terrorist threat level

An intelligence threat assessment of the level of terrorist threat faced by US personnel and interests in a foreign country. The assessment is based on a continuous intelligence analysis of a minimum of five elements: terrorist group existence, capability, history, trends, and targeting. There are five threat levels: NEGLIGIBLE, LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, and CRITICAL. Threat levels should not be confused with force protection conditions (FPCONs). Threat level assessments are provided to senior leaders to assist them in determining the appropriate local FPCON. (Department of State also makes threat assessments, which may differ from those determined by Department of Defense.)