Security Clearance Question

[Yusuf06]

Once again, I'm going to throw a question out to ES membership to see if I can get some quality feedback. Hey, it usually works so why not?

In this case, I need to know something about Govt. security clearances, but that's all I'd prefer to say publicly. What I will say is that if any of you respond, I'm not going to waste your time asking dumb stuff like "How can I cover up my past criminal activities?", "How can I beat the system?" or anything that might compromise your professional integrity.

I understand the mechanics of the process fairly well. I'm just looking to get some feeback on how certain things are perceived.

Please PM me if you think you can offer advice.

Many thanks!

[Winslowalrob]

Don't be black, don't be gay, and don't be a Jew. I think those are like article 6 violations...


Just kidding, it can take an agonizingly long time. If they have any doubts, then it is more months of work. If you have a spouse from a country with hardcore spying, such as China or Cuba, that can tack on an extra year.

[Skinsfan1311]

Don't lie, ever, during the process.

[twa]

Forms, if that helps.

Normal
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/for...y%3DSORTNUMBER

secret and above
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/for...y%3DSORTNUMBER

[Larry]

Background: I've never had anything beyond Confidential, and the closest I've ever been to any classified material of any kind was that I was once in the same room as somebody who had a Top Secret folder on his desk.

Had a co-worker, a long time ago, who'd been a crypto officer for the State Department for decades, got tired of it, quit, (was working as an assistant manager of a Pizza Hut when I met him), and decided that his old job wasn't that bad, and wanted to go back.

(He was Hispanic, so he was mostly assigned to Hispanic countries. Mentioned, for example, that on more than one occasion, he'd joined with angry mods who were marching on the US Embassy, had shouted, and had thrown rocks at the Embassy, until he got close enough to duck through the gate and get inside.)

Said that he gave up his idea of going back to the State Department, because he had to re-apply for his clearance (he'd been out over a year, so his had lapsed), and the application form requires the applicant to "list all travel outside the US".

He used to travel for the government. He's gone through three passports because they ran out of pages to stamp in them.

All of his travel had been on government orders, and all of it had been done while he had a crypto clearance.

But this is the government. He had to list all of them. Which he was willing to do, until they explained that the rules also said that, for every travel he lists, they actually have to send people to the country he visited to get references. At that point, he was smart enough to figure out that there was no way he was going to get his clearance back in less than a decade, just because of the bureaucracy. So he quit.

I understand that, depending on how high a clearance you need, they will actually send people to visit your High School (and sometimes your elementary school). They'll look up your yearbook pictures to verify that the guy in the yearbook is really the guy who's applying for the clearance (that you're not just trying to steal somebody's ID). They'll talk to your teachers (if they can find them) to find out if you did anything in school that might reflect badly on you.

That doesn't mean that they're going to deny you because you turned a frog loose in Science class in the 5th grade. But they will ask about it.

[herrmag]

Feel free to PM me any specific questions. I have a clearance (EDIT: changed my mind, don't want to give specifics on the type). Obviously I can't go into details of specific questions asked during a polygraph, but anything else you want to know, I'd be happy to shed some light on.

[Teller]

Mentioned, for example, that on more than one occasion, he'd joined with angry mods who were marching on the US Embassy, had shouted, and had thrown rocks at the Embassy, until he got close enough to duck through the gate and get inside.)

I knew that Jumbo was no ****ing good.

[twa]

Yeah, for the higher clearances there is a Single Scope Background Investigation which can get intensive,it is amazing the lengths they go to.

What was interesting to me was the investigator is required to posses a equivalent or higher clearance that you are applying for simply to check you out.

I guess it does make sense though time consuming.

[Larry]

What was interesting to me was the investigator is required to posses a equivalent or higher clearance that you are applying for simply to check you out.

Sounds to me like one of rules that sounds stupid until you think about it.

Can't have people who might be spies, checking up to see if somebody is a spy.

[Yusuf06]

That does make sense. However, there are some things about the process that just makes you scratch your head. For example, I once worked for a company that handled diplomatic mail for the State Dept. As a result, all of the emoplyees had to have clearances.

Those employees tasked with handling sensitive mailings had higher clearances. However, most of the rest of the staff were officially "in process" waiting for their clearances. Because they were targeting mostly lower income folks as employees, they tended to have poor credit, and a few odd scrapes with the law here and there. In the end, the company was just rotating un-cleared staff through until their clearance was denied or they quit/were fired on their own.

[Sarge]

PM me and I'll answer what I can

[Mark The Homer]

People who have a clearance aren't even allowed to say what level those clearances are. Unless, of course, they're out of it and the minimum ten years have passed.

[MontanaRed]

Don't lie, ever, during the process.

QFT. It probably depends what level/compartment you're being investigated for on how "deep" they go, but whatever you do, don't lie. Saying you tried pot (but didn't inhale ) in college is not going to automatically disqualify you. Neither does having an affair with your neighbor when you're married - if you're open about it. But if you can be blackmailed that's a different story. And it does take forever while they interview half the people you've ever met. Good luck though, if this is for a new job!

[GhostofAlvinWalton]

pm me when you get a chance. I've held several different kinds and currently hold one that required a little more nosiness by the G.

[isle-hawg]

In this case, I need to know something about Govt. security clearances, but that's all I'd prefer to say publicly. What I will say is that if any of you respond, I'm not going to waste your time asking dumb stuff like "How can I cover up my past criminal activities?", "How can I beat the system?" or anything that might compromise your professional integrity.

I understand the mechanics of the process fairly well. I'm just looking to get some feeback on how certain things are perceived.

Please PM me if you think you can offer advice.

Many thanks!

Please take no offense but how do any of us know you are not a spy trying to get a clearance? This is not something people should discuss for public safety reasons IMO.

Those employees tasked with handling sensitive mailings had higher clearances. However, most of the rest of the staff were officially "in process" waiting for their clearances. Because they were targeting mostly lower income folks as employees, they tended to have poor credit, and a few odd scrapes with the law here and there. In the end, the company was just rotating un-cleared staff through until their clearance was denied or they quit/were fired on their own.

Your company was just trying to make a fast buck, by using cheap labor who obviously will not qualify for a clearance. I don't understand (unfortunatley do understand just don't like it) how they were allowed to keep the contract with all the uncleared people. who obviously would not qualify for a clearance.