It increases in severity from DEFCON 5 (least severe) to DEFCON 1 (most severe) to match varying military situations, with DEFCON 1 signaling the impending outbreak of nuclear …

Jan 15, 2024 · Complete guide to all 5 DEFCON levels. Learn what DEFCON 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mean, when each has been used, and how the U.S. military alert system works.

Jan 23, 2023 · DEFCON, short for Defense Readiness Condition or simply Defense Condition, is the U.S. military’s ranking system for defense readiness for a potential nuclear attack.

Feb 6, 2025 · The code name for DEFCON 1 is "Cocked Pistol," the reason for which should be obvious: the United States has entered into full-scale armed conflict with a hostile foreign entity.

Sep 19, 2025 · There’s a lot of noise online about “going to DEFCON 1.” Here’s a clear, sourced explainer—what each level is, who sets it, how it’s used across the force, real historical …

Feb 5, 2025 · The DEFCON system consists of five escalating levels of military readiness, with each level denoting a higher degree of preparedness. The DEFCON system’s lowest threat …

Oct 13, 2025 · The levels progress from DEFCON 5 (least severe, normal peacetime conditions) to DEFCON 1 (most severe, nuclear war imminent or ongoing). The system was developed …

Aug 23, 2025 · The highest alert, DEFCON 1, or “Cocked Pistol,” represents maximum readiness for nuclear war, reserved for when an attack is perceived as imminent or already underway.

Official Defcon levels range from a scale of alert level 1 (color white) to 5 (color blue). Defcon levels 1 through 4 mean an elevated condition status, and alert level 5 means a current state …

Oct 8, 2025 · Meaning: Nuclear war is imminent or has already started. DEFCON 1 is the highest and most severe alert level. It signifies that an immediate or ongoing attack on the United …