# DEFCON! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007 "2001-09-12T04:39:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/1 "2001-09-12T04:39:22Z")
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, ---
**Author:** ![mikemartin273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@mikemartin273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikemartin273)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/2 "2001-09-12T04:44:07Z")
DEFense CONdition 5 would be the safest. DEFCON 1 is nuclear war. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/3 "2001-09-12T04:45:03Z")
Check [here](http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/defcon.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/4 "2001-09-12T04:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Defcon 1 would be safe, and 5 would be nuclear war, right? I thought it was the other way around, with DEFCON 1 being “launch the missiles” and the greater numbers being progressively less drastic. ---
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/5 "2001-09-12T04:46:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/6 "2001-09-12T04:47:23Z")
You guys are just too fast for me. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/7 "2001-09-12T04:48:13Z")
Paraphrased from a a DoD memo: > [@](#): > > **THREATCON** s are formal levels of antiterrorist readiness directed by a commander in order to deter or prepare for a terrorist attack expressed in phonetic alphabet letters Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta in increasing levels of threat. > > **DEFCON** s are a uniform system of progressive alert postures for use between the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of unified and specified commands and for use by the services. DEFCONs are graduated to match situations of varying military severity (status of alert). > > **WATCHCON** s set the level of intelligence and indication and warning (I&W) readiness. > > **INFOCON** s recommend actions to uniformly heighten or reduce defensive posture, to defend against computer network attacks, and to mitigate sustained damage to the DOD information infrastructure, including computer and telecommunications networks and systems. The INFOCON is a comprehensive defense posture and response based on the status of information systems, military operations, and intelligence assessments of adversary capabilities and intent. > > Each of these can go hand in hand, however a they don’t necessarily go up and down together. For Example, > [@](#): > > Threatcon Normal - No threat of terrorist activity is present > > Threatcon Alpha - There is a general threat of possible terrorist activity against installations, building locations, and/or personnel, the nature and extent of which are unpredictable > > Threatcon Bravo - There is an increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity even though no particular target has been identified > > Threatcon Charlie - An incident has occurred or intelligence has been > received indicating that some form of terrorist action is imminent. > > Threatcon Delta - A terrorist attack has occurred or intelligence has been received that action against a specific location is likely. I don’t believe numerical assignments are used anymore, just Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/8 "2001-09-12T05:21:03Z")
Threatcon Charlie at DoD Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/9 "2001-09-12T09:24:08Z")
Threatcon Delta throughout America Tuesday… ---
**Author:** ![Astroglide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@Astroglide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroglide)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/10 "2001-09-12T09:33:57Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/11 "2001-09-12T12:07:46Z")
It was “Force Protection Condition Charlie” when I left work yesterday morning, but it’s up to Delta today. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/12 "2001-09-12T12:52:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/13 "2001-09-12T15:05:40Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/14 "2001-09-12T18:59:22Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/15 "2001-09-13T01:15:11Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/16 "2001-09-13T13:08:45Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/17 "2001-09-26T13:07:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/18 "2001-09-26T13:22:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/19 "2003-01-21T04:58:09Z")
_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 ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defcon/81007/20 "2003-01-21T06:18:28Z")
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]