Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§7561 Rations
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle B— - Army › Part PART IV— - SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROCUREMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 765— - ISSUE OF SERVICEABLE MATERIAL TO ARMED FORCES › § 7561
Summary
President decides which foods and how much make up Army rations and may allow substitutes to save money or protect soldiers’ health. Secretary designates issuers. Each enlisted member on active duty gets one ration daily; emergency rations are extra. Sick in hospitals must get fruits, milk, butter, and eggs under Surgeon General rules approved by Secretary.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §7561
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The President may prescribe the components, and the quantities thereof, of the Army ration. He may direct the issue of equivalent articles in place of the prescribed components whenever, in his opinion, economy and the health and comfort of the members of the Army so require.
(b)Under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, the branch, office, or officer designated by him shall issue the components of the Army ration.
(c)An enlisted member of the Army on active duty is entitled to one ration daily. The emergency ration, when issued, is in addition to the regular ration.
(d)Fresh or preserved fruits, milk, butter, and eggs necessary for the proper diet of the sick in hospitals shall be provided under regulations prescribed by the Surgeon General and approved by the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4561(a)4561(b) 4561(c) 4561(d)10:724.10:1195a (as applicable to issue).10:716b.10:725.10:726.R.S. 1141 (as applicable to issue);
June 28, 1950, ch. 383, § 402(a), 64 Stat. 272.Feb. 2, 1901, ch. 192, § 40, 31 Stat. 758. R.S. 1293;
July 16, 1892, ch. 195 (last 15 words before proviso under “Subsistence of the Army”), 27 Stat. 178. Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2511 (1st proviso under “Subsistence Department”), 34 Stat. 1165.R.S. 1175. In subsection (a), the words “the components, and the quantities thereof” are substituted for the words “the kinds and quantities of the component articles”. The words “substitutive” and “a due regard” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (b), the words “the components of the Army ration” are substituted for the words “such supplies as enter into the composition of the ration”. In subsection (c), the words “on active duty” are inserted for clarity. The words “under such
Regulations
as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army”, in 10:725, are omitted, since the Secretary has inherent authority to issue
Regulations
appropriate to exercising his statutory functions. The words “or reserve”, “prescribed for use on emergent occasions”, and “furnished”, in 10:725, are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (d), the words “Such quantities of” and “may be allowed” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 4561 of this title as this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of
Amendments
and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Authority Authority of President under subsec. (a) of this section to prescribe uniform military ration applicable to Army delegated to Secretary of Defense by section 3(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12781, Nov. 20, 1991, 56 F.R. 59203, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 7561
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73