scope:

The prime purpose of this handbook is to provide, in a single document:

a. Guidance and reference sources for standardization policies, programs and organizations, both national and international, which influence standardization documents in the MIL-STD-188 series.

b. Guidance on the methods and procedures for the development and use of MIL-STD-188 series documents.

This handbook applies to all personnel that are involved in:

a. The development of standards of the MIL-STD-188 series. However, personnel involved in other communications-electronics or ADP activities will find this handbook useful in many cases.

b. The use of the MIL-STD-188 series for whatever reason, such as in the design of telecommunication/teleprocessing equipments and systems.

The primary objective of this handbook is to provide, in a single document, a reference for developers and users of the MIL-STD-188 series, as well as other interested individuals and organizations, so that:

a. Development of standards will be enhanced as a result of a more complete understanding of standardization policies, principles, programs and activities.

b. The use of standards will be enhanced for the same reason.

c. Policy makers, administrators, and others will have access to a better understanding of standardization activities with a resultant enhancement of the DoD standardization program.

The MIL-STD-188 series primarily covers telecommunications and teleprocessing, but telecommunications/teleprocessing standards are increasingly intimately entwined with information processing (otherwise known as automatic data processing (ADP)) standards. Therefore, development of DoD communications standards sometimes requires close coordination with the DoD standardization area of Information Processing Standards for Computers (IPSC). Accordingly, IPSC and related standardization activities are given considerable deserved attention, along with those for communications standardization.

MIL-HDBK-188 consists of two volumes: Volume I - Standards Development and Use/Organizational Relationships, and Volume II - Details Concerning Standardization Organizations. MIL-HDBK-188 follows, as closely as possible, the format prescribed in MIL-STD-962 (Ref. 2.2). Accordingly, each Volume contains its scope in Section 1 and referenced documents in Section 2. Other sections are described in the following paragraphs.

a. Section 3 contains definitions of terms used in MIL-HDBK-188.

b. Section 4 provides general information related to DoD standardization and MIL-STD-188 series, as well as related documents.

c. Section 5 is concerned with detailed requirements concerning factors involved in MIL-STD-188 series document development and use.

d. Appendices in this handbook include the OASD(C³I) memo concerning the MIL-STD-188 mandatory status, listings of MIL-STD-188 and related standards documents and projects, an appendix on obtaining documents, and a listing of acronyms which are cited in both volumes.

a. Section 4 of Volume II supports Volume I by providing detailed descriptive information, primarily regarding telecommunication, teleprocessing and information processing standardization bodies and documents.

b. Appendices contain the full text of important memoranda of understanding/agreement and the MIL-STD-188 Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Terms of Reference.