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MIL-STD-881F — Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items

Source: MIL-STD-881F, 13 May 2022 (US DoD; public domain; Distribution Statement A per ASSIST QuickSearch Dist Stmt for Rev F) | Chapters: 7

When to use

Use this pack when building or reviewing a defense Program or Contract WBS: choosing commodity appendices, applying the 100% rule, writing WBS dictionaries, placing software/cyber/SoS work, hanging Appendix K common elements, aligning IMP/IMS and cost reporting identifiers, implementing post-award WBS control, or applying Appendix L sustainment CES / Appendix M Government ST&E structures under 881F.

Prerequisites: none — plain Markdown; no MCP server, API key, or licence tier needed at runtime. Pair with program cost/CSDR guidance and service tailoring memos for reporting specifics.

How to Use This Skill

• Without arguments — load the core frameworks below.
• With a topic — ask about Program vs Contract WBS, 100% rule, dictionaries, a commodity appendix, common elements, sustainment L, or software placement.
• With a chapter — ask for ch01 through ch07.

Supporting files: glossary.md, patterns.md, cheatsheet.md.

Core Frameworks & Mental Models

Three-layer WBS spine

1. Program WBS (Government) — whole materiel item / PE
2. Contract WBS — performer extension of program parents
3. Subcontract WBS — lower-tier extension with same product parents

100% rule

Decomposition children must represent 100% of parent work/resources. Never promote a child to sibling of its former parent for 'visibility'.

Commodity + commons pattern

Layer	Source
Product taxonomy	Appendices A–J
Enabling commons	Appendix K (A–J only)
Sustainment CES reporting	Appendix L
Government ST&E	Appendix M

Dictionary discipline

Every managed element needs definition, inclusions, exclusions—this is interface control for cost, schedule, and engineering.

Software dual path

• Embedded on weapon equipment → prefer equipment parent (elevate only if unpartitionable)
• IS/Defense Business Systems → Appendix J

Pre-award → post-award flow

Program WBS + dictionary → RFP extension requirements → Contract WBS CM → reporting levels ≤ definition depth → L/M where applicable.

Chapter Index

#	Section	Key content
ch01	WBS Principles and Definitions	Purpose, PE/materiel item, 100% rule, dictionary, layers
ch02	Program WBS, Roles, Pre-Award	Government construction, RFP, pitfalls
ch03	Contract WBS and Programmatic Issues	Extension, SoS, cyber, software, IMP/IMS
ch04	Commodity Templates A–F	Aircraft, electronics, missile, strategic, sea, space
ch05	Commodity Templates G–J	Ground, unmanned maritime, launch, IS/DBS
ch06	Common Elements (K)	SE/PM, ST&E, training, data, SE, facilities, spares
ch07	Implementation, Reporting, Sustainment	Numbering, CSDR, Appendix L CES, Appendix M

Topic Index

• 100% rule / parent-child integrity → ch01, ch03
• Aircraft WBS (Appendix A) → ch04
• CAPE Sustainment CES / Appendix L → ch07
• Common Elements / Appendix K → ch06
• Contract WBS extension → ch03, ch07
• CSDR / reporting levels → ch07
• Cybersecurity placement → ch03
• Dictionary → ch01, ch02
• Electronics / avionics / generic (B) → ch04
• Government ST&E / Appendix M → ch07
• Ground vehicle (G) → ch05
• IMP / IMS linkage → ch03
• Information Systems / DBS (J) → ch05, ch03
• Launch vehicle (I) → ch05
• Missile / ordnance (C) / strategic (D) → ch04
• PM / measurement / EVMS mapping → ch07
• Program Element / defense materiel item → ch01
• Program WBS / pre-award / RFP → ch02
• Sea systems (E) → ch04
• SE/PM / SEIT/PM → ch06
• Software placement (embedded vs IS) → ch03, ch05
• Space systems (F) → ch04
• Subcontract WBS → ch03
• System of Systems / Family of Systems → ch03
• Technical planning & WBS → ch01, ch02, ch07
• Training / data / support equipment elements → ch06
• Unmanned maritime (H) → ch05

Supporting Files

• glossary.md — core 881F WBS terms with chapter refs
• patterns.md — eight build/review patterns with trade-offs
• cheatsheet.md — appendix picker, checklists, smells

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Scope & Limits

• Covers MIL-STD-881F WBS standard practice only (13 May 2022 text used at build).
• Does not replace CAPE CSDR manuals, service-unique WBS memos, or contract clauses.
• Synthesized reference notes; not a substitute for the official ASSIST publication for contractual citation.
• No source PDF or full-text redistribution in this pack.