MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking procedures applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and solicitations. Published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014, the guide serves as a reference document for familiarization purposes only and does not supersede contractual requirements, specifications, or regulations.

The guide provides comprehensive guidance on military packaging standards, preservation methods, and marking requirements. Key standards referenced include MIL-STD-2073-1E (Standard Practice for Military Packaging) with Change 1, ASTM D-3951 (Commercial Packaging), and hazardous materials regulations including Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water transport, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air. The document details five basic military preservation methods: Method 10 (Physical Protection), Method 20 (Preservative Coating), Method 30 (Waterproof Protection), Method 40 (Watervaporproof Protection), and Method 50 (Watervaporproof with Desiccant). Packaging levels include Level A for severe worldwide conditions and Level B for moderate conditions. The guide specifies marking requirements across four categories: Identification Markings, Identification Bar Code Markings, Address Markings (utilizing Military Shipping Labels), and Special Markings (including hazardous materials, shelf-life, project codes, fragile designations, and expedited handling indicators). Additional requirements include wood packaging material (WPM) heat treatment certification, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, RFID tag implementation per DFARS Clause 252.211-7006, and quality assurance provisions outlined in Appendix G of MIL-STD-2073-1E, which encompasses preservation inspections, leakage testing, heat-sealed seam testing, and packing examination procedures.