Security levels boosted at DOD facilities nationwide Published May 12, 2015 By Cheryl Pellerin Defense Department News WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The commander of the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs raised the force protection level for all Defense Department facilities in the U.S. May 8. Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said the changes were not made due to a specific threat but rather a general environment of heightened threats, he said. "You can look at Twitter or at other social media sites and see threats," Warren said. "We have a little bit more capability than you do so we see a little bit more. Some of [the threats] are international, some are domestic ... but it's an overall increase in the environment." The potential for another attack is always possible, and implementing random force protection measures minimizes the likelihood of an attack on an installation or service members, Warren said. Force protection condition levels range from Alpha, which applies when an increased general and unpredictable terrorist threat exists against personnel or facilities, to Delta, which applies in an immediate area where a terrorist attack has occurred or is imminent. Northcom raised the force protection level at all DOD facilities nationwide from Alpha to Bravo. Bravo applies when an increased or more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists. Raising the FPCON level is an acknowledgement that right now DOD officials believe the threat level nationwide has increased, Warren said. At the Pentagon, the FPCON level has been at Alpha but "with selected measures from Bravo in effect. Now it's Bravo," he said. "I won't go into the specifics of what that means because it is information a potential adversary could use against us," Warren said. In general, at DOD installations, the elevated FPCON level means more comprehensive checking of those entering the facilities, heightened awareness of personnel at the facilities, and in some circumstances, more security personnel on duty at the facilities, he 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," Warren said. Northcom spokesman Master Sgt. Chuck Marsh said raising the 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, he said 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 Air Force Academy The Academy is closed to visitors unless they are escorted by a DOD ID- cardholder. Visitor access for official events is permitted on a case-by-case basis. The section of the Santa Fe Trail on the installation is closed to non-DOD ID card-holders. Visitors may be escorted on the trail by DOD ID cardholders. These security measures will be in place until further notice. As a matter of DOD policy, Academy officials will not discuss specific security measures. Suspicious activity can be reported to the 10th Security Forces Squadron at 333-2000.