Mess kit

United States Army mess kits from World War I and the interwar period, displayed at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

A mess kit is a collection of silverware and cookware designed for use by military personnel for food and military rations. They may also be used during camping and backpacking. There are many varieties of mess kits that militaries issue to their personnel that later become available to consumers.