Commercial Holding Cost Differential between Dry Storage and Controlled Cold Storage for Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI).

The US Army maintains war reserve stocks of Meal, Combat, Individual MCI. These stocks are currently held in commercial cold storage warehouses. Periodically before spoilage occurs these stocks must be sent to the field for consumption. These stocks of MCIs are then replaced by new stocks. This process is called rotation. Dry storage of MCIs has been considered as an alternative to controlled cold storage. Dry storage requires more frequent rotation than does controlled cold storage, since MCIs deteriorate more rapidly under dry storage conditions. The study compares the costs involved in holding the MCIs under conditions of dry storage and controlled cold storage.