MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is a comprehensive Packaging and Marking Guide for the Department of Defense (DoD), published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014. It serves as an informational resource for contractors and procurement personnel on proper packaging and preservation requirements for military shipments, though it is not officially adopted by DoD and does not replace contractual requirements or specifications.

The guide details five basic methods of military preservation: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating only), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof protection with desiccant). It explains two levels of military packing—Level A for severe worldwide conditions and Level B for moderate conditions—with specific container and material requirements for each. The document provides detailed illustrations of Methods 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, and 52, showing proper assembly of unit packs with appropriate preservation, wrapping, cushioning, and containerization. Additional coverage includes packaging requirement codes (PRCs) per MIL-STD-2073-1E, quality assurance provisions from MIL-STD-2073-1E Appendix G, proper marking and labeling per MIL-STD-129, special markings for hazardous materials, Method 50 labels and humidity indicators, heat-treated wood packaging material requirements with IPPC stamps, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) requirements per DFARS clause 252.211-7006, and reference specifications including MIL-DTL-117 (heat-sealable bags), MIL-DTL-6060 (complex watervaporproof bags), and ASTM D3951 (commercial packaging standards).