A viral email claiming U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan are no longer being served breakfast because of budget cuts isn't true, and the Department of Defense has gone on the offensive to battle the rumor.
According to the American Forces Press Service:
The Internet myth’s genesis came from a few forward operating bases in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province that are closing or being turned over to Afghan security forces. Instead of a hot, prepared breakfast, service members at those bases receive packaged meals known as “meals, ready-to-eat,” or MREs. This streamlines the logistics for these closing bases, officials explained.
The DoD sent out the American Forces Press Service article to combat the myth. The Pentagon insists the majority of U.S. service members in Afghanistan still get a hot breakfast.
The viral email got the attention of Snopes.com. The urban legend-busting website reports:
It isn't true that, due to fiscal cliff-related budget cuts, breakfast has been completely eliminated for all U.S. troops stationed outside the U.S. It is true that "hot chow" breakfasts have been replaced with MREs at some U.S. bases in Afghanistan because those areas are preparing for transition to local control.
What have you heard about breakfasts served in Afghanistan?
