The DEFCON conditions are typically kept classified until after the fact. Each unit designates personnel, weapons, and equipment which will be the first to go. As military personnel, we’re trained to always remain ready for deployment. Our DEFCON readiness is an important part of military operations. The last time the military was at DEFCON 1 was during the Gulf War crisis. There is a chance of the United States or our allies being targeted by nuclear weapons. At this level, military personnel begin to deploy. This condition carries a significant risk of major military operations against the United States or our allies.Īs this is the most severe level of readiness, all military personnel are kept ready for immediate action. An increase to level 2 is very serious, and all combat units must be ready to deploy within 6 hours. This level of severity is just below the maximum. DEFCON 3 corresponds to situations where there is a possibility of military action against the U. Commanders may order all their personnel to remain on base. This condition also requires all military personnel to stay within fifty miles of their operating base. All Air Force essential personnel remain on base and are ready to mobilize and deploy. Base operations are changed significantly, with added security personnel. There is also an increased number of personnel added to guard certain areas that would not be manned during level 5.Īt this level in military readiness, The Air Force is ready to mobilize in 15 minutes. During DEFCON 4 there is an increase of personnel on guard during night and day, as well as random searches of vehicles coming onto base.

This level of defense, like all others, remains until changed by the Department of Defense.Īs the next level of severity, there are increased intelligence gathering and security measures. Security operations resume with ID checks for all personnel entering any military base.

This means that military training and operations continue as normal.

The normal level of peacetime readiness, DEFCON 5 serves as the baseline for the military. As of this moment our current military status is DEFCON 4. The DEFCON system prescribes graduated levels of readiness and states of alert and increases from levels of least to most severe. The defense readiness condition (DEFCON) is an alert system used by the military United States. If you haven’t seen it check it out, its an oldie but a goodie. When I think of defcon levels I always think of the 1983 movie War Games.

What defcon level are we in now