REDCON
Appearance
In the U.S. military, the term REDCON is short for Readiness Condition and is used to refer to a unit's readiness to respond to and engage in combat operations.[1] There are five REDCON levels, as described below in this excerpt from Army Field Manual 71-1.
Overview
- REDCON-1: Full alert; unit ready to move and fight.
- REDCON-1.5
- REDCON-2: Full alert; unit ready to fight.
- Equipment stowed (except hot loop and WMD alarms).
- Precombat checks complete.
- All personnel alert and mounted in vehicles; weapons manned.
- (NOTE: Depending on the tactical situation and orders from the commander, dismounted OPs may remain in place.)
- All (100 percent) digital and FM communications links operational.
- Status reports submitted in accordance with task force SOP.
- Company team is ready to move within 15 minutes of notification.
- REDCON-3: Reduced alert.
- Fifty percent of the unit executes work and rest plans.
- Remainder of the unit executes security plan. Based on the commander’s guidance and the enemy situation, some personnel executing the security plan may execute portions of the work plan.
- Company team is ready to move within 30 minutes of notification.
- REDCON-4: Minimum alert.
- OPs manned; one soldier per platoon designated to monitor radio and man turret weapons.
- Digital and FM links with task force and other company teams maintained.
- Company team is ready to move within one hour of notification.
See also
References
- ^ Stoneberger, Brett A. (2005). Combat Leader's Field Guide, 13th Ed. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stockpole Books. p. 23. ISBN 0-8117-3195-2.
- ^ hot loop equipment
- REDCON levels from Army Field Manual 71-1 on GlobalSecurity.org