Understanding the

Basics of MIL-STD-

129 Labeling

Military supplies logistics can be

overwhelming, particularly if the military

supplier does not have a good handle on the

processes. There have been known cases wherein delivered materials did not fit

specifications, resulting in costly operational delays.

This is the reason the US Department of Defense (DOD) laid out a mandate to

standardize defense-related logistical concerns. From an item’s specifications up to

its operational characteristics, the military standard (MIL-STD) makes the

labeling process more uniform and the pieces of information more reliable and

accurate.

The MIL-STD-129, specifically, helps maintain uniformity in marking military

equipment transported through ships. To understand how this can benefit their

operations, DOD suppliers must take the following details into account:

EXTERIOR CONTAINER MARKINGS

Unless specifically stated in the contract or solicitation

that the items are exempt, every exterior container and

unpacked item should have container markings. These

markings must include human readable and barcode

information. DOD suppliers may be also required to

apply “Ammunition and Explosive Markings” and

“Hazardous Material Markings” on select items.

RFID TAGGING

RFID tagging is instrumental in making efficient

labeling possible. It usually depends on what is stated

on the contract, but DoD suppliers may still have to

comply with the RFID requirements, even if it has not

been mentioned in the contract. The Defense Federal

Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) provides

detailed criteria for RFID compliance.

UID Container Labeling

Under the Unique Identification (UID) Mandate, some

shipping items must have Unique Item Identifiers (UII).

This set of data must be in the form of machine-readable,

two-dimensional (2D) data matrix barcode. These elements

help suppliers differentiate an item from the others.

MIL-STD-129P (4)

Over the years, authorities have made

several amendments to the MIL-STD-129.

The latest updated version is the MIL-

STD-129P (4), which mandates the use of

the Contract Line Item (CLIN) and

Shipment Numbers (SN) for a more

precise labeling.

The military standard encompasses many

things, and can be difficult at times. With

companies like Mil-Pac Technology

providing efficient solutions, there are now better ways to comply with the

different DOD mandates.

References:

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/

http://milpac.com/resources/mil-std-129/