Condition Zebra: The Next War - 2025

CONDITION ZEBRA:

All US Navy ships will be at one of three states of readiness, designated condition X-Ray, Condition Yoke, or Condition Zebra.

Condition X-Ray leaves most watertight doors and compartments open, providing the greatest ease of access throughout the ship. It is used only when the ship is exposed to minimal threat, or when docked in port where there is no threat of attack. The only doors closed and secured under this condition are those marked with a black letter X.

Condition Yoke is an intermediate state of readiness and watertight integrity, most often set when the ship is underway at sea or docked in port during wartime. Under this condition, all doors, hatches, and fittings marked X or Y will be closed and secured.

Condition Zebra is the highest state of readiness, providing the maximum watertight integrity and survivability. Under this condition, all doors, hatches, and fittings marked X, Y or Z will be closed and secured. It is set anytime the General Quarters alarm is sounded, whenever a ship leaves a port during wartime, to seal off and localize fire or flooding on the ship when the crew is not at General Quarters, or anytime the Commanding Officer determines this maximum condition of survivability should be set.

On the 10th of November 2025, the USS Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group departed Darwin Harbor, heading west towards the Indian ocean outpost of Diego Garcia. It was Condition Zebra…