What is a DEMIL code?

A DEMIL (demilitarization) code is a single character assigned to DoD personal property that indicates the degree of required physical destruction before the item can be released out of DoD control, identifies items requiring specialized destruction capabilities or procedures, and identifies items that do not require demilitarization but may require Trade Security Controls. It is a life-cycle code: it is assigned when the item is cataloged and follows the item through disposal. The authoritative code list is FLIS Table 38 (DoD 4100.39-M, Volume 10), and the governing program is DoDI 4160.28 with the Defense Demilitarization Manual, DoDM 4160.28.

Who assigns and verifies the DEMIL code?

The Integrated Materiel Manager (IMM) — the inventory control point responsible for the item — assigns the DEMIL code to each National Stock Number. The DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office (DDCMO) verifies the assignment. A companion field, the DEMIL Integrity Code, records the status of that verification: for example, integrity code 1 means the DDCMO reviewed the code and the ICP adopted the recommendation, while blank means the code has not yet been reviewed.

What is the difference between demilitarization (DEMIL) and mutilation (MUT)?

Demilitarization is the act of eliminating the functional capabilities and inherent military design features from property — ranging from removal and destruction of critical features to total destruction by cutting, crushing, shredding, melting, or burning. Mutilation is physical destruction to the point of scrap, so the item has no value except its basic material content. Some codes require full DEMIL of the item and its components (C, D, F, G, P); others require mutilation to scrap (B worldwide; Q outside the United States, and inside the United States depending on the DEMIL Integrity Code).

What do USML and CCL mean in the DEMIL code definitions?

The U.S. Munitions List (USML) is the list of defense articles controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 CFR parts 120–130). The Commerce Control List (CCL) covers dual-use items controlled under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR parts 730–774); EAR99 designates low-control EAR items. Every DEMIL code definition is anchored to these lists: USML military items generally require demilitarization or worldwide mutilation, while CCL items are handled with mutilation or Trade Security Controls depending on risk.

Which DEMIL codes require destruction of the item?

DEMIL D requires destroying the item and its components to prevent restoration or repair to a usable condition. DEMIL C requires removing or demilitarizing the installed key point(s) — the critical features — to DEMIL D standard. DEMIL F requires destruction per special instructions furnished by the item manager, equipment specialist, or product specialist. DEMIL G (ammunition and explosives) requires DEMIL, with the Military Services responsible for execution. DEMIL B and Q require mutilation to the point of scrap (B worldwide; Q conditionally by location and integrity code). DEMIL P adds declassification: destruction sufficient to prevent reconstruction of classified information, certified before the item transfers out of DoD custody.

What is a DEMIL Integrity Code?

The DEMIL Integrity Code (FLIS Table 216) is a management code that signifies the status of the currently assigned DEMIL code — essentially, how much the coding can be trusted. Blank means not yet reviewed by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office; 1 means reviewed and adopted; 3 flags a critical munitions-list or sensitive CCL item requiring mutilation worldwide; 6 flags a non-critical/non-sensitive item requiring mutilation only overseas; 7 is a forced concurrence entered by the DDCMO. Integrity codes 1, 3, 6, and 7 mean the DDCMO has verified the DEMIL code as accurate and locked it in FLIS. The integrity code also completes the meaning of DEMIL Q, whose mutilation requirement inside the United States depends on whether the integrity code is 3 or 6.

How does the DEMIL code relate to the Controlled Inventory Item Code (CIIC)?

They are companion FLIS codes that must stay compatible. The DEMIL code says what must happen to the item before release from DoD control; the CIIC says how the item must be secured while it is in DoD custody (classification, AA&E sensitivity, or pilferage risk). FLIS Table 192 defines the valid DEMIL-to-CIIC combinations — for example, DEMIL P (classified items) pairs with classified CIICs, while DEMIL A, B, and Q pair only with unclassified CIICs. A change to one code can force a change to the other, and an invalid combination rejects in FLIS.

What happens if property reaches DLA Disposition Services with the wrong DEMIL code?

The DEMIL code drives what Disposition Services may do with the property — reutilize, transfer, donate, sell, or destroy. Property that is miscoded can be rejected back to the turn-in activity, held pending resolution, or — the worst case the program exists to prevent — released with military capability intact. Turn-in activities are responsible for ensuring the DEMIL code (and, for ammunition and explosives, certification that the materiel is safe) is correct before shipment. Challenges to a suspect code are worked through the Service DEMIL program office and the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office.

Reference

Demilitarization (DEMIL) Codes — Complete Reference

Demilitarization (DEMIL) Codes are single-character, life-cycle codes assigned to DoD personal property that state what must physically happen to an item before it can leave DoD control — from no action required (A) through mutilation to the point of scrap (B, Q) to total destruction of the item and its key points (C, D) and declassification (P). The code is assigned by the Integrated Materiel Manager, verified by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office, and carried in the Federal Logistics Information System (FLIS, Table 38). It works together with the DEMIL Integrity Code and the Controlled Inventory Item Code (CIIC) to keep U.S. Munitions List and Commerce Control List items out of the wrong hands at disposal.

Regulatory authority: DoDI 4160.28 (DoD Demilitarization Program); DoDM 4160.28, Volumes 1–3 (Defense Demilitarization Manual); DoD 4100.39-M (FLIS), Volume 10, Table 38 — Demilitarization Codes
Operator: Assigned by the Integrated Materiel Manager (IMM) and verified by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office (DDCMO); carried in the Federal Logistics Information System (FLIS), maintained by the Defense Logistics Agency
Access type: public
Last verified: 2026-07-06

Demilitarization (DEMIL) Codes are single-character, life-cycle codes assigned to DoD personal property that answer one question at the end of an item's life: what must physically happen to this item before it can leave DoD control? For some property the answer is nothing (code A); for defense articles it ranges from mutilation to the point of scrap (B, Q) through destruction of critical features (C) to total destruction of the item and its components (D) and certified declassification (P). The code is assigned by the item's Integrated Materiel Manager (IMM), verified by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office (DDCMO), and carried in Federal Logistics Information System (FLIS) cataloging data as Table 38. Its purpose is to prevent U.S. Munitions List and Commerce Control List items — and their inherent design information — from reaching parties adverse to the United States.

At a glance

What it is: A one-character code stating the degree of required physical destruction (or export control) before DoD personal property is released out of DoD control.
Assigned by: The Integrated Materiel Manager; verified by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office (DDCMO), with the verification status recorded in the DEMIL Integrity Code.
Regulatory source: DoDI 4160.28 and DoDM 4160.28 (Defense Demilitarization Manual, Volumes 1–3); the code table itself is FLIS Table 38 (DoD 4100.39-M, Volume 10).
Anchored to: The U.S. Munitions List (ITAR, 22 CFR 120–130) and the Commerce Control List (EAR, 15 CFR 730–774).
Read alongside: The Controlled Inventory Item Code (CIIC) — FLIS Table 192 defines which DEMIL/CIIC combinations are valid — and the Supply Condition Code at turn-in.
Where it bites: Turn-in to DLA Disposition Services, reutilization/transfer/donation screening, sales, and any release of property outside DoD control.

What these codes are

Every item of DoD personal property is coded for demilitarization when it is cataloged, not when it is disposed of — the DEMIL code is a life-cycle attribute of the National Stock Number. The code does three jobs at once:

States the destruction requirement. From "no DEMIL required" through mutilation-to-scrap to total destruction of the item, its components, and its inherent design information.
Flags specialized handling. Some items need instructions from the item manager (F), the DoD DEMIL Program Office (E), or declassification authority (P) before anyone touches them.
Marks export-control status. Items that need no destruction may still be USML/CCL-controlled and require Trade Security Controls (TSC) under DoDI 2030.08 before transfer to parties outside DoD control.

The stakes are the reason the program exists: released DoD property could otherwise be restored to military use, or its design features reverse-engineered, by adversaries. DoD policy is that USML items with significant military utility are demilitarized before release, and CCL items are mutilated or transferred only under Trade Security Controls.

Complete code table

The table below lists the DEMIL codes and their meanings per FLIS Table 38 (DoD 4100.39-M, Volume 10), with the practical destruction/mutilation requirement summarized as it appears in the Defense Demilitarization Manual and the DLA Customer Assistance Handbook.

Demilitarization (DEMIL) Codes — FLIS Table 38

A	Items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR 730–774) — CCL or EAR99 — determined by DoD to present a low risk when released out of DoD control.	No DEMIL, mutilation, or end-use certificate required. May still require an export license from the Department of Commerce.
B	USML items; military items formerly on the USML (code B is obsolete for new assignment).	Mutilation (MUT) to the point of scrap required worldwide. (See DoDI 2030.08 for the scrap definition.)
C	USML or CCL military items that contain key point(s) requiring DEMIL.	DEMIL required. Remove or demilitarize the installed key point(s) to DEMIL code D standard — destroy the key-point item to prevent restoration or repair to a usable condition and prevent release of inherent design information.
D	USML or CCL military items.	DEMIL required. Destroy the item and components to prevent restoration or repair to a usable condition and to prevent release of inherent design information.
E	Items reserved for the exclusive use of the DoD Demilitarization Program Office (DDPM/DDPO) — items requiring a specific method or process to accomplish DEMIL.	DEMIL required. DEMIL instructions must be furnished by (or provided to) the DoD DEMIL Program Office.
F	USML or CCL military items whose demilitarization requires item-specific instructions.	DEMIL required. Item managers, equipment specialists, or product specialists must furnish special DEMIL instructions; the item is destroyed per those instructions.
G	USML or CCL military items — ammunition and explosives (AE), both unclassified and classified.	DEMIL required. The appropriate CIIC is assigned for classification, security, and storage; the Military Services have DEMIL and disposal responsibility for AE, and materiel must be rendered and documented as safe before turn-in.
P	USML items designated with a security classification level.	DEMIL required to complete declassification: destruction to reduce the risk of reconstituting classified information, determined per the Original Classification Authority, with DEMIL and removal of sensitive markings accomplished and certified before physical transfer to a DLA Disposition Services site or release from DoD control. Not appropriate for AE items.
Q	Commerce Control List items (CCLI).	Mutilation to the point of scrap required outside the United States. Inside the United States, mutilation is required when the DEMIL Integrity Code is 3 (critical/sensitive CCLI) and not required when the DEMIL Integrity Code is 6 (non-critical/non-sensitive CCLI, releasable with Trade Security Controls).

9 of 9 codes shown

The DEMIL Integrity Code

The DEMIL code answers what to do; the DEMIL Integrity Code (FLIS Table 216) answers how much to trust the assignment. It records whether the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office has reviewed and verified the DEMIL code on the item — and for DEMIL Q items it is part of the rule itself, deciding whether mutilation is required inside the United States.

DEMIL Integrity Codes — FLIS Table 216

(blank)	DEMIL code has not been reviewed by the DCMO.
0	DEMIL code reviewed by the DCMO; the recommended DEMIL code and the current ICP DEMIL code are not equal — presently in the collaboration cycle.
1	DEMIL code reviewed by the DCMO; the recommended code was adopted by the ICP, or no change was recommended.
2	DEMIL code reviewed by the DCMO and accepted by the ICP (integrity code 1); however, the ICP has since overridden/changed the code.
3	Critical FSC/FSG munitions-list item (MLI) or sensitive CCL item. Requires mutilation worldwide.
4	DEMIL code could not be validated — insufficient technical data available.
5	Item reviewed and coded by the Service/Agency ICP without DCMO collaboration, or the ICP changed the DEMIL code before the integrity-code-0 review/collaboration cycle completed.
6	Non-critical FSC/FSG MLI or non-sensitive CCLI. Requires mutilation overseas (not inside the United States).
7	Forced concurrence: the DCMO has forced a DEMIL code change in FLIS because the ICP did not respond to a collaboration request (over 90 days) or failed to update its legacy system.
8	The ICP has non-concurred with a DCMO-recommended DEMIL code; coding is pending resolution.
9	Reserved for future use.

11 of 11 codes shown

Integrity codes 1, 3, 6, and 7 signify that the DCMO has verified the DEMIL code as accurate and locked it in FLIS.

DEMIL and the CIIC — codes that must agree

The DEMIL code and the Controlled Inventory Item Code (CIIC) work as a pair: DEMIL controls what happens on the way out of DoD custody; the CIIC controls how the item is secured while inside it (security classification, arms/ammunition/explosives sensitivity, or pilferage risk). Because they describe the same item from two sides, FLIS enforces valid combinations in Table 192 (Valid Demilitarization Codes and Controlled Inventory Item Codes Combinations) — a change to the DEMIL code may force a change to the CIIC, and an incompatible pair rejects in FLIS.

The logic of the compatibility table follows the codes' meanings. DEMIL P (classified USML items) pairs with the classified CIICs and the classified-AA&E sensitivity codes. DEMIL A, B, and Q (unclassified EAR/CCL territory) pair only with unclassified CIICs — such as U (unclassified), 9 (Controlled Cryptographic Item), and the pilferage codes. DEMIL C, D, E, and F items may carry CIIC 7, the code for items whose DEMIL requirement is itself the reason they are controlled.

How the codes are used

Cataloging and lifecycle management. Every NSN carries a DEMIL code from provisioning onward; item managers assign it and the DDCMO verifies it. Look it up alongside the item's other management data in WebFLIS or PUB LOG / FED LOG.
Turn-in to DLA Disposition Services. The DEMIL code on the turn-in document tells DLA Disposition Services whether property can be reutilized, transferred, donated, or sold — or must be destroyed first. DEMIL G (AE) property must be rendered safe and certified before turn-in, and DEMIL P property must be declassified and certified before physical transfer.
Logistics reassignment guardrails. DLA does not accept logistics reassignment of DEMIL G or P items (declassification and AE demilitarization remain Service responsibilities), and accepts DEMIL F items only when the special DEMIL instructions accompany the reassignment and are posted to the DoD DEMIL F instructions repository.
Trade Security Controls. Items that require no destruction (A, and Q at integrity code 6 inside the United States) may still require end-use checks and Trade Security Controls under DoDI 2030.08 before transfer to parties outside DoD control.

Worked example

A unit turns in three items to DLA Disposition Services:

A commercial office shredder, DEMIL A. It is EAR territory and low risk: no demilitarization, no mutilation — Disposition Services can screen it straight into reutilization, transfer, donation, or sale channels.
A rifle receiver, DEMIL D. It is a USML military item: the item and its components must be destroyed to prevent restoration to a usable condition. It will never appear in a public sale intact.
A targeting-pod component, DEMIL C with CIIC 7. The component as a whole is not the problem — its installed key point is. The key point is removed or destroyed to DEMIL D standard; only then can the residue be processed. Its CIIC 7 tells the warehouse that, while in storage, the item is controlled because of its DEMIL requirement, and any loss or theft is investigated accordingly.

If the rifle receiver had arrived coded DEMIL A by error, the DEMIL Integrity Code is the safety net: a blank or 0 integrity code signals the assignment was never verified, and the receiving site challenges the code through the Service DEMIL program office rather than releasing the item.

Common errors and gotchas

Treating the DEMIL code as a disposal-time decision. It is a cataloging attribute assigned at provisioning and verified by the DDCMO — not something the turn-in activity picks. If the code looks wrong, challenge it; do not substitute your own.
Reading DEMIL Q without the integrity code. Inside the United States, DEMIL Q's mutilation requirement depends entirely on the DEMIL Integrity Code (3 = mutilate, 6 = releasable with Trade Security Controls). Q alone is an incomplete instruction.
Confusing DEMIL with condition. The Supply Condition Code says whether materiel is serviceable; the DEMIL code says what must happen before release from DoD control. A brand-new, condition-A item can still be DEMIL D.
Forgetting the CIIC pairing. DEMIL and CIIC assignments must be compatible per FLIS Table 192. An item recoded DEMIL P without a classified CIIC (or vice versa) will reject.
Turning in DEMIL G or P property unprepared. AE must be rendered safe and documented; classified items must be declassified and certified before physical transfer. Disposition Services is prohibited from doing this for you.
Assuming "no DEMIL" means "no controls." DEMIL A and Q-at-IC-6 items can still be export-controlled and require Trade Security Controls and end-use checks before leaving DoD control.

Controlled Inventory Item Codes (CIIC) — the in-custody security companion to the DEMIL code; FLIS Table 192 defines the valid combinations.
Supply Condition Codes (SCC) — the serviceability classification carried on the same materiel at turn-in.
Disposal Condition Codes — the disposal-side condition coding used with turn-ins to DLA Disposition Services.
Document Identifier Codes (DIC) — the transaction codes (disposal release orders, turn-in documents) that move DEMIL-coded property to disposal.
DLA Disposition Services — the activity that executes reutilization, transfer, donation, sale, and demilitarization.
WebFLIS and PUB LOG / FED LOG — where the DEMIL code and DEMIL Integrity Code are queried for a given NSN.

Authoritative references

DoD 4100.39-M (FLIS), Volume 10 — Tables 38, 216, and 192. The authoritative DEMIL code list, the DEMIL Integrity Codes, and the valid DEMIL/CIIC combinations, in the Federal Logistics Information System cataloging data standards.
DoDI 4160.28 — DoD Demilitarization Program, and DoDM 4160.28, Volumes 1–3 — Defense Demilitarization Manual. The governing program policy and the manual prescribing DEMIL procedures; see the DoD issuances library.
DoDI 2030.08 — Implementation of Trade Security Controls. Governs transfers of USML/CCL property to parties outside DoD control, including the end-use checks behind DEMIL A and Q.
DoDM 4160.21 — Defense Materiel Disposition Manual. The disposition procedures under which DEMIL-coded property is turned in, screened, and destroyed or released.
DLA Customer Assistance Handbook (print edition, December 2023). DLA's public customer reference reproducing the DEMIL code table and the DoD DEMIL Program procedures.

Last verified

This reference was last reviewed on 2026-07-06. The nine-code DEMIL table was verified verbatim against FLIS Table 38 (DoD 4100.39-M, Volume 10, 2022 edition, in hand), the integrity codes against Table 216, and the DEMIL/CIIC compatibility statements against Table 192; all were corroborated against the DLA Customer Assistance Handbook (December 2023). Program-level context (logistics-reassignment guardrails, turn-in preparation duties) follows the handbook's DoD DEMIL Program section. To suggest a correction, use the site's correction path.

Frequently asked questions

What is a DEMIL code?: A DEMIL (demilitarization) code is a single character assigned to DoD personal property that indicates the degree of required physical destruction before the item can be released out of DoD control, identifies items requiring specialized destruction capabilities or procedures, and identifies items that do not require demilitarization but may require Trade Security Controls. It is a life-cycle code: it is assigned when the item is cataloged and follows the item through disposal. The authoritative code list is FLIS Table 38 (DoD 4100.39-M, Volume 10), and the governing program is DoDI 4160.28 with the Defense Demilitarization Manual, DoDM 4160.28.
Who assigns and verifies the DEMIL code?: The Integrated Materiel Manager (IMM) — the inventory control point responsible for the item — assigns the DEMIL code to each National Stock Number. The DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office (DDCMO) verifies the assignment. A companion field, the DEMIL Integrity Code, records the status of that verification: for example, integrity code 1 means the DDCMO reviewed the code and the ICP adopted the recommendation, while blank means the code has not yet been reviewed.
What is the difference between demilitarization (DEMIL) and mutilation (MUT)?: Demilitarization is the act of eliminating the functional capabilities and inherent military design features from property — ranging from removal and destruction of critical features to total destruction by cutting, crushing, shredding, melting, or burning. Mutilation is physical destruction to the point of scrap, so the item has no value except its basic material content. Some codes require full DEMIL of the item and its components (C, D, F, G, P); others require mutilation to scrap (B worldwide; Q outside the United States, and inside the United States depending on the DEMIL Integrity Code).
What do USML and CCL mean in the DEMIL code definitions?: The U.S. Munitions List (USML) is the list of defense articles controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 CFR parts 120–130). The Commerce Control List (CCL) covers dual-use items controlled under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR parts 730–774); EAR99 designates low-control EAR items. Every DEMIL code definition is anchored to these lists: USML military items generally require demilitarization or worldwide mutilation, while CCL items are handled with mutilation or Trade Security Controls depending on risk.
Which DEMIL codes require destruction of the item?: DEMIL D requires destroying the item and its components to prevent restoration or repair to a usable condition. DEMIL C requires removing or demilitarizing the installed key point(s) — the critical features — to DEMIL D standard. DEMIL F requires destruction per special instructions furnished by the item manager, equipment specialist, or product specialist. DEMIL G (ammunition and explosives) requires DEMIL, with the Military Services responsible for execution. DEMIL B and Q require mutilation to the point of scrap (B worldwide; Q conditionally by location and integrity code). DEMIL P adds declassification: destruction sufficient to prevent reconstruction of classified information, certified before the item transfers out of DoD custody.
What is a DEMIL Integrity Code?: The DEMIL Integrity Code (FLIS Table 216) is a management code that signifies the status of the currently assigned DEMIL code — essentially, how much the coding can be trusted. Blank means not yet reviewed by the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office; 1 means reviewed and adopted; 3 flags a critical munitions-list or sensitive CCL item requiring mutilation worldwide; 6 flags a non-critical/non-sensitive item requiring mutilation only overseas; 7 is a forced concurrence entered by the DDCMO. Integrity codes 1, 3, 6, and 7 mean the DDCMO has verified the DEMIL code as accurate and locked it in FLIS. The integrity code also completes the meaning of DEMIL Q, whose mutilation requirement inside the United States depends on whether the integrity code is 3 or 6.
How does the DEMIL code relate to the Controlled Inventory Item Code (CIIC)?: They are companion FLIS codes that must stay compatible. The DEMIL code says what must happen to the item before release from DoD control; the CIIC says how the item must be secured while it is in DoD custody (classification, AA&E sensitivity, or pilferage risk). FLIS Table 192 defines the valid DEMIL-to-CIIC combinations — for example, DEMIL P (classified items) pairs with classified CIICs, while DEMIL A, B, and Q pair only with unclassified CIICs. A change to one code can force a change to the other, and an invalid combination rejects in FLIS.
What happens if property reaches DLA Disposition Services with the wrong DEMIL code?: The DEMIL code drives what Disposition Services may do with the property — reutilize, transfer, donate, sell, or destroy. Property that is miscoded can be rejected back to the turn-in activity, held pending resolution, or — the worst case the program exists to prevent — released with military capability intact. Turn-in activities are responsible for ensuring the DEMIL code (and, for ammunition and explosives, certification that the materiel is safe) is correct before shipment. Challenges to a suspect code are worked through the Service DEMIL program office and the DoD Demilitarization Coding Management Office.

Authoritative references

DoD 4100.39-M (FLIS), Volume 10 — Table 38 (Demilitarization Codes), Table 216 (DEMIL Integrity Codes), and Table 192 (Valid Demilitarization Codes and Controlled Inventory Item Codes Combinations)
DoDI 4160.28 — DoD Demilitarization Program
DoDM 4160.28, Volumes 1–3 — Defense Demilitarization Manual
DoDI 2030.08 — Implementation of Trade Security Controls (TSC) for Transfers of DoD Personal Property to Parties Outside DoD Control
DoDM 4160.21 — Defense Materiel Disposition Manual
DLA Customer Assistance Handbook (print edition, December 2023) — DEMIL Codes table and DoD Demilitarization Program section
DLA Disposition Services — turn-in and demilitarization guidance

At a glance

What these codes are

Complete code table

The DEMIL Integrity Code

DEMIL and the CIIC — codes that must agree

How the codes are used

Worked example

Common errors and gotchas

Related codes and cross-references

Authoritative references

Last verified

Frequently asked questions

Authoritative references