The term 'Military Alert Status' is often associated with the Defense Condition (DEFCON) system. DEFCON is a measure of the readiness level of the United States military, ranging from DEFCON 5 (the lowest state of readiness) to DEFCON 1 (the highest state of readiness). The DEFCON system is used to indicate the severity of a potential threat and the appropriate response by the military. In general, the higher the DEFCON level, the greater the risk of a military conflict.