How many digits are in a National Stock Number?

A National Stock Number (NSN) is a unique identifier used to manage supplies and inventory in the U.S. military and other government organizations. An NSN consists of 13 digits, which are broken down into several components: the first four digits represent the Federal Supply Class (FSC), the next two digits identify the country of origin, and the final seven digits form a unique item identification number.

This structure allows for efficient cataloging and tracking of items within the supply chain. The 13-digit format helps ensure each item is uniquely identified across various military and governmental services. Understanding this specification is crucial for hospital corpsmen and others working with military logistics and inventory management.