In advance of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks the Pentagon is protectively raising the force protection levels at military installations in the  U.S.

Pentagon Press Secretary  George Little says that in recent days Defense Secretary Panetta approved a request by US Northern Commmand’s Gen. Charles Jacoby to raise the security level  at domestic military installations.  Little said the action was being done as a  “prudent and precautionary measure” and was not in response to a specific terror threat.  He noted al Qaeda’s past focus on holidays and milestones and that the 9/11 anniversary was specifically mentioned in documents recovered in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.

Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Capt. John Kirby said the increase was in keeping with D.H.S. Secretary Napolitano’s comments last week for increased vigilance by all Americans as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.    The force protection level was being raised today and will last through the 9/11 anniversary.

Little and Kirby said that as a matter of policy the Pentagon doesn’t discuss force protection levels leaving it up to local bases.   US military bases are typically at Force Protection Level Bravo, they’ll now be increased to Charlie.   Force protection levels aren’t really a secret as some bases  post their force protection levels on signs located at  base entrances.

Kirby said, “some of these measures will be visible to people that are on or near military installations…some of them put signs up and tell you exactly what level they’re at, some of the measures will be invisible as they should be. ”