Posted: 7/16/2009 11:07:03 AM EDT
|
Some members have posted threads in the recent past looking for guidance regarding the timeframe for attaining a security clearance. Well, I just finished the process for attaining a mid-level clearance within 90 days, start to finish. This includes the time I spent inputting information into e-QIP. FWIW, I am a DOD civilian in Germany and began the process after arriving at my command. I was not in the employ of the government nor, did I have any type of clearance (including interim) prior to taking my current position.
I had previously heard that the process may take from months to years, this no longer appears to be the case. Enjoy |
|
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me.
edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. |
|
Quoted:
Some members have posted threads in the recent past looking for guidance regarding the timeframe for attaining a security clearance. Well, I just finished the process for attaining a mid-level clearance within 90 days, start to finish. This includes the time I spent inputting information into e-QIP. FWIW, I am a DOD civilian in Germany and began the process after arriving at my command. I was not in the employ of the government nor, did I have any type of clearance (including interim) prior to taking my current position. I had previously heard that the process may take from months to years, this no longer appears to be the case. Enjoy There is no such thing as a "mid-level" clearance. And it can talk a few months to years, i know someone that it took them 6 years to get their full ts/sci. It all depends on your background and all that good shit. |
| Took 11 months for the U.S. OPM to start my background investigation (they began last Friday in my hometown in NY). My investigator called me yesterday to tell me he was starting here in Tampa tomorrow and I meet with him on Tuesday. Hopefully it will be adjudicated in a month or so. |
|
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. |
|
Quoted:
Supposedly being Mormon (with the requisite clean living) helps out a bunch which makes them proportionally over represented in secret squirrel kinds of jobs with Uncle. You're correct, Mormons make up a disproportionate percentage of staff in certain government agencies. Some of this is due to the fact that certain agencies have historically had a preference for hiring Mormons becuase of their cultural values and perceived loyalty and dedication. Another part of it is that Mormons travel on missions so that gives them a familiarity with foreign countries/cultures which could be helpful in certain government jobs. Lastly, Mormons probably have a greater than average desire to serve the country, so they self select themselves into those sort of positions. ETA: Regardless, being a Mormon wont make your investigation go any 'faster'. In fact, it might actually dealy it somehat because of foreign travel involved in going on Mormon missions. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. |
|
Fair enough, Secret clearance is "entry level" but a fella has to start somewhere, right? Bear in mind that aside from serving in the military a while back, I was a civilian for the entire period in which my background investigation took place.
It just so happens that the job I was hired into required a Secret clearance, my interpretation of a "mid-level" clearance based the various levels. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. Mine requires both. 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. A Secret does not require an SSBI. Nor, does it require a CI-scope or Full-scope poly. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. A Secret does not require an SSBI. Nor, does it require a CI-scope or Full-scope poly. Tell that to DHS. 
I was polygraphed, and my understanding is that my BI is an SSBI. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. A Secret does not require an SSBI. Nor, does it require a CI-scope or Full-scope poly. My TS did not require a poly. When did that start? I did crypto, had code keys, and worked with the data. I am fairly sure I had SCi too. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. Yeah, but a Secret doesnt require a background investigation or a poly. TS/SCi takes a lot longer because of the BI and the adjudication. A Secret does not require an SSBI. Nor, does it require a CI-scope or Full-scope poly. Tell that to DHS.
I was polygraphed, and my understanding is that my BI is an SSBI. All I know is that mine did not require a poly. |
|
Quoted:
I did one about three months ago. Haven't heard anything and none of my references have been called. They didn't call any of my references either. They went to my home town and started chasing around school mates, teachers, etc. The names on the report are people who wouldn't have known any direct information about me. Maybe they were just digging for rumors to see if they could find something to chase......... |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I did one about three months ago. Haven't heard anything and none of my references have been called. They didn't call any of my references either. They went to my home town and started chasing around school mates, teachers, etc. The names on the report are people who wouldn't have known any direct information about me. Maybe they were just digging for rumors to see if they could find something to chase......... They did that on my case too. They talked to anybody that wasn't on my list of contacts. |
|
Quoted:
Question then. How do I go about reactivating my clearance? I recently applied for a job and they called me saying I was qualified but my clearance needed to be active and since it has been 4 years or so that it is probably inactive. That was my question too, but mine has been inactive for longer than your's. |
|
Quoted:
Question then. How do I go about reactivating my clearance? I recently applied for a job and they called me saying I was qualified but my clearance needed to be active and since it has been 4 years or so that it is probably inactive. You can't. All clearances are dependent upon being in a job that requires a clearance. Job changes so a clearance is no longer necessary, clearance gets revoked. One of the wonderful catch-22's of government work - you can't get the job without a clearance, but getting a clearance requires having a job to sponsor the clearance. If a clearance has been inactive for less than two years, it's supposedly easier to get it reactivated. |
|
Quoted:
My TS did not require a poly. When did that start? I did crypto, had code keys, and worked with the data. It all depends on who is holding your tickets. In my last agency, they didn't require a poly, and I worked w/ SCI of all sorts. Then when were were assimilated (kinda like the Borg  ), the new agency did require it. Each is different.
I am fairly sure I had SCi too.
Fairly sure?! The funny acronyms and caveats after the TS wasn't a giveaway?  
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Some members have posted threads in the recent past looking for guidance regarding the timeframe for attaining a security clearance. Well, I just finished the process for attaining a mid-level clearance within 90 days, start to finish. This includes the time I spent inputting information into e-QIP. FWIW, I am a DOD civilian in Germany and began the process after arriving at my command. I was not in the employ of the government nor, did I have any type of clearance (including interim) prior to taking my current position. I had previously heard that the process may take from months to years, this no longer appears to be the case. Enjoy There is no such thing as a "mid-level" clearance. And it can talk a few months to years, i know someone that it took them 6 years to get their full ts/sci. It all depends on your background and all that good shit. 6 years for a TS/SCI?? Wow, what the hell did that guy do? I had a troop last year who had traveled, when young, to Indonesia, Venezuela, and a few other garden spots. His managed to get fully adjudicated in about 6 months. FWIW, within the last year, they have cleared much of the back log, and it is going faster, depending of course on what your clearance is. |
|
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. lotta truth |
|
Quoted:
any of y'all ever do a CI poly? I have one in a few days  Just had mine redone about a month or so ago. No biggie. As others will tell you, it's such a mind-f**k thing. They'll ask you questions relating to past security dealings, nothing personal. "Did you talk about classified to an uncleared person?" "Did you divulge any classified information to a foreign government agent?" etc..... They'll go over the questions beforehand, so it's not an out-of-the-blue thing, and will ask them in series, so that the same question will be asked a few different ways to match responses. Be honest, don't sweat it, and you'll be fine. I personally hate the things with a passion. They're a great psychological tool for those who have a guilty conscience, but on the flip side, Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames passed theirs for years before something else tripped them up.
|
|
Quoted:
6 years for a TS/SCI?? Wow, what the hell did that guy do? Probably a combo of things involved - close foreign family members, lots of travel/job hopping before current employment that took time to track down, financial issues, etc. It's hard to tell. Having dealt w/ this for a while, I'd say that the guy should count his blessings that they cleared him. Most places would have cut him loose a lot sooner, figuring that it'd be easier to find another body and clear them, than keep plugging away on this one guy. I'm guessing that he had some unique/hard to find skills that made them want to keep hold of him. |
|
There are a lot of levels of clearances. Just because you have a TS doesn't mean you get a poly. And just because you get a poly doesn't mean you have a particular clearance
Secret Top Secret DOD Q Top Secret SCI Top Secret w/ lifestyle poly Top Secret f/ full scope poly Lots of others... The TS will full scope is proabably the most marketable and with one, especially in the DC area you are pretty much recession proof. If you don't have anything particularly interesting, they will run even the top secrets with just phonecalls to your references. I've even been called on a Secret Service clearance. For Secret clearances I've been sent scantron forms to fill out for people who list me as a boss or co-worker or whatever. They will do the housecalls and interview your schoolteachers much less often, probably more likely if they turn up something weird in their background investigation or whatever. It's a good thing to have and is definitely worth a bit more depending on what work you do. There was a website where they listed all the cases where people appealed decisions and it's definitely not out of the realm of possiblity for people with severe felonies to get a TS but I"ve seen people with 10k in bills get denied a Secret. They go by that "Whole Person" thing... crazy. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
There is a difference between being granted an "interim" and being allowed to start your job, and having your clearance be "fully adjudicated" and transferable from job to job. Your clearance is not fully adjudicated in 90 days. Go ask your security officer and get a JPASS printout if you dont believe me. edited to add: If you are prior military as your nickname suggests then you were investigated and determined to have been eligible even if your job did not require a clearance. That will speed things up but it still wont go FA in 90 days. Yep, I'm prior military and my final DOD Secret clearance was successfully adjudicated within the timeline I alluded to in my original post. I didn't post to brag, just saying that the process doesn't take as long as it used to, in some cases, I guess. I don't claim to be an expert or to otherwise have any kind of special insight into the process. All I know is, my FSO told me that my final clearance has been adjudicated. This is because you are prior .mil and your clearance was ALREADY adjudicated. It is good for 10yrs after you get out. A person without a clearance cannot go from E-qip, to investigation, to adjudication in 90 days. its unpossible. They simply renewed your clearance and transferred custodianship of it to your current FSO. |
|
Quoted:
Out of curiosity, would having a previous TS clearance make it any easier to obtain another clearance? I had a TS while on Embassy Duty...now toying with checking out governemnt jobs again. generally they would go from the time you did'nt have one to current and check on that time frame. |
|
So... How is an investigation conducted? What are they looking for, besides the obvious ties to terrorist organizations, foreign governments, a penchant for get rich quick schemes (ie. selling secret)? How do investigators go about scrutinizing one's life? Interviews with associates and family members? Background checks? Surveillance? Credit history? |
|
Quoted:
So... How is an investigation conducted? What are they looking for, besides the obvious ties to terrorist organizations, foreign governments, a penchant for get rich quick schemes (ie. selling secret)? How do investigators go about scrutinizing one's life? Interviews with associates and family members? Background checks? Surveillance? Credit history? If they're doing a full investigation, they're going to look for inconsistencies in your answers, things you haven't told them or haven't been completely honest about, financial instability, etc.... A common tactic is to try to find the people you DON'T list as references, either by asking your references for who you associated with, looking at clubs you were in and trying to find other members, etc, since they assume you won't list anybody as a reference who will intentionally give you a negative referral. You're generally better off being completely upfront and honest about something that reflects poorly on you, even if you don't think they would discover it, than letting them find it themselves. |