Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§9561 Rations
Title 10 › Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force › PART IV — SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROCUREMENT › CHAPTER 965 — ISSUE OF SERVICEABLE MATERIAL TO ARMED FORCES › § 9561
Summary
The President can decide what items and how much go into Air Force and Space Force rations. He can allow substitute foods if he thinks it saves money or helps members’ health and comfort. Enlisted members on active duty must receive one ration daily. Emergency rations are extra. The Secretary must approve rules to provide fresh or preserved fruits, milk, butter, and eggs for sick hospital patients.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §9561
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The President may prescribe the components, and the quantities thereof, of the Air Force ration and the Space Force 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 Air Force or the Space Force so require.
(b)An enlisted member of the Air Force or the Space Force on active duty is entitled to one ration daily. The emergency ration, when issued, is in addition to the regular ration.
(c)Fresh or preserved fruits, milk, butter, and eggs necessary for the proper diet of the sick in hospitals shall be provided under regulations approved by the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 9561(a)9561(b)10:724.10:716b.10:725.Feb. 2, 1901, ch. 192 § 40, 31 Stat. 758. 9561(c)10:726.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 “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 (c), the words “as the Surgeon General” are omitted, since the Air Force does not have the statutory office of Surgeon General, and functions which, for the Army, are assigned by statute to subordinate officers of the Army are, for the Air Force, assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force. The words “Such quantities of” and “may be allowed” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 923(e)(2)(A), inserted “and the Space Force ration” after “the Air Force ration” and “or the Space Force” after “the Air Force”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 923(e)(2)(B), inserted “or the Space Force” after “the Air Force”.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Authority Authority of President under subsec. (a) of this section to prescribe uniform military ration applicable to Air Force 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. § 9561
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102