However, it is not usually an indication that the military (or the nation) are in imminent danger of attack. This DEFCON level signifies increased intelligence-gathering efforts and, sometimes, the heightening of national security measures. DEFCON 4 is the first level of readiness above the baseline value of DEFCON 5 and thus constitutes a fairly mild increase in readiness (though an increase from DEFCON 5 to DEFCON 4 is certainly significant). Use DEFCON 4 for heightened alertness.However, in this case, the military judges that these events pose no significant defense threats. Note that DEFCON 5 isn't necessarily a sign that the world is at peace - conflicts, even major ones, may be occurring around the world during a DEFCON 5.At a DEFCON 5, the US military takes no wide-scale precautionary defense measures beyond what is ordinarily required. A DEFCON level of 5 is a very good thing - this is the condition used to designate normal peacetime military readiness.

For instance, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is generally considered one of the tensest moments in American military history, the Strategic Air Command went on DEFCON 2, while the rest of the military went on DEFCON 3. Note that different branches of the military can be issued different DEFCON levels.A DEFCON level of 5 corresponds to ordinary peacetime, while a DEFCON level of 1 (which has never been reached) corresponds to the most dangerous situations, like thermonuclear war. Higher DEFCON values are used for lower levels of readiness (during more peaceful situations), while lower DEFCON values are used for higher levels of readiness (during tenser situations where the possibility of military action is more likely). The DEFCON scale is a way of assigning a numerical value to the readiness of the American military. Maximum readiness all forces ready for combat nuclear war imminent or likely High readiness armed forces ready to deploy in six hours Post-9/11 Attacks (2001), Yom Kippur War (1973), Operation Paul Bunyan (1976), Post-Four Power Talks (1960) Sporadically throughout Cold War, War on TerrorĪrmed forces readiness increased above normal levels Air Force ready to mobilize in 15 minutes Increased intelligence-gathering and security measures General 'baseline' level during times of peace Steps DEFCON Reference Chart DEFCON Level Reference Guide DEFCON Level

Classified defcon 5