REDCON
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. There are five REDCON levels, as described below in this excerpt from Army Field Manual 71-1.
- REDCON-1: Full alert; unit ready to move and fight.
- WMD alarms and hot loop equipment stowed; OPs pulled in. (A hot loop is a field telephone circuit between the subunits of a company).
- All personnel alert and mounted on vehicles; weapons manned.
- Engines started.
- Company team is ready to move immediately.
- REDCON-1.5
- WMD alarms and hot loop equipment stowed; OPs pulled in.
- All personnel alert and mounted on vehicles; weapons manned.
- Company team is ready to move immediately.
- 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.
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