Does an Army really march on its stomach?

Question

How important is food rations to keep up morale

Answer 1

The original saying is attributed to the great Frenchman Napoleon Bonaparte, having risen from the ranks (he started as a mere private,) he was instrumental in promoting developing the use of tinned food for the French military (although not many people understood the troops were in fact getting lead contamination from the early tins due to the material the tins were constructed from.)

I myself, served over 21 years in the Military, and know from experience that good food is vital to the moral of the military fighting man, while many of today's armies look down upon the Rat-Packs issued by the military, (under contract from the lowest civilian bidder) they will keep you alive and provide the necessary amount of calories required to keep the fighting man going.

As the late great Nobby Clark Irish Military Chef extraordinaire used to say as he doled out the small ration allowance to the troops: "Don't look so sad lad, its your Mothers job to fatten you, its my job to keep you lean & alive!"

To many soldiers today have become to use to the easy pickings on the base and fast-food shops.

God be with the days when it was a loaf of bread per man, per day, perhaps! Nothing worse than a FAT soldier.

Answer 2

Figuratively speaking, YES.

Without proper rations, an army cannot maintain it's strength for operational maneuvers.

Starvation was a major factor in Napoleon's retreat from Russia, when he very nearly took Moscow. That and not being prepared for the severe winter.

Washington very nearly lost the Revolutionary War because of a shortage of supplies, including food. When Washington and the Army crossed the Delaware to attack the British Hessian Army, the supplies seized in that battle were a major contribution to the Army's survival at Valley Forge.

Answer 3

If you've ever eaten an MRE, you would know the answer to that. :)

Seriously, the aphorism was meant to instruct people as to the necessity of a support chain for your troops. A supply line is critical for the maintenance of an effective military organization, both in mission capability and in morale.

Remember that you just update the saying because it is now dated as it is written. An army in Napoleon's day didn't have the consumable needs that a modern army does. Another aphorism you can put into memory for warfare is:

Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.
(can't remember who said it)

So, the maxim is true, but only to a point. The best fed brigade will do nothing when it has no fuel to move, no ammunition to expend, no clothing to wear and no medicine to treat it's wounded.

An army can march no further than it's supply lines can extend it. There. Now I have updated the maxim for the modern age. You're welcome.

Answer 4

There is an old saying: "Amateurs discuss strategy; proffessionals discuss logistics". The saying you've posted is meant to be similiar to that. Without food, water, ammunition, and other essentials, no army can survive. Oh, you will find a story here and there about a company or battalion that won despite being cut off from their supplies, but that is the rare exception. If you cut off logistics, most armies will literally fall apart in a matter of days.

Answer 5

Have you ever been hungry and were unsure about when you were going to eat again? If you don't have energy(which you get from food), you aren't going to have very high morale, so food is VERY important in keeping up morale.

Answer 6

The best fed brigade will do nothing when it has no fuel to move, no ammunition to expend, no clothing to wear and no medicine to treat it's wounded.

An army can march no further than it's supply lines can extend

Answer 7

Very important. We all complain about how the food is, but I never saw a troop turn his back on a meal when he was out in the field. Yeah, sometimes the food isn't all that good, but you gotta eat to keep your strength up. And there has been more than one occaision where we have gone over 36 - 48 hours without eating and when it finally caught up to us, it was the best to be had.

Answer 8

Oh Hell Yes! The Old Sarge taught us a long, long time ago that as a soldier there two things you need to complete your mission is "Beans and Bullets"! Honestly, nothing destroys a soldier's morale faster than having a empty belly. As a young rifle platoon leader I learned that if you make sure all the kids get something to eat that they will move mountains if you ask them.

Answer 9

Without sounding trite.... If you have to ask, you have never been either a soldier or a hard corps camper.

Food is not just about calories, it is a break in the day, things to swap with your buddies, and an ongoing discussion topic to either praise or hate.

Just ask any soldier what part of the IMP,MRE, C/K-Rat they like and hate and wait for them to stop talking.

Food is critical. Good and hot food is wondrous on a cold or wet day. Breakfast makes you move better, coffee is true proof that there is a god and he likes us.

Yep. Crucial.

Answer 10

It really means all supply lines, but not having food would surely limit a army from advancing or maintaining its resilience in the fight against its enemy. This line was from Napoleon.