The Pentagon said Friday that the force protection condition at military bases around the country has been raised “in reaction to perceived enemy threats.”
Col. Steve Warren, Pentagon spokesman, said the baseline force protection level for all bases in the continental U.S. was elevated from Alpha to Bravo.
“Right now, we believe the threat level nationwide has increased,” he said. “It’s as if the temperature of the water has gone up a degree or two.”
Col. Warren emphasized that the change is not in response to any specific threat, but rather a “generally heightened threat level.” He also said the military regularly does drills or practices to ensure troops do not get complacent about security.
At the Bravo threat level, Col. Warren said bases will implement additional checking, heightened awareness and additional security personnel in some cases. As a result there may be longer lines at base entry points, and the general public may see increased traffic, he said.
The last time the Pentagon raised the threat level across the country to Bravo was in 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Threat levels range from Alpha, the least severe, to Delta, the highest threat. At the Charlie level, there is a verifiable, specific threat. At the Delta level, an attack is imminent.
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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