Posted: 11/21/2005 4:29:22 PM EDT
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Okay, so once upon a time I had a Top Secret/PRP clearance. Now, after 10 years as a civilian, I have zip. I'd like to be able to get into the defense industries (for reasons I won't bore you with), and obviously a clearance is essential for anything even remotely resembling "cool". So how the heck can I get one of these again? 
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I believe the cost of the new background check/investigation would have to be paid for by your new employer and they are far from cheap once they expire. If you are looking for a job that requires one, you may have a hard time as the employer would much rather hire someone whose clearance is up to date. |
I understand that. Fortunately, I bring ten years of industry experience which lots of folks with clearances don't have. Not saying it may not be an uphill battle, though...
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Who holds your last clearance? DOD? Private contractor? 10 years means it's past it eat before date, however, it will help to get you a "temp" clearance. As was stated ask your prospective employer to look up your clearance and see what its status is. www.dss.mil/index.htm |
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Submitting For or Updating your Security Clearance You require a security clearance if: You are an officer in any status. Your MOS requires it. Your position requires it. Your clearance requires updating if the date of the investigation (not the clearance grant date) is older than: Ten years for a Secret Five years for a Top Secret Updating Clearance/Submitting Initial ClearanceIf you need to update your clearance or submit for an initial clearance, Download and install the Subject Edition V 2.2 EPSQ (Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire) from the Defense Security Service Web page located at URL: http://www.dss.mil/epsq/patch.htm. After installing the program on the computer, open the EPSQ program. Start your questionnaire by selecting the “Create” menu on the EPSQ toolbar. Then select “User Form” from the drop-down menu. Select "Request for security clearance (SF86)" and click OK. Select investigation required. Press "enter" to accept the Privacy Act Statement. Type your SSN and click OK. DO NOT ENTER ANY PASSWORDS -- LEAVE THEM BLANK. Press the “OK” button. Complete the rest of the EPSQ per the directions provided with the software. Remember the following while you are filling out the EPSQ: Date format is YYYY/MM/DD. List all residences for the preceding 7 years. List all employment for the preceding 7 years. List all education for the preceding 7 years. If you have not attended school during the last 7 years, then list the last school attended. After completion of the EPSQ user form, validate the user form in the EPSQ program. This is done from the "Validation" menu on the EPSQ toolbar. Select "User Form" from the drop-down menu. Complete any corrections required by the validation and revalidate the report. Select "User Form" under the "Modify" menu to make any corrections. Upon receiving a validation report with zero errors, print the validation report. Print the EPSQ user form. Go to the "Print" menu on the EPSQ tool bar. Select "User Form" and "Send report to Printer." You must sign, date and return the following forms from the printed EPSQ: "Certification by Person Completing Form" "Authorization for Release of Information" "Authorization for Release of Medical Information" Use the "Communications" menu toolbar and "Prepare File to Give to Security Officer" command to save your EPSQ file to a floppy disk or hard drive. This will create a file with a ".ZBD" extension. Name the file with your last name and the “.ZBD file extension (i.e., YourName.ZDB). Two fingerprint cards (FD 258) must be submitted with your packet. Helpful Hints Read all the instructions on the form. Fill in your full name, including middle name. When an address is asked, you must give a complete street address, including zip code. Question 16. In the first row, the entry in the "to" date should be "to present." Example: 02/98 To Present. Question 20. To obtain your selective service number, call (847) 688-6888. Part 2, questions 19 through 30. If you answer 'yes' to any part of the question, the information asked for at the bottom of the question must be fully completed. If your answer will not fit, use the continuation space or a separate piece of paper. All the information asked for must be filled in. If you must make corrections on the form, draw a single line through the error and initial each error. Your signature is required in three places. Your packet will be returned if a signature is missing. Two fingerprint cards (FD 258) must be submitted with your packet. Note: Law enforcement, recruiters or other agencies capable of taking fingerprints can complete the fingerprint cards. Many law enforcement offices charge for the service of fingerprinting, |
An expired investigation is not good for anything. When the investigation goes "Out of Scope" (generally 5 years for a BI after last completed) it isn't good for anything unless you are in a cleared position and do not try to change positions until the new investigation is completed. A past clearance is just that - past. Suggest you focus your questions on the investigation (NAC, BI etc), not access levels. Look for a job that requires one AND the employer is willing to wait for you to get an investigation completed. One way is to apply for a position that requires a NAC-based clearance. An Interim NAC **MAY** be granted in as little as two weeks - but not always. That would allow you to work your way up the ladder over time. |
Been there done that, about 3 years ago. You will first have to get a job that requires a clearance, and the process is not cheap so it's a good thing it's paid for by the government (indirectly thru your employer). My clearance had expired about 3-4 years before that. Regardless of whats been said here, you will be starting over from scratch. The application is electronic now. If you are squeaky clean and haven't had any fanancial problems, traveled overseas, etc. you should be able to get an interim clearance. This will allow you to work on classified programs to some degree, but it will take a while to get your final clearance. Mine took 18 months. Good Luck |
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My SO said that a prior clearence makes it a wee big shorter if it's not too old, since they only have to cover the time between. It's still long. My TS I was told would take a year, couple weeks for the interim secret. I think it might be shorter since if they go back 10 years, I was 13. |
Not even close. Zaphod, how are you planning on heading back - GS or contractor? As a non-GS, your company has to foot the bill for your background investigation and they are not cheap. We hired some GS 7s a while back and it took a month or more just to get them a final Secret which is required for a NATO secret - the minimum to be on our network. I work with our SSO fairly regularly. If you want to PM me what you are trying to do, I can at least get you some info on backlogs etc. |
You don't, unless you NEED one and get sponsored |
Ideally, I'd like to be able to land a job at a place like Lockheed Martin or at one of the Beltway Bandits. Thing is, I can't be more specific because I'm not sure what's out there or how my skillset can fit in. This all may be a waste of time for me, but I'm looking to ensure I cover the bases. |