Altor guide · 2026-09-25

Military SDDG preparation help: the form the aerial port grades

Freight enters the Defense Transportation System with a commercial template, and the aerial port asks for a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods. That is where military SDDG preparation help starts. The file is a DD Form 2890, or a commercial declaration with a commercial packing instruction in the packaging instruction cell.

What the regulation actually requires

AFMAN 24-604, dated 6 June 2025, is Preparing Hazardous Materials for Military Air Shipments, joint as TM 38-250, NAVSUP PUB 505, MCO P4030.19, and DLAI 4145.3. Paragraph 1.1.1 covers hazardous material in the Defense Transportation System as cargo on military controlled aircraft, under DTR 4500.9-R.

A17.1 requires a shipper's certification under Attachment 17 unless the manual exempts the movement. A17.2.1 places that certification on the standard commercial Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods. A17.2.1.3 requires a form that meets the format, size, and color specifications in IATA DGR Section 8. Fill it from Table A17.1.

A17.2.2 requires at least three signed forms. Two signed copies are acceptable when the certification is to the ICAO Technical Instructions or the IATA DGR. A17.2.2.4 requires the vertical red hatch border and the certifying official's signature on those originals.

A17.1.2 starts from a packaging reference in this manual. Certification to the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IATA DGR, or 49 CFR is available only when every condition there is met: comply with that document in full, use the standard commercial declaration, assign P5 for passenger and cargo preparation, and assign P4 for cargo aircraft only.

On a certification to this manual, Key 17.1.1.1 is the packaging paragraph from Table A4.1, Column 8. UN 1090, Acetone, is Class 3, packing group II, with P5 in Column 7 and packaging paragraph A7.2 in Column 8. Key 17 is A7.2. P5 authorizes passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft, so Key 7 deletes "Cargo Aircraft Only." P1 or P4 is cargo aircraft only, so Key 7 deletes "Passengers and Cargo Aircraft."

On an ICAO or IATA certification that meets A17.1.2 in full, the current Table 3-1 extract gives UN 1090 packing instruction 353 at 5 L on a passenger aircraft and packing instruction 364 at 60 L on a cargo aircraft.

Key 12 is the proper shipping name from Table A4.1, with the technical name in parentheses when Attachment 4 requires it. Key 13 is the class and division from Column 4. Key 15 is the packing group from Column 6. Key 2 is the six-digit DoD Activity Address Code, the consignee's location, or both.

Key 19 carries the 24-hour emergency response number. Paragraph 1.18 requires it, monitored by people who know the hazards, before the material is offered, accepted, transferred, stored, or handled. DoD activities use A17.2.9. For hazardous materials other than Class 1, radioactive material, and biological warfare materials, A17.2.9.4 lists domestic 1-800-851-8061 and international +1-804-279-3131, collect. A shipment from outside DoD uses A17.2.9.5: the company's own number, or another contact for that material, meeting 49 CFR 172.604. Monitor it for the whole time the material is in transportation, including storage incidental to transportation. The person who answers knows the material, or has immediate access to someone who does. A callback number fails, and the offeror's name or the provider identifier has to be findable on the paper.

A17.1.1.1 requires a person qualified under Attachment 25, paragraph A25.3, to inspect the material before the form is completed. Key 22 requires that signer to inspect the item personally. Under A25.2.2, packers work with the preparer and may not close the container until the preparer has validated the packaging. Paragraph 1.2.10 assigns the certification to the preparer, appointed in writing under paragraph 1.2.6.2.

A25.8 covers contractors. Non-DoD personnel still prepare the shipment according to this manual. DoD does not require the Attachment 25 courses. Training may be 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart H, the IATA DGR, or the ICAO Technical Instructions, including general awareness, function specific work, safety, and security for military air.

A17.2.3.3 lets the certifying official change any key. Someone else may change the telephone in Key 1, and Keys 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, and 19. Key 17, the shipping name, the class, and the signature stay with the certifying official.

The mistake people make

DD Form 2890 gets handed over because item 21 is a declaration block and DTR 4500.9-R Part II prescribes the form. The edition is September 2015, instructions updated 28 October 2024. It is the DoD Multimodal Dangerous Goods Declaration. Attachment 17 asks for the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods.

Packing instruction 353 gets typed into Key 17 on an AFMAN certification, where Column 8 is A7.2. Striking the passenger statement on a P5 line leaves Key 7 wrong. That key deletes "Cargo Aircraft Only." The DoD hotline is copied into a contractor's Key 19. The packer signs. A clerk changes Key 17 after the fact. Two copies go in the pouch. This manual calls for at least three signed originals with the vertical red hatch border.

Where military SDDG preparation help starts

Lock the certification reference, then fill Key 17 from that book.

For a certification to the 6 June 2025 manual, enter A7.2 in Key 17 for UN 1090 packing group II and delete "Cargo Aircraft Only" on Key 7.

For an ICAO or IATA certification under A17.1.2, meet that document in full. Use packing instruction 353 at 5 L on a passenger aircraft and packing instruction 364 at 60 L on a cargo aircraft. A17.1.2.3 assigns P5. A17.1.2.4 assigns P4.

A company origin puts its own 24-hour number in Key 19 and checks 49 CFR 172.604. Print at least three originals with the vertical red hatch border. Inspect, then sign. A later telephone change in Key 1 can follow A17.2.3.3. Key 17 stays with the certifying official.

Altor pre-checks completed Dangerous Goods Declarations line by line against the current regulations and returns a written report, with every finding cited, within one business day. You keep the pen. altor.consulting

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Send your completed declaration before you tender it. A line by line advisory report comes back within 24 hours, every finding cited. $95 flat, one click, and you keep the pen.

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