Marine Veteran Finds Healthier Alternative for Military Fatigue: Gum

Military fatigue can have a dangerous effect on soldiers, especially when they need to be alert and active in the most crucial situations.

To combat fatigue, Military Energy Gum (MEG) teamed with United Service Organizations (USO) to provide its product in care packages sent to service members across the globe. Packages were sent to soldiers in April and will be distributed for a year.

MEG, which carries 100 milligrams of caffeine per piece, was created more than 20 years ago after findings from the Military Fatigue Research Program pinpointed the risks of sleepiness and sluggishness in the military. Soldiers serving in combat zones specifically reported bouts of sleep deprivation and fatigue. The military wanted to change that.

After the gum was developed, it went through several clinical trials by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) to prove its safety and effectiveness. In 1998, Dr. Gary Kamimori, from the Department of Behavioral Biology at WRAIR, believed the gum, with adequate caffeine and low amounts of sugar, could be used effectively to fight fatigue.

A congressionally funded study was completed in 1999, showing how fast the gum’s caffeine could be absorbed in the body, leading the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command to establish a program and test MEG for use in sustained or continuous military operations where soldiers often don’t get enough sleep.

In 2001, the Committee on Military Nutrition Research gave the product its stamp of approval. From there, the gum was distributed to troops stationed overseas as part of their rations and was marketed to athletes, police officers, first responders and others. According to a press release, the gum delivers the stimulation of caffeine four to five times faster than a liquid substance or pill.

Proud Partnership

In 2024, Ford Gum acquired full rights to MEG after producing it for many years, according to CEO Scott Lerner, a Marine Corps veteran. Lerner served from 1994 to 1999, leaving the military as a captain.

Lerner said he’s “extremely proud” to partner with the USO, believing that care packages are a great way to give back to those in uniform, letting them know people are thinking about them back home.

“Being a Marine Corps veteran, it means a lot that we are providing our service members with a high-quality, effective product to help them in their everyday missions,” Lerner said in a press release.

Sarah Bostic, USO Care Package Program Manager, said the organization, founded in 1941 to provide entertainment and services to boost troop morale, sent more than 435,000 care packages to over 100 nations in 2025.

“(It’s a) reminder that people back home haven’t forgotten the sacrifices being made in the most remote locations around the world,” Bostic said.

Gum Provides Healthier Choice

As an officer, Lerner guided groups of men through grueling training operations and high-stakes missions that relied heavily on staying alert and focused.

“I loved the brotherhood and everyday challenge of leading Marines,” Lerner told Military.com. “With that being said, as an officer, you are always put up on a pedestal and have a high standard to live up to every day. That was certainly a challenge. In addition, the physical requirements and training were certainly challenging both mentally and physically.”

Lerner highlighted several ways fatigue can impact a soldier’s performance in the field.

“Fatigue caused by insufficient or inconsistent sleep patterns leads to degradation of physical, mental, and cognitive performance. Studies have shown that prolonged fatigue negatively impacts reaction time, vigilance, and logical reasoning among service members,” he said. “Furthermore, fatigue can lead to dangerous situations for soldiers by increasing the likelihood of driver error and decreasing marksmanship vigilance.”

While caffeine can become addictive, it’s known to be healthier and less habit-forming than other alternatives used by military personnel, such as nicotine, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco. And compared to most energy drinks, MEG specifically has significantly less sugar and calories and doesn’t include herbal stimulants like taurine and guarana.

While it’s too early to gauge the reactions of troops that have opened some of the first shipments of the gum in their care packages, MEG and the USO are hoping it will not only give them a boost when they need it the most, but that the packages provide a special connection to home when they’re feeling lonely and isolated.