Defense Condition
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- For the technology conference/hacker convention, see DEF CON.
Defense Condition is a measure of the activation and readiness level of the United States armed forces. DEF CON is the acronym of "DEFense CONdition". These defense conditions describe progressive postures for use between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of unified commands. DEFCONs are matched to the situations of military severity.
In a national emergency, seven different alert conditions (referred to as LERTCONs) can be issued. The seven LERTCONs are broken down into 5 Defense Conditions (referred to as DEFCONs) and two Emergency Conditions (referred to as EMERGCONs).
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Descriptions of DEFCONs
DEFCONs are phased increases in combat readiness. Expanded explanations follow below.
- DEFCON 1 : Maximum force readiness.
- DEFCON 2 : Increased force readiness (less than maximum).
- DEFCON 3 : Increased force readiness.
- DEFCON 4 : Peacetime; Increased intelligence; Strengthened security measures.
- DEFCON 5 : Peacetime.
DEFCON 5 is the condition used to designate normal peacetime military readiness. An upgrade in military preparedness is typically made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and announced by the United States Secretary of Defense. The level can be increased, respectively, to DEFCON 4, 3, 2, and 1.
DEFCON 4 refers to normal, increased intelligence and the heightening of national security measures. Readiness remained at this level throughout most of the Cold War.
DEFCON 3 refers to an increase in force readiness above normal. United States military commands (minus the Strategic Air Command, at heightened alert on DEFCON 2) went to this level in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. All United States forces went on DEFCON 3 during the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Soviet nuclear warheads were discovered moving toward Egypt. James Schlesinger sent U.S. forces to the Middle East without notifying NATO. The third time the United States reached DEFCON 3 was during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
DEFCON 2 refers to a further increase in force readiness just below maximum readiness. It has only been declared once; see above.
DEFCON 1 refers to maximum readiness. This has never been used but is reserved for imminent or ongoing attack on US military forces or US territory by a foreign military power.
Conditions
Different branches of the armed forces (e.g. army, navy, air force) and different bases or command groups can be activated at different defense conditions. For much of the Cold War US ICBM sites were always at DEFCON 4 rather than 5.
The highest alert condition the US military has been at was DEFCON 2. During the Cuban missile crisis SAC was ordered to 2 and the rest of the US military to 3 on October 22, 1962. SAC remained at 2 until November 15. Higher alert conditions were also ordered during the Yom Kippur War (1973).
The DEFCON level is controlled primarily by the President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and each DEFCON level defines specific security, activation and response scenarios for the troops in question.
Homeland Security
A matching code of five status levels, the Homeland Security Advisory System, is used by the Department of Homeland Security to indicate possible terrorist threats.
| Red | Severe Condition |
| Orange | High Condition |
| Yellow | Elevated Condition |
| Blue | Guarded Condition |
| Green | Low Condition |
See also
- BIKINI states - Status codes used by British armed forces
- GandhiCon - a semi-parodical take on DefCon in the open source community.
External link
- DEFCON DEFense CONdition (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/defcon.htm)de:Defense Condition