MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is an informational guide for packaging and marking standards applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and solicitations, compiled by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014. The guide provides comprehensive guidance on military packaging and preservation requirements, though it explicitly states it has not been officially adopted by DoD and is intended for familiarization purposes only rather than as a binding contractual requirement.

The guide covers 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 details specific packing methods (31-45, 51-52) for different protection levels, from simple packaging appropriate for items with minimal environmental exposure to rigorous Level A military packing designed for the most severe worldwide shipping conditions. The document specifies container requirements, marking standards per MIL-STD-129, packaging requirement codes (PRC), quality assurance provisions including visual examinations and leakage testing, special markings for hazardous materials and shelf-life items, and references key specifications including MIL-STD-2073-1E, MIL-DTL-117 for heat-sealable bags, ASTM D3951 for commercial packaging, and modal regulations for hazardous materials transportation (Title 49 CFR for land, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204 for military air). The guide emphasizes that applicable modal regulations take precedence in case of conflicting information.