Morale: Lifesaving Fatigue Remedies
August 5, 2021: Among the many advances in military medicine since 2000, one of the least noted is improvements in alertness drugs which have been used for over a century to keep soldiers, sailors and eventually airmen alert during long periods of necessary wakefulness. Most current alertness drugs are non-prescription items, the most popular being an energy drink called Rip It. This is a budget version of more expensive and widely advertised versions like Red Bull.
The military provided Rip It free to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan after 2004 by purchasing large quantities from the manufacturer at wholesale prices. While Rip It retailed for a dollar an eight-ounce can, the Department of Defense got it for less than half that and the manufacturer made a profit because of the huge quantities shipped and the many new customers obtained in the home market as troops reported how useful the always available energy drink was. Whenever supplies were delivered to troops in a combat zone they expected to see Rip It along with water and MREs (dehydrated meals ready to heat after water was added). Rip It, containing 100 milligrams of caffeine per can, was an easier to handle alternative to caffeine pills (with as much or more caffeine) and coffee. In hot climates coffee, the traditional military source of caffeine, was at a disadvantage because it may have the same or twice as much caffeine but has to be served hot to be palatable. Iced coffee is not available to troops in the field. Rip It is palatable at any temperature and contained other useful minerals and nutrients.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20210805.aspx
