Individual military bases set varying levels of FPCONS depending on current threats, mission requirements and other variables. FPCON is a localized tool, not a DOD-wide readiness condition. FPCON Charlie indicates that a threat or terrorist act “occurs within the commander’s area of interest,” and Delta indicates a terrorist attack has occurred or specific installations have received a threat, according to the DLA article.Marine Base Camp Pendleton lists these in increasing order of threat level, as: Force Protection Condition is the system U.S.Bush in 2002, was a color-coded system that included the following levels: The Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS), introduced by President George W.Elevated threat: A verified terrorist threat against the U.S.Imminent threat: A verified, specific and impending terrorist threat against the U.S.“These alerts include a clear statement that there is an imminent and/or elevated threat to the public,” according to DHS. You can find the most up-to-date alerts on the NTAS website. The National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) alerts provide the public with information about terrorist threats.These systems indicate the risk of terrorist attacks in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security: The DEFCON system should not be confused with the National Terrorism Advisory System – which replaced the Homeland Security Advisory System in 2011 – or other threat warnings the DOD uses or has used in the past. By clicking ‘Get Discounts’ you agree to our Privacy Policy What DEFCON Levels Are Not Note: “Other forces go to DEFCON 1 during an EMERGCON,” according to the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project.Īll information is completely confidential. Air Defense Emergency: An emergency where an attack on the U.S., Canada or military installations in Greenland “by hostile aircraft or missiles” is probable or in progress.forces or allies in any area, confirmed either by the commander of a unified or specified command or higher authority, or an overt attack of any type on the U.S. Defense Emergency: A defense emergency involves a “major attack” on overseas U.S.What are these EMERGCONs?Īccording to the Navy’s SWO school command, there are two EMERGCONs: EMERGCONsĮmergency conditions, or EMERGCONs, are specific national threat levels that reflect the reaction to an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) attack or potential attack, according to documents published by the Navy’s surface warfare officer (SWO) school command. Each indicates appropriate actions that commanders can take in response to the threat level, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff memo. forces in preparation for execution of contingency or emergency war plans,” according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff memo, “ Uniform Readiness Conditions.”ĭEFCON levels range from DEFCON 5, normal, to DEFCON 1, maximum readiness. The Joint Chiefs of Staff developed the system in 1959 to “ensure timely, accurate and clear direction of commands” and to achieve “greater effectiveness of U.S.

Printable Defense Readiness Condition (DEFCON) Level Charts Increased intelligence watch and analysis of the political/military situation in the area of tension, Regional tensions requiring greater vigilance. Increased regional tensions with possible U.S. citizens.īased on the uncertainty of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), the current DEFCON level is likely at DEFCON 3. Government officials do not publicly distribute the active DEFCON level to prevent panic among U.S. Joint Military Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff set the current DEFCON level. Levels range from DEFCON 1 to DEFCON 5, with DEFCON 1 being the highest level of readiness. DEFCON stands for Defense Readiness Condition.

Defcon status