Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

LERTCON

In United States military doctrine, LERTCON is an abbreviation of alert condition, and is a measure of the level of action and readiness to be taken in a given situation. LERTCON is used by US and Allied forces who are assigned to NATO. There are specific procedures laid out for responses to changes in LERTCON. LERTCON levels can be broken down into high-alert emergency condition levels (EMERGCONs) and the more common Defense Condition levels (DEFCONs).

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Jun 12, 2026
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In United States military doctrine, LERTCON is an abbreviation of alert condition, and is a measure of the level of action and readiness to be taken in a given situation. LERTCON is used by US and Allied forces who are assigned to NATO.1 There are specific procedures laid out for responses to changes in LERTCON. LERTCON levels can be broken down into high-alert emergency condition levels (EMERGCONs) and the more common Defense Condition levels (DEFCONs).

Levels

  • LERTCON 5/4: Peacetime conditions1
  • LERTCON 3.5: Military vigilance1
  • LERTCON 3: Simple alert1
  • LERTCON 2: Reinforced alert1
  • LERTCON 1: General alert1
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Duke, Simon (1989). United States Military Forces and Installations in Europe. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 287. ISBN 0-19-829132-9.