‘The food is tasteless and there’s not nearly enough and they’re hungry all the time’
Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/iran-war-soldiers-food-shortages-mail-b2959960.html
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Scarce and shitty food is one thing, but if you fuck up the mail (and these days the internet), you’re gonna have a really bad time.
Failing to feed your troops is one of the fastest ways possible to tank morale. Mail from home comes every few weeks. You eat three times a day.
Word from home and communication with people you love, especially in the era of instantaneous global communication, is a powerful thing. Not that food isn’t a motivator too, but you expect some missed meals and low quality as the ops tempo increases. Miss a meal and you’re pissed until you get to eat again. Jack up a guy getting video of his kid’s last ballgame and he’ll stay pissed even after he gets it.