Defcon 4 meaning full#
Defcon 4 meaning series#

Following the terrorist attack of September 11th, while NASA prepares for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour, the Kennedy Space Center states that their current level of alert is Threatcon Charlie. Threat-level considerations include the movement of people, visitor identification, vehicle checks, and the offset of allowed parking next to facilities and buildings. When no threat level is indicated, the threat level is considered Normal. The military's four threat levels, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta, each bear a set of increasingly restrictive security precautions. The THREATCON scale is intended to achieve interservice coordination and support for defense activities within the United States, on US bases abroad, and aboard US vessels.

While the THREATCON scale determines the condition for defense of the United States homeland and assets abroad, the DEFCON scale determines the posture of the military to prepare for the likelihood of war. Central Command officials use scales of threat levels and defense readiness conditions to standarize the identification of threats and recommended responses throughout the military.

Defcon 4 meaning series#

The new Homeland Security Advisory System characterizes appropriate levels of vigilance, preparedness and readiness in a series of graduated Threat Conditions. Just a few ideas to get more warning than it seems our current purveyors of civilian defense information seem to think necessary. If you drive up there someone with a sidearm will flag you down and ask why you need to take that road instead of the detour before you ever get near the entrances to the base. When the base is on standby alert (not an official term, I'm a civil defense dino) traffic reports start talking about road conditions that cause detours around access roads to the base. I've never heard an announcement about civilian and dependent evacuation, but most of the families and contractors on base won't usually decide to go on vacation all at once. The roads between the base and the closest airport will fill up an unusual amount for a non-holiday period. If things get really critical the base will send dependents and civilian contractors out. When things get serious traffic reports outside the base here indicate the jump as those who live off base are called in all at once. If you suddenly notice there aren't any people with really good posture BS'ing while having breakfast/lunch, you might want to start listening to the news more closely. The change is easy to spot if you grab a coffee a couple times a week at fast food places just outside the base.

Defcon 4 meaning full#

As things escalate they'll start restricting access first to people without military IDs, then escalating to access only for those on active duty.Ī very late indicator that would make me visit the privy is to see military members themselves disappear from venues off base, but a lot of military families with full vehicles on the road (look for the parking stickers and decals). The air base near me is very much open even without military ID if you have a DOD sponsor invite you in. Most bases have a public webpage click on visitor info and it will tell you who's allowed on base at any given time. What you might hear, particularly as the President just recently reaffirmed DHS's part in heightened precautions, is a heightened terrorism alert condition which is on the DHS website.įrom hanging about for many years during the Cold War, I'd say a better indicator of heightened alert is whether the local bases (particularly air bases) are suddenly restricting access.