To fill out DD Form 1750, the Department of Defense packing list, enter the box count, requisition and order numbers, end item description, date, and page number in the header, then list every item in the shipment across the six-column table by box number, stock number and nomenclature, unit of issue, initial operation quantity, running spares, and total. Sign the certification in Item 6, place one copy inside the container and secure another to the outside, and keep a copy for your records. The form is available as a PDF from the DoD Executive Services Directorate at esd.whs.mil under the Forms Management Program.
What to Gather Before You Open the Form
Pull your data together first. Hunting for stock numbers mid-entry is what turns a five-minute form into an afternoon.
- The requisition number from the DD Form 1348-1 (Issue Release/Receipt Document) tied to the shipment, plus any purchase or movement order number.
- The end item’s stock number, nomenclature, type number if it has one, and the directive under which the equipment was assembled.
- A Federal Stock Number or National Stock Number for every item going into the boxes. If an item has no FSN, get the manufacturer’s code and part number instead.
- Quantities broken out two ways: how many of each item are needed for initial operation, and how many are running spares shipped alongside for maintenance.
- The total number of containers in the set.
National Stock Numbers are the 13-digit codes assigned to every item that moves through the federal supply system. They link to manufacturer details, dimensions, and cost data. Using the correct NSN prevents misidentification when similar-looking parts have different specifications.
Completing the Header: Items 1 Through 5
The top of the form has a “Packed By” field and five numbered items.
- Item 1, No. Boxes. Enter the total number of boxes in the set. Three containers means “3.”
- Item 2a, Requisition No. Enter the requisition number from the DD Form 1348-1. This number should be cited in any future correspondence about the cargo, so get it right.
- Item 2b, Order No. Enter the purchase or movement order number, if applicable.
- Item 3, End Item. Record the stock number, nomenclature, type number when available, and the directive under which the end item was assembled. If the shipment is only miscellaneous repair parts and accessories rather than a complete equipment set, note that here instead.
- Item 4, Date. The date you prepared the packing list. This is where the date goes, not Item 2.
- Item 5, Page. Page number and total pages, such as “Page 1 of 3.” Use additional sheets if one page cannot capture every item.
Item 2a matters beyond the immediate shipment. If cargo goes missing or a claim needs to be filed, the requisition number is how the shipping office traces your shipment back to a specific movement order.
Filling Out the Table: Columns a Through f
The main body of the form is a six-column table. Each row is one line item inside a container.
- Column a, Box No. The number of the container holding that item. This tells receiving personnel which box to open for a specific part. If everything fits in one box, every row shows the same number.
- Column b, Contents (Stock Number and Nomenclature). List each item by its FSN and name. When no FSN applies, use the manufacturer’s code and part number. Be specific enough that a clerk who has never seen the item can identify it.
- Column c, Unit of Issue. The unit of measure: each, dozen, box, set, and so on. This clarifies whether “12” means twelve items or twelve boxes of items.
- Column d, Initial Operation. The quantity of each item needed to operate the equipment. Parts required to get the system running, not extras.
- Column e, Running Spares. The quantity of spare parts and accessories shipped alongside for ongoing maintenance.
- Column f, Total. The sum of columns d and e for that line.
The split between initial operation and running spares is where people get confused. Column d is what you need to turn the equipment on and use it. Column e is the replacement parts you’re sending with it. If the shipment is loose supplies rather than an equipment set, enter the full quantity in the Total column, leave columns d and e blank, and note the situation.
If a component is out of stock within the DoD supply system but higher authority has waived the shortage because it won’t prevent the equipment from functioning, note the waiver to the right of the item’s nomenclature in column b. That shortage should then be requisitioned through normal supply channels.
Signing the Certification in Item 6
Item 6 at the bottom of the form is a certification block. Print your name and title in the “Typed Name and Title” field, then sign. By signing, you attest that the items listed are actually inside the specified boxes.
That signature carries real weight. Deliberately listing items that aren’t in the box, or omitting items that are, can constitute a false official statement under Article 107 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The maximum punishment is five years of confinement, as determined by court-martial. Some receiving offices will refuse a shipment until a responsible party signs.
Attaching and Distributing the Copies
Produce at least two copies once the form is complete. Place the primary copy inside the container, on top of the contents, so it’s the first thing visible when someone opens the box. Secure a duplicate to the outside in a waterproof pouch or sleeve, which lets receiving personnel check the manifest without breaking the seal.
For equipment sets, the form’s instructions allow one copy to be retained for reference and used as a supporting document to the property book, while the other stays with the equipment as a component parts listing. Keeping a third copy for your own records is worth the extra minute. If cargo arrives short or damaged, having your own copy speeds up the claims process considerably.
Hazardous Materials Need a Separate Form
DD Form 1750 handles the basic inventory function. It is not designed to certify hazardous cargo. Shipping dangerous goods requires DD Form 2890, the Multimodal Dangerous Goods Declaration, which captures UN identification numbers, proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, and a 24-hour emergency contact number.
If your shipment includes hazardous items, fill out a DD Form 1750 for the general inventory and a DD Form 2890 for the hazmat certification. Don’t try to force dangerous goods data into the packing list’s nomenclature column. The two forms serve different regulatory purposes, and transportation officers expect both.
Common Mistakes That Stall Shipments
A few errors show up repeatedly at receiving docks and are entirely preventable.
- Putting the date in Item 2 instead of Item 4. Item 2 is for requisition and order numbers. Swapping the two is the most common header mistake.
- Writing only a description with no FSN or manufacturer part number. If an item has no stock number, use the manufacturer’s code and part number rather than leaving the field blank.
- Totals that don’t reconcile. Column f should equal columns d plus e. Bad math flags the shipment and holds it until someone fixes the numbers.
- No exterior copy on the container. Without one, the receiving clerk has to open the box before knowing what should be inside, slowing the entire offload.
- An unsigned Item 6. Nobody has attested that the list matches the contents, and the shipment can be refused on that basis alone.
The form is straightforward and hasn’t changed much since 1970, which means everyone in the DoD logistics chain knows exactly what to expect from it. Getting the details right is mostly about slowing down long enough to double-check your stock numbers and quantities before sealing the box.