations, but have them be less one-sided.
“We invited civilians out to learn how to eat MREs. And then you hear things, and you hear stories,” Gordon said. “So they're learning about military culture [and] what people in the field do, and hopefully they'll hear stories. And if they don't, they're still getting a taste of what it might have been like to be in the field.”
People were able to select which type of MRE they wanted, and veterans who came out to the event would help the citizens open their package and take it apart properly. Gordon expressed that was one of the main goals: to put veterans in the driver’s seat.
Meals Ready to Eat
MREs are a traditional part of the military experience, as many people in the service would eat them everyday, sometimes even three times a day. MRE stands for Meal Ready to Eat, and that is exactly what the packages contain.
Cassidy Atkins is a junior at WSU, studying to get her degree in finance. Previously, Atkins served eight years in the Air Force in supply logistics, and she plans to go back as an officer after she gets her degree. She works for WSU’s VMC.
“Once you open it, you have your main course, a snack, a dessert, and, like a drink, and then there's a heating element to heat up your main course. But the military usually doesn't use that because it's like a fire hazard,” Atkins explained.
Since it was held outside, attendees got the opportunity to use the heating components.
Tony Smith, a WSU student majoring in integrated human services, served in the Marine Corps for 29 years. He worked in the infantry and as a cook.
“You won't really find anyone in military who's really going to wake up and say, ‘Yes, I get to eat the MRE today!’ I mean, it’s just to sustain you,” Smith said.
Smith went on to explain that in the Marines, they eat quickly with little to no regard for the taste of the food. They simply eat it so they can have energy to go do their next task. He explained that after eating, essentially, the same things each and every day, he and his fellow Marines got tired of it so stopped focusing on the taste soon after joining.
As a cook, Smith was not involved in the making of MREs, but ran the dining facilities.
“Most MREs have about 3000 calories. So, and you get three a day,” Smith said. “That's enough to fuel you during the day.”
VETI Team
"Baylee Watercutter, a social work major at WSU, attended basic training with Atkins. Now, they both attend WSU and work together on the same team.
Atkins and Watercutter are both members of the Veteran Empowerment and Transition Initiative team, or VETI, and explained a little bit about what they do.
“What we're here to do is to make sure that the military affiliated students have an easier transition into college life,” Atkins said.
“And then inside our center, we have, like a student side, so we just make sure that [it’s] comfortable [and] has everything. [We] take recommendations if there's anything that students might want or need type of thing,” Watercutter said.
Watercutter went on to describe all the amenities of the VMC lounge. There are computers, free printing, private and group study rooms, free coffee and snacks, and a comfortable couch to hang out on.
“Part of the VETI team’s initiative is to, like, put on events or do things to get people involved and come see the center,” Watercutter explained.
The VMC can be found in Allyn on the first floor, and the Champion’s Garden with the QR codes is just outside.
