AEDC at Force Protection Condition Bravo Published May 3, 2011 By Patrick Ary AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- U.S. Northern Command has set the FPCON level to Bravo for all Department of Defense (DOD) installations in its area of responsibility, which primarily consists of the lower 48 states, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and Alaska. FPCON levels are Normal, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta, with Delta being the most serious. The change to Bravo indicates an increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists. Before the change, AEDC was at FPCON Alpha. AEDC police say the change is a precaution. "The Bravo condition applies when you have a more predictable threat of terrorist activity," said AEDC antiterrorism specialist Michael Mann. "You don't actually have a specific target in the information. And it's not just us; everyone DOD-wide is under Bravo. It's just general awareness for everyone DOD-wide." The change in FPCON level means some people entering AEDC will be subject to additional screening, including searches. "Probably the biggest thing is we've increased our random antiterrorism measures, so we will be conducting more searches than normal of vehicles entering all of the gates," Mann said. Retirees will still be allowed on base for access to the Commissary. Scheduled tours are also expected to continue, and contractor and subcontractor work also should continue as normal, Mann said. Currently, there is no timetable for lowering the FPCON level and it can only be lowered from its current level by U.S. Northern Command.