Military Classes of Supply

Imagine trying to manage supplies for thousands of soldiers spread across multiple locations, each needing everything from food and ammunition to vehicle parts and medical supplies. Without a systematic way to organize, track, and distribute these materials, military operations would collapse into chaos. Military Classes of Supply solve this massive logistical challenge by categorizing every item a military force needs into standardized numbered groups. This isn’t just bureaucratic organization, it’s the backbone that keeps armies fed, equipped, armed, and operational. Each class represents a distinct type of material with similar characteristics, storage requirements, and distribution methods, allowing military logisticians to efficiently plan, request, transport, and manage the enormous variety of items needed to sustain operations. Also, learn about Military Alphabet – NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

U.S. Army Military Classes of Supply

The U.S. Army organizes military supplies into ten distinct classes, each covering specific types of materials with unique logistical requirements.

Class	Category	Description	Examples
Class I	Subsistence	Food, water, and related consumption items	MREs, fresh food, water, ice, gratuitous health and comfort items
Class II	General Supplies	Clothing, individual equipment, and administrative supplies	Uniforms, boots, personal gear, office supplies, cleaning materials, hand tools
Class III	Petroleum, Oils & Lubricants (POL)	All fuel and lubricating materials	Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, motor oil, hydraulic fluid, grease, antifreeze
Class IV	Construction Materials	Fortification and construction supplies	Lumber, concrete, sandbags, barbed wire, construction tools, barrier materials
Class V	Ammunition	All ordnance and explosive materials	Small arms ammo, artillery shells, grenades, mines, explosives, pyrotechnics
Class VI	Personal Demand Items	Individual comfort and convenience items	Toiletries, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, magazines, recreational items
Class VII	Major End Items	Principal items of equipment and systems	Tanks, helicopters, trucks, weapons systems, radios, major assemblies
Class VIII	Medical Supplies	Medical, dental, and veterinary materials	Bandages, medicines, medical equipment, surgical supplies, pharmaceuticals
Class IX	Repair Parts	Components and materials for maintenance	Spare parts, repair tools, maintenance supplies for all equipment
Class X	Non-Military Materials	Civil affairs and non-standard support items	Agricultural supplies, school supplies, humanitarian aid, special project materials

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Classes of Supply

NATO uses a similar ten-class system designed for multinational cooperation and standardization across alliance members.

Class	Category	Description	Examples
Class I	Food & Water	Subsistence and food service supplies	Combat rations, fresh food, water, food preparation equipment
Class II	Clothing & Equipment	Individual and organizational equipment	Uniforms, personal gear, tentage, administrative supplies, hand tools
Class III	Fuels & Lubricants	Petroleum products and related materials	Aviation fuel, motor gasoline, diesel, oils, lubricants, additives
Class IV	Fortification Materials	Construction and engineering supplies	Concrete, lumber, engineering equipment, barrier materials, construction tools
Class V	Ammunition	Ordnance and explosive materials	Small arms, artillery, missiles, explosives, pyrotechnics
Class VI	Personal Items	Individual comfort and welfare items	Toiletries, recreational equipment, comfort supplies, personal items
Class VII	Major Equipment	Principal weapons and equipment systems	Vehicles, aircraft, major weapon systems, communication equipment
Class VIII	Medical Supplies	Medical and dental materials	Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, dental supplies, veterinary items
Class IX	Repair Parts	Maintenance and repair materials	Spare parts, tools, maintenance equipment, technical manuals
Class X	Miscellaneous	Items not classified in other classes	Special project materials, civil affairs supplies, unique mission items