Efficient Military Needs Efficient Packaging

Improper packaging might have serious repercussions on the military personnel. Today, military packaging has evolved to better accommodate the needs of soldiers on and off the battlefield. It is mandatory for the manufacturers of military goods to conform to the specifications.

Military perhaps knows best the importance of packaging. While packaging might not be an issue for commoners, for military, it is something very important. Proper packaging might be the difference between life and death for the soldiers, particularly when they are in active battlefield. For an army, packaging becomes imperative. It can never be optional for military.

For military, it is necessary to ensure that the soldiers get reliable supply of all the material they require. Inefficient packaging might have serious repercussions on the military personnel. An efficient military needs a robust line of supply. A soldier cannot fight with bare hands and empty stomach. He needs to be supported well and looked after, if he is expected to perform.

A sneak into military history would testify how important supply is for an army. In the World War II, there were several instances when inadequate supply or packaging led to military setbacks. Supplies are short during a war, making every piece of article important, and it is nothing less than a crime to waste it. It is a matter of common wisdom to learn lessons from the past and ensure that the mistakes are not repeated.

After the world war, the military all over the world realized the importance of packaging. They came up with certain guidelines and ensured that these were taken care of. Packaging became as important as training. It became part of the syllabus in military schools. Yet, there were lapses causing the loss of money and equipment. In Vietnam War, for instance, a major packaging failure occurred when fiberboard used for exterior shipping containers began falling apart even with the minimal exposure to the natural elements. The failure was the result of changes in the performance criterion. Water immersion tests required for including a container for military use was eliminated, which led to the inclusion of defected containers. This underlined that military packaging is the subject of constant reassessment and improvement.

Today, military packaging has evolved to better accommodate the needs of soldiers on and off the battlefield. It is mandatory for the manufacturers and suppliers of military goods to conform to the specifications. Manufacturers understand the specialized needs of military specific packaging and ensure that these are satisfied. Such products pass through the stringent quality check before being shipped. All packaging material, whether designed to carry arms and ammunition, apparel or food and drinks, needs to be top notch to ensure the pressure. Military also has well set mechanism to ensure the quality of the goods they are supplied with.

American military has put in place stringent specifications for the military goods to qualify. International organizations such as United Nations have their own regulations for mil-spec packaging and transportation of military related goods and materials. Apart from quality, products intended for military use need to have compliant labels, barcodes, RFID labels and pallets. All these factors need to be taken care of to ensure reliable supply for military forces.

The author of this article is currently associated with Skolnik, who manufacture military specific containers that specify US as well as UN packaging norms.