US military bumps up threat level at bases, posts in North America, including at Fort Bliss
The U.S. military has increased the threat level at bases across North America. Officials say the incremental boost will likely mean heightened vigilance and more random bag or vehicle checks.
The baseline level went from A to B, although most military installations – including the Pentagon – were already at a slightly higher level of protection than level A. There are four levels, A through D.
Army Col. Steve Warren says the increase was not triggered by a specific event. He says it was due to a generally heightened threat environment, which would include the recent terror threat and attempted attack surrounding a provocative cartoon contest in Texas.
The alert level was approved by Adm. Bill Gortney, head of U.S. Northern Command.
Fort Bliss spoksman Lt. Col. Peters said they have zero credible threats of any activity against Fort Bliss or the greater El Paso community.
“You still have to come to Fort Bliss’ gates, you still have to provide identification card, proof of insurance, vehicle registration. You’re subject to random inspections and that’s always been the case since last fall,” Peters told ABC-7.
“We still encourage the greater El Paso community to come to Fort Bliss and enjoy some of our great amenities,” Peters said. “Again, this is just a prudent measure to change up our frequency in how we do business. We’ve already implemented a lot of these changes and a lot of these measures to protect Fort Bliss and our visitors.”
The Department of Defense raised the level of security conditions at U.S. military bases Thursday night to “Bravo” because of the growing concern of a terrorist threats in the United States.
But what does the Bravo level specifically mean? Find out here.
“As far as what the American public can expect to see,” Warren said, “broadly speaking there won’t be a change, but in specific areas there could be longer lines as personnel enter posts, camps and stations around the nation, [and this] could have traffic implications.”
At Northcom in Colorado Springs, Colorado, spokesman Air Force Master Sgt. Chuck Marsh said that raising the baseline force protection condition “was a prudent measure to remind installation commanders at all levels within our area of responsibility to ensure increased vigilance in safeguarding our DoD personnel, installations and facilities.”
The raised FPCON level is in addition to random drills or exercises performed at all DoD facilities, Marsh added, “and they’re all a means to insure that we effectively execute our force protection mission.”
According to Northcom, the commander last raised the FPCON level from Alpha to Bravo in 2011 in preparation for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
At the Pentagon, Warren said, the FPCON level has been at Alpha but “with selected measures from Bravo in effect. Now it’s Bravo.”
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