10 USC § 8242 - Rations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s8242"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 8242 - Rations"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "8242"
section_name: "Rations"
chapter_number: 827
chapter_name: "RATIONS"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 379, § 6082; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, § 557(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1570; renumbered § 8242, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(b)(8), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1835.)"
---


# § 8242. Rations

**(a)** The President may prescribe the components and quantities of the Navy ration. The President may direct the issuance of equivalent articles in place of the prescribed components of the ration if the President determines that economy and the health and comfort of the members of the naval service require such action.

**(b)** An enlisted member of the naval service on active duty is entitled to one ration daily. If an emergency ration is issued, it is in addition to the regular ration.

**(c)** Fresh or preserved fruits, milk, butter, and eggs necessary for the proper diet of the sick and injured in hospitals shall be provided under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy.

**(d)** The Secretary of the Navy may increase the quantity of daily rations for members of the naval service on a vessel or at a station that has an authorized complement of less than 150 members if the President determines that the vessel or station is operating under conditions that warrant an increase in rations.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 379, § 6082; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, § 557(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1570; renumbered § 8242, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(b)(8), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1835.)

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6082(a) | 34 U.S.C. 902a. | Mar. 2, 1933, ch. 184, § 1 (2d sentence), 47 Stat. 1423; Feb. 21, 1942, ch. 106, 56 Stat. 97. |
| 6082(b) | 34 U.S.C. 902b. | Mar. 2, 1933, ch. 184, § 2, 47 Stat. 1423. |
| 6082(c) | 34 U.S.C. 902c. | Mar. 2, 1933, ch. 184, § 3, 47 Stat. 1423. |

In subsection (a) the words “issued to each person entitled thereto” are omitted as surplusage. In clause (2) the words “or fresh” and in clause (6) the words “together with” are omitted as surplusage.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018— renumbered  as this section.

1990— substituted “Rations” for “Navy ration: composition” in section catchline and amended text generally, substituting subsecs. (a) to (d) for former subsecs. (a) to (c) which specified the contents and quantities of the Navy ration in detail, authorized issuance of articles in addition to the authorized quantities, and provided for increases in the daily allowance of provisions on certain vessels or at certain stations.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .

## Executive Documents

### Delegation of Authority

Authority of President under subsecs. (a) and (d) of this section to prescribe uniform military ration applicable to Navy delegated to Secretary of Defense by section 3(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12781, , 56 F.R. 59203, set out as a note under , The President.