MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) published in March 2014 that provides guidance on packaging and marking requirements for Department of Defense (DoD) shipments. The document is explicitly noted as not being officially adopted by DoD and is intended for instructional purposes only, not to replace contractual requirements or regulations.

The guide covers five basic military preservation methods (Methods 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50) that protect items during shipment and storage under various environmental conditions. Method 10 provides physical protection only; Method 20 adds preservative coating; Method 30 offers waterproof protection; Method 40 provides watervaporproof protection; and Method 50 adds desiccant to watervaporproof protection. Items requiring military preservation must be packaged per MIL-STD-2073-1E (or MIL-STD-2073-1D in some contracts) and marked according to MIL-STD-129. For hazardous materials, packaging must also comply with applicable modal regulations (Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air). The document details specific container types, cushioning requirements, and marking standards for unit packs, intermediate containers, and exterior shipping containers, along with visual inspection and leakage test provisions. It includes sample worksheets, packaging requirement codes, labeling examples, and references to key specifications such as MIL-DTL-117 (heat-sealable bags), MIL-PRF-121 (greaseproof wrap), ASTM D3951 (commercial packaging standards), and MIL-STD-147 (palletization standards). Special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, electrostatic discharge sensitivity, hazardous materials, and heat-treated wood packaging materials are provided with visual examples.