Posted: 1/22/2005 8:32:43 AM EDT
| I just found out that one of the other grad students I'm working in close proximity with is a Communist Chinese national. Is this reportable, or important, next time I have to fill out an SF86? I do not have a current clearance, but it is very possible I will need it reactivated in the future. |
A big +1 on this. I've seen guys lose there clearance and get kicked out of the mil for not being honest and upfront. So far outstanding debt has been the biggest issue I've seen. On active duty, in my rating we all have a secret clearance minimum, in my reserves unit we all have secret or above. I've never seen someone lose their clearance other than over stupid crap like not reporting debt, DUI's and NJP's. |
You are absolutely correct. However, if this is just a co-worker, it merits no declaration. |
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I am a current holder of an SSBI. I recommend you note the name of the FN and the [approximate] period of contact for future reference. After grad school, should you decide to work on a project requiring a security clearance, you will have the information at hand to put on the form, which BTW is all electronic now. I might be wrong, but IIRC, but under certain circumstances, you must report all contacts with FNs. Should you get into a "code-word" or black project, the security periscope up your keester will be even more intense. If you do NOT report this contact now, it might come back to haunt you later. Holding something back on an SF 86 is the same as lying. Remember this: When the feds begin interviewing your references and contacting your former employers, college campi folks that knew you when, and your old neighbors, these people will provide further "contacts"...and so on. A relatively large personal database of contacts will be built. If ANYONE else where you currently are studying or working is queried by the feds, and they provide the investigators with the contact info that you ought to have provided them, questions are going to come up. FWIW, whenever an FN is going to be on campus in our labs for any reason, our admin/security folks send email warnings to everybody. If we travel, we are required to report any contacts with FNs under certain circumstances. Some of those situations are very specific...like with Communist China. Report the contact. |
Yes, that's what I figured. My clearance was administratively terminated when I ETSd, but it was SSBI-level. OK...note the name and other pertinent info and file it. Cool. |
Not strictly true. When you reapply they will investigate back to the termination point of your last clearance held, so it saves them a little work, if it was less than 5 years. |
It is ALWAYS best to be completely upfront and open in things such as this - especially if part of your clearance renewal process involves a polygraph. |
I am gonna have to call  on this one; because, what determines if this bites you later is your Security Manager--who may or may not be "turned on" by this contact. If I were you, I'd report it in writing--do an MFR. Its better to be safe than sorry . . . . This chinaman may be much more than a mere student--as far as you know.
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It's a non-problem. He has no clearance now, he isn't working on classified projects. If and when he ever gets briefed in again, then he can mention it. Then AT THAT TIME he and his briefer can figure out what to do. Now if that dirty rotten commie asks the wrong questions, maybe you can report it, but now? No need to. |
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I have a great story that is way too long to type, but it involves my uncle, who was an engineer for years at Hugues aerospace in LA -- yes, he worked on the stealth bomber -- anyway, 'round about the time he was courting my aunt, he had the weird feeling that people were watching him. He heard clicks on his phone lines, saw vehicles parked outside his place for long periods of time, etc. Several years later it turns out one of his co-workers was a spy for the Chinese  They knew one of the engineers was, but didn't know who it was, so they had them all under surveillance! I bet the investigators hated listening to all the courtship baby-romantic-talk that went on between my uncle and aunt at that time  |
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I have a good one about the last background investigation I had. I gave my list of friends/family to the investigator and then I called them up to let them know that I had given them as contacts. I was unable to contact an old highschool friend, I figured he would know what the deal was. When I went back for my final interview the investigator asked me if my friend XXX was really a friend. I was puzzled, I asked why. He gave me a copy of the phone interview transcript to read. Holy Shit!This is Mr. Spook, I am doing a background investigation on KA3B and he listed you as a reference. Your're shitting me, right? Is this a joke that KA3B put you up to? No sir, this is an official DOD background investigation. Do you know KA3B? Yes. How long? Since the junior year in high school, about 22 years. What was he like in high school? What is this about again? A background investigation for a military security clearance. Well, KA3B was a party animal in high school. Yes, go on. He always had the invitation to the best parties and had the best dope to smoke. Errr, excuse me? He always had the best pot. Man, that guy could smoke an ounce of the best weed and not get high. Are you being seroius? Hell yea, in fact if I want to get the best dope I'll give him a call even today. So you are saying that KA3B sells dope? Hell yea! Hey, I gotts to go, the dog just puked on the rug. I sat there and thought that my clearance was gone. I put the transcript down and then saw the investigator with a shit-eating grin on his face. So, is XXX a good friend of yours? Yea. That was one of the best phone interviews I have had in a long time. So....is there going to be a problem with my clearance? LOL, no, don't worry, you are going to get your interim clearance and you will have no problems getting your TS once the paperwork is sent off. I am going to keep this for my personal files if you don't mind. Nope, go right ahead.  Man, I was shitting bricks in the office before he said that. I called my friend up and we had a good laugh. |
Yes, reportable, but not important. As in, if you mention it, they won't care. If you don't, they might. |
+1. It could not hurt to put it out there. On the other hand, if some over-zelous adjudicator thinks you are trying to keep it from them you could have a fight on your hands. |
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Hell, want to know how many of my refrences they contacted for my secret? NONE! I kept asking them all so I could get some idea of how it was coming along, as I needed it within a specific time period in order to attend school. It came back without them talking to anyone. |
No one gives a rats ass about Secret. For my SCI, however, they did look things (and people) up. |
I guess it depends on your investigator and their requirements. They talked to almost all of my references and a bunch of people I did not list. It was funny getting phone calls from people I haven't spoken too in years to tell me they had a visitor. |