Demilitarization and Disposal

Overview

The incorporation of demilitarization (DEMIL) and disposal requirements into the initial system design is critical to ensure compliance with:

Program Managers (PMs) and Product Support Managers should ensure, as an essential part of systems engineering, that DEMIL and disposal requirements are incorporated in system design to minimize DoD’s liabilities, reduce costs and protect critical program information and technology. This includes integrating DEMIL and disposal into the allocated baseline approved at the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and refining DEMIL and disposal requirements in the initial product baseline at the Critical Design Review (CDR). DEMIL and disposal requirements are included in the program’s Systems Engineering Plan (SEP), Life-Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) and contract(s). For munitions programs, DEMIL and disposal documentation need to be in place before the start of Developmental Test and Evaluation.

Activities

DEMIL eliminates functional capabilities and inherent military design features from both serviceable and unserviceable DoD materiel. It is the act of destroying the military offensive or defensive advantages inherent in certain types of equipment or material. DEMIL may include mutilation, scrapping, melting, burning or alteration designed to prevent the further use of this equipment and material for its originally intended military or lethal purpose. Systems Engineers integrate DEMIL considerations into system design to recover critical materials and protect assets, information and technologies from uncontrolled or unwanted release and disruption or reverse engineering. PMs should ensure the DEMIL of materiel is accomplished in accordance with DoDI 4160.28, DoD Demilitarization Program.

Disposal is the process of reusing, transferring, donating, selling or destroying excess surplus and foreign excess property. Disposal first ensures adequate screening is accomplished to satisfy all valid DoD and other U.S. Government agency needs. After assurances that Government needs for surplus DoD property are met, the materiel disposition process:

PMs ensure disposal is accomplished in accordance with DoDM 4140.01, Volume 6 and DoDM 4160.21, Volume 1, Defense Materiel Disposition: Disposal Guidance and Procedures.

The program’s plan for DEMIL and disposal of DoD excess and surplus property protects the environment and personnel and minimizes the need for abandonment or destruction. During system design, the Systems Engineer supports the PM’s plans for the system’s demilitarization and disposal, through the identification and documentation of hazards and hazardous materials related to the system, using MIL-STD-882 (System Safety). Early, balanced analyses of Environment, Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) hazards relative to the system’s design enable the PM to make informed decisions based on alternatives and provide a clear understanding of trade-offs and consequences, both near term and over the system’s life cycle.

Products and Tasks

Product Tasks
10-7-1: Document demilitarization (DEMIL) and disposal plan
  1. Identify the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in administering and executing a demilitarization and disposal plan.
  2. Identify stakeholder and operational requirements and their impact on demilitarization and disposal of the system or its components across each stage of the acquisition life cycle.
  3. Identify the resources (schedule, dollars and manpower) to support designing the system for demilitarization and disposal.
  4. Identify the resources (schedule, dollars and manpower) to accomplish demilitarization and disposal of the system.
  5. Identify statutory and regulatory requirements and policies relating to safety, security, and the environment.
  6. Verify system design compliance with policy, regulation and applicable guidelines.
  7. Document stakeholder requirements, resources to design and implement demilitarization and disposal, statutory and regulatory requirements, and verification of design compliance, in the program demilitarization and disposal plan, and submit to decision maker.

Source: AWQI eWorkbook

Resources

Key terms

Source:
DAU ACQuipedia
DAU Glossary

Policy and Guidance

DAU Training Courses

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  1. Overview
  2. Activities
  3. Resources
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