A soldier has shed light on a well-known theory about why certain meals appear on military menus.
Few people picture army food as anything close to fine dining. It’s designed to be practical, filling, and easy to serve in tough conditions rather than a treat.
In the US military, service members are issued MREs — short for “Meal Ready to Eat”. They’re built to deliver calories and nutrients in the field, though their reputation has also led to plenty of unkind jokes about what “MRE” really stands for.
Still, there’s one canteen meal that some troops say can feel less like a perk and more like a warning sign: surf ’n’ turf, usually steak and lobster.
YouTuber SADGUYRAPS discussed the rumour on his channel, referring to it as “that deadly combo”.
He said: “In short – it means you’re f***ed,” and added: “If you’re seeing it, it’s already too late.”
So what’s the idea behind the fear?
The theory suggests that when troops are served an unusually “nice” meal, it’s meant to boost morale right before difficult news lands — the kind of update nobody wants to hear.
“It’s almost like the calm before the storm, but instead of a warning siren you get some overcooked steak and some rubbery lobster,” said the YouTuber.
He explained: “There’s a longstanding myth in the military that when that surf ‘n’ turf is on the menu it can mean one of two things.
“One, that your deployment is being extended, which is something we do not want because we want to go home.
“Or two, that we’re going to war, again something we do not want because we want to go home.”
The comments come amid reports that the US is increasing its military footprint in the Middle East after Donald Trump gave Iran 10 days to reach an agreement related to its nuclear program.
Trump has also said he was weighing up strikes on Iran if negotiations failed, fuelling renewed speculation about the possibility of conflict.
“Let’s face, they’re not feeding you like kings because they love you, maybe they do, but really they’re just trying to soften the blow,” said SADGUYRAPS.
“So just know, when you see that steak and lobster that it’s not just a meal, it’s a message.”