MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is the Packaging and Marking Guide for the Department of Defense, a comprehensive informational resource published in March 2014 by the Defense Contract Management Agency.

The guide provides detailed standards and procedures for military packaging and preservation applicable to Department of Defense contracts. It covers five basic preservation methods: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating only), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof protection with desiccant). The standard establishes two primary packing levels—Level A for severe worldwide shipment conditions and Level B for moderate worldwide conditions—with specific container and wrapping requirements for each. The document addresses hazardous materials packaging requirements per Title 49 CFR (land), IMO/IMDG (water), ICAO/IATA (commercial air), and AFMAN 24-204_IP (military air), with markings per MIL-STD-129. Key specifications referenced include MIL-STD-2073-1E for military packaging standards, MIL-STD-129 for marking requirements, MIL-DTL-117 for heat-sealable bags, and ASTM D3951 for commercial packaging alternatives. The guide includes detailed packaging requirement codes (PRC), marking standards for unit, intermediate, and exterior containers, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, and hazardous materials. Quality assurance provisions require preservation and packing inspections including visual examinations, leakage tests, and heat-sealed seam testing. The document provides sample worksheets, labeling examples, and references to related standards including MIL-STD-147 (palletization), wood packaging material heat-treatment requirements, and RFID passive tag specifications per DFARS clause 252.211-7006.