DEFCON!

Factual Questions
1

As the events of today unfolded, I started wondering about Defcon. You know that system they have in the Pentagon (in all the movies) that reflects our National Defense. Defcon 1 would be safe, and 5 would be nuclear war, right? I searched on the internet, and I couldn’t find it! All I got was that darn story about the Russian Hacker at the Defcon hacker gathering. I went to the DoD site, and the pentagon site, couldn’t find anything (except a little info on InfoCon). Plz help me find info on Defcon, and are civilians alerted to its level? I would assume not.
Thanks,

2

DEFense CONdition 5 would be the safest. DEFCON 1 is nuclear war.

3

Check here.

4

I thought it was the other way around, with DEFCON 1 being “launch the missiles” and the greater numbers being progressively less drastic.

5

DEFCON 5 is peace. DEFCON 1 is war. It is the defense condition of the military. I believe it is classifed so you probably wont know the current DEFCON status until later.

6

You guys are just too fast for me.

7

Paraphrased from a a DoD memo:

For Example,

I don’t believe numerical assignments are used anymore, just Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta.

8

Threatcon Charlie at DoD Tuesday.

9

Threatcon Delta throughout America Tuesday…

10

All DoD facilities worldwide are currently at Threatcon Delta, as ordered by the Secretary of Defense. This according to the local base commander who was just on local radio about 5 minutes ago.

I can stick my head out the front door and see Kadena Air Force Base (Okinawa, Japan) Gate 2.

Also, for some reason they keep calling it “Force Protection Delta” now, but when it first happened, they called it “Threatcon Delta”.

11

It was “Force Protection Condition Charlie” when I left work yesterday morning, but it’s up to Delta today.

12

Probably too soon to interject any levity, so please forgive me.

For many years I’ve used “DEFCON” to indicate how strongly I have to evacuate my bowels. DEFCON 2 means I have to find a toilet now. DEFCON 1 is the condition where I’ve just barely made it. I started using the phrase in that context with a friend of mine who had a spastic colon.

13

It is Threatcon Delta at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. I had a technician out there yesterday performing some calibrations. She was immediately told to get off base ASAP. She dropped everything, and did just that. I was supposed to be out there today…

14

My Navy base is at “THREATCON Delta” and “Force Protection Posture Delta.”

Only designated key and essential personnel are allowed on the base until further notice.

(This information has been publicly disseminated via the local media.)

15

Question: what exactly does ThreatCon Delta entail? I’ve been told that it includes all military personnel and families being confine to their homes when not on duty. Is that correct?

16

“Force Protection Condition” [sub](in case anyone is interested)[/sub] is back down to “Charlie” today, and will probably remain at that level for the near future.

17

Force Protection Condition has been lowered to “BRAVO” today. “…after careful consideration of world events…” A lessening of tensions? Looks like Uncle Sam is not charging full speed ahead into battle after all.

18

I think it’s more likely that the THREATCON levels is reduced as the likelihood of further terrorist attacks has decreased, not anything to do with the chance of attacks on the Taliban. If Uncle Sam is planning anything major in the Middle East, I doubt he’d want it advertised through the US media watching US bases.

19

I thought instead of starting a new thread, I’d continue this one. (I’m not sure if this is proper for SDMB or not, so please alert me)

I also had some questions regarding DEFCON. It appears the lowest we have been was DEFCON II.

[ul]Is there anywhere I can find out what it has been set at in the past (9/11, Gulf War)?
Is the information about DEFCON available to the public as THREATCON (or WATCHCON and INFOCON for that matter) is at currently*?
What would warrant the changes of one of the ‘CONs’ but not another?[/ul]

*I see the THREATCON level at Fort Myers whist going to work in the morning, but can’t remember what else is on the placard.

Sorry if this dosen’t make much sense, I’m a bit out of it now. :o

20

You scared the crap out of me, until I noticed the dates of the posts. I was thinking to myself,“now i KNOW that Offutt AFB is at threatcon alpha, I just went through the f@cking gate and thats what it said right??? They let me on the base didnt they???..OHHHHH ok what asshat bumped this thread…”

[sub]I’m not calling you an asshat Blueapple, at least not out loud in a public forum[/sub]