by Jason Ditz, May 08, 2015

Citing the “environment” of threat created by ISIS, the Pentagon has announced an increase in its FPCON security level from Alpha to Bravo. Spokesmen confirmed there is no specific threat.

The Pentagon had previously done this in September 2011, in the lead-up to the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, on the theory that al-Qaeda would probably like to do something then.

The FPCON levels dictate the level of security at military bases in different theaters of operation. The move from Alpha to Bravo means that two military base IDs must be shown to enter, and that there will be more intense inspections of vehicles entering the base.

The next step up, Charlie, only happens if an attack is imminent, and dramatically restricts traffic to bases. There is a further level, Delta, which is in place only during an actual attack.

The theoretical FPCON Normal level is below Alpha, and puts the base on a security level similar to an ordinary US city, with security only of the level meant to stop the average criminal. With the Pentagon pretty much always talking up some threat or other, Normal is not likely to be declared.