I am actually searching for a new job. And I came across a couple of requirements that say they need candidates with security clearance!!! How am I supposed to get it?? Or what should I do or whom should I go and contact?? The Mayor, govt or the police??Where should I start it from?Please also give some links where I can find more info. I appreciate your time and get ready to get 10 more points. Confidential
The simplest security clearance to get. This level typically requires a few weeks to a few months of investigation. A Confidential clearance requires a NACLC investigation and must be renewed (with another investigation) every 10 years.
Secret
A Secret clearance, also known as Ordinary Secret, requires a few months to a year to fully investigate depending on the individual's activities. Some instances where individuals would take longer than normal to be investigated are many past residences, having residences in foreign countries, or have relatives outside the United States. Bankruptcy and unpaid bills as well as criminal charges will also increase the time of both the investigation and approval. A Secret clearance requires a NAC/LAC/Credit investigation and must be reinvestigated every 10 years.
Top Secret
Top Secret is a more stringent clearance. A Top Secret, or "TS", clearance, is often given as the result of a Single Scope Background Investigation, or SSBI. Top Secret clearances generally afford one access to data that affects national security, counterterrorism/counterintelligence, or other highly sensitive data. There are far fewer individuals with TS clearances than Secret clearances. A TS clearance can take as little as 3-6 months to obtain, but more often takes 6-18 months, while sometimes taking up to 3 years to obtain. The SSBI investigation must be reinvestigated every 5 years.
Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
As with TS clearances, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearances are assigned only after one has been through the rigors of a Single Scope Background Investigation. SCI access, however, is assigned only in "compartments." See Compartmentalization (intelligence). These compartments are necessarily separated from each other organizationally, so an individual with access to one compartment will not necessarily have access to another. Each compartment may include its own additional clearance process.
Compartments of SCI (incomplete list):
Crypto: cryptography
TK: Satellite intelligence
SI: Special intelligence (primarily intelligence organizations)
Q: Nuclear weapons
Such compartmentalized clearances may be expressed as "John has a TS/SCI TK/Q clearance", where all clearance descriptors are spelled out verbally. For example, The US National Security Agency appends Umbra to some top secret information. This classification is reported to be a compartment within the "Special Intelligence" compartment of SCI.
Certain government departments may also establish special access programs (SAP) when vulnerability of specific information is exceptional; and the normal criteria for determining eligibility for access applicable to information classified at the same level are not deemed sufficient to protect the information from unauthorized disclosure. The number of people cleared for access to such programs is typically kept low. Information about stealth technology, for example, often requires such access.
Requirements for a clearance:
The vetting process for a security clearance is usually undertaken only when someone is hired or transferred into a position that requires access to classified information. The employee is typically fingerprinted and asked to fill out a detailed life history form, including all foreign travel, which becomes a starting point for an investigation into the candidate's suitability. This process can include several types of investigations, depending on the level of clearance required:
National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). An NACLC is required for a Secret, L, and CONFIDENTIAL access. (See: Background check)
Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). An SSBI is required for Top Secret, Q, and SCI access, and involves agents contacting employers, coworkers and other individuals. Standard elements include checks of employment; education; organization affiliations; local agencies; where the subject has lived, worked, or gone to school; and interviews with persons who know the individual. The investigation may include an NACLC on the candidate鈥檚 spouse or cohabitant and any immediate family members who are U.S. citizens other than by birth or who are not U.S. citizens.
Polygraph. Some agencies may require polygraph examinations. The most common examinations are Counter Intelligence (CI) and Full Scope (Lifestyle) polygraphs. While a positive SSBI is sufficient for access to SCI-level information, polygraphs are routinely administered for "staff-like" access to particular agencies.
If issues of concern surface during any phase of security processing, coverage is expanded to resolve those issues. At lower levels, interim clearances may be issued to individuals who are presently under investigation, but whom have passed some preliminary, automatic process. Such automatic processes include things such as credit checks, felony checks, and so on. An interim clearance may be denied (although the final clearance may still be granted) for having a large amount of debt or having admitted to seeing a doctor for a mental health condition.
Investigations conducted by one federal agency are no longer supposed to be duplicated by another federal agency when those investigations are current within 5 years and meet the scope and standards for the level of clearance required. The high level clearance process can be lengthy, sometimes taking a year or more. The long time needed for new appointees to be cleared has been cited as hindering U.S. presidential transitions.
The security clearance forms are available at http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/formsli... Usually, a prospective employer will do a background check for you.
In general, you will have to submit your fingerprints to the FBI and/or a state department of motor vehicles. There are several private companies that will take and submit your fingerprints for you. The cost is about 50 dollars.
The type of security clearances are confidential, secret, and top secret. Usually, an employee needs to sponsor the clearance. Mainly because you need to have a NEED to apply. They don't hand out clearances because people just want them.
So, you have a catch-22. You need a job to get cleared. But you can't get the job without the clearance. The solution is to find a job at a company that will sponsor the clearance. Usually, these are bigger companies with both cleared and non-cleared work.
It can take months, if not longer, to get cleared. So, the employer needs to be able to put you on non-cleared work while they are waiting. This is why, of course, they want to HIRE cleared people. It's safer and easier. Not to mention cheaper, since there are costs involved.
The FBI and DoD are typically involved in granting clearances. The FBI, more for those doing work for civilian agencies. Security clearances are requirements usually of the DoD [Dept. of Defense] , CIA, and the like...and when private government contract firms enter contracts, the employees thereof who work on said contract must have a clearance.
MOST hiring agengies submit the propestive employee's name for security clearance....when ads say they want candidates with security clearance, that is usually because they don't want to wait for a new one to be done and want someone who previously had one.
Security Clearances
Who needs a security clearance?
Any person who has worked or will work for an organization that requires access to restricted information more than likely has or will need a security clearance.
The largest source of individuals with security clearances is the military population. Once this group finishes their military career, the majority pack up their uniform and security clearance to look for a civilian job. There are over 200,000 military personnel transitioning out of the service each year. These separating military members look for employment in fields such as the commercial defense-related fields where they can utilize their expert military training and technical skills. In addition, these jobs generally require background checks due to the sensitive nature of the materials the individual handles on a daily basis - this is where the former military member's clearance becomes a valuable commodity.
The importance of a security clearance does not stop with defense contractors. The medical, telecommunications, education and financial fields (to name a few) have an increasing number of jobs where company information needs to be guarded and HR managers seek out individuals with current security clearances.
Experts project that a security clearance can increase your salary anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000, and in some cases, even more. When employers do not have to invest time and money into a background check and the paperwork that goes with that, the saved money often goes back into the employee's salary. Former military personnel who have security clearances are very appealing to employers. In addition to the thorough background check that has already been completed, these employees are disciplined, dependable and have strong leadership skills - priceless attributes in today's market.
A security clearance is technically a license issued by the head of a department, division or agency of the federal government. The type of security clearance that one can be approved for also depends upon the department, division, or agency involved. For classification purposes, the types of security clearances are:
Confidential
Secret
Top Secret
Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI)
Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)
Any person who is employed by an organization that is sending, receiving, or developing information that the government has deemed as important to National security will need to obtain a security clearance.
Currently, there are more than 500,000 background investigations pending for security clearance approval. When an individual is going through the process for clearance, it may take up to a year before a determination is made. This makes a military candidate who already has clearance even more appealing to a hiring company. If the company hires a person who will need to gain a clearance, they may wait over a year before the person is eligible to work on the project for which they were hired. This is a lot of lost time and money to a company. If they can identify a person who has the necessary clearances, such as a candidate with a military background, that person immediately becomes more valuable.
How do you get a security clearance?
There are three main phases to receiving a security clearance:
The first phase is the application process. This involves verification of U.S. citizenship, fingerprinting and completion of the Personnel Security Questionnaire (SF-86). For detailed application procedures, see Security Clearance Requirements.
The second phase involves the actual investigation of your background. Most of the background check is conducted by the Defense Security Service (DSS).
The final phase is the adjudication phase. The results from the investigative phase are reviewed. The information that has been gathered is evaluated based on thirteen factors determined by the Department of Defense (DoD). Some examples of areas they consider are; allegiance to the United States, criminal and personal conduct, and substance abuse or mental disorders. Clearance is granted or denied following this evaluation process.
How long are Security Clearances valid?
A Periodic Reinvestigation (PR) is required every 5 years for a TOP SECRET Clearance, 10 years for a SECRET Clearance or 15 years for a CONFIDENTIAL Clearance. However, civilian and military personnel of DOD can be randomly reinvestigated before they are due for a PR.
A security clearance is a valuable commodity outside of the military. This is because civilian companies who do classified work for the Dept. of Defense (DoD), or a national security related contract, must bear the cost of security clearances for their employees and clearance investigations can cost several thousands of dollars. Because of this, many DoD contractors give hiring preference to ex-military personnel with current clearances. However, you want to do your job-hunting right away, after separation. Once your clearance expires, you cannot simply request that DoD issue a new one or conduct a Periodic Reinvestigation, simply to make your job-hunting prospects easier. To be issued a clearance, or to renew your clearance by DoD, your present duties/assignment, or pending duties/assignment must require such access.
Application Procedures
Once it is determined that a military member requires a Security Clearance because of assignment or job, the individual is instructed to complete a Security Clearance Background Investigation Questionnaire. DoD requires that this form be completed by use of a computer software program, known as ESPQ, instead of the old paper form, the SF-86. You can download the software to use on your home computer (if you reside in the United States).
However, it's not necessary to download and install the software in order to see what questions are asked in the questionnaire, see ESPQ SF-86 Questionnaire Worksheet (Word.doc file) and SF-86 (PDF File).
When completing the questionnaire, for CONFIDENTIAL and SECRET Clearances, it's necessary to provide information for the previous five years. For TOP SECRET Clearances, one must provide information for the previous ten years. It's important to note here that giving false information on a Security Document constitutes a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 101, and Article 107 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Under the United States Code, one may be fined as well as imprisoned for a period of five years. Under the UCMJ, the maximum punishment includes reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, confinement for a period of five years and a dishonorable discharge.
You may wish to note that page 10 of the SF-86 contains a statement which you sign authorizing release of ANY information about you to Security Clearance Investigators. This means that investigators can access any and all information about you, including sealed records, juvenile records, expunged records and medical records.
Once you complete the ESPQ, the document is sent to the Defense Security Service (DSS) (formerly the Defense Investigative Service (DIS)). DSS is responsible for verifying the information and performing the actual background investigation. The level of investigation depends upon the level of access to be granted.
For CONFIDENTIAL and SECRET clearances:
A National Agency Check (NAC)-A computerized search of investigative files and other records held by federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
A Local Agency Check (LAC)-A review of appropriate criminal history records held by local law enforcement agencies, such as police departments or sheriffs, with jurisdiction over the areas where you have resided, gone to school, or worked.
Financial checks - A review of your Credit Record.
For TOP SECRET clearances:
A Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) is performed which includes all of the above, plus:
Field interviews of references to include coworkers, employers, personal friends, educators, neighbors and other appropriate individuals.
Checks of records held by employers, courts and rental offices.
A subject interview - An interview with you by an investigator.
These inquiries are performed by one or more investigators who work in the geographic area where the information is to be obtained. NACs, however, may be performed electronically from a central location.
The DSS uses two types of investigators to conduct these investigations; DSS Agents and Contractors. DSS obtains investigative support through Contractors, such as MSM Security Services Corp, Omniplex World Services Inc., Management Technology Corp (ManTech), Dyncorp (Information & Enterprise Technology Division) and Government Business Services Group (GBSG).
When conducting field interviews, the investigators normally begin with individuals you list as references in the questionnaire. They then use those references to develop names of additional references, etc., ad infidium. These references will be asked questions about your honesty, reliability and trustworthiness and their opinion on whether you should be given access to classified information or assigned to a sensitive position or position of trust. Your references will also be asked questions about your past and present activities, employment history, education, family background, neighborhood activities and finances. During the investigation the investigator(s) will try to determine if you have had any involvement with drugs, encounters with the police, or problem drinking habits and other facts about your personal history. The investigator(s) will attempt to obtain both favorable and unfavorable information about your background so an adjudicator can make an appropriate determination.
The objective of the subject interview is to obtain a complete picture of you as an individual so that an adjudicator can determine whether you will be able to cope with having access to classified or sensitive information without becoming a security risk. Therefore, the interview will be wide-ranging and cover most aspects of your life. During the subject interview, expect to be questioned about your family background, past experiences, health, use of alcohol or drugs, financial affairs, foreign travel and other pertinent matters.
What determines approval or disapproval?
It's important to note that Defense Security Service (DSS) does not make any security clearance determinations or recommendations. DSS simply gathers information. Once the information has been verified, and the investigations completed, DSS presents the information to the specific military service's adjudicator authority (each military service has their own), who determine whether or not to grant the security clearance, using standards set by that particular military service.
It's impossible to say if any particular thing will result in denial of a security clearance. The adjudicators use the Adjudicator Guidelines to determine whether or not the individual can be trusted with our nation's secrets. Primarily, adjudicators look for honesty, trustworthiness, character, loyalty, financial responsibility and reliability. On cases that contain significant derogatory information warranting additional action, the adjudicator may draft a request for additional investigation/information, or request psychiatric or alcohol and drug evaluation. Even so, adjudicators are not the final authority. All denials of clearances must be personally reviewed by a branch chief, or higher.
Because of a recent change in the law, there are some factors which will positively result in the denial of a clearance. As a result of the Smith Amendment, the FY01 Defense Authorization Act amended Chapter 49 of Title 10, United States Code, and precluded the initial granting or renewal of a security clearance by (DoD) under the following four specific circumstances:
(1) An individual has been convicted in any court of the U.S. of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
(2) An individual is (currently) an unlawful user of, or is addicted to, a controlled substance (as defined in section 102 or the Controlled Substances Act (21U.S.C. 802))
(3) An individual is mentally incompetent, as determined by a mental health professional approved by the DoD
(4) An individual has been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions.
The statute also provides that the Secretary of Defense and the secretary of the military department concerned may authorize an exception to the provisions concerning convictions, dismissals and discharges from the armed force in meritorious cases.
How long does the process take?
It depends on several factors, and the type of investigation. In the past three years, DoD has had a significant backlog of security clearances and reinvestigations pending, most especially for TOP SECRET level access. In general, expect a CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET clearance to take between 1 and 3 months. A TOP SECRET will probably take between 4 and 8 months. However, some individuals have been waiting for the results of their TOP SECRET investigation for more than one year. In general, the more there is to investigate, the longer the investigation will take. Expect the investigation to take longer if you have:
Lived or worked in several geographic locations or overseas.
Traveled outside of the United States.
Relatives who have lived outside of the United States.
Background information that is difficult to obtain or involves issues that require an expansion of your case.
If your technical training (AIT/Tech School/A-School) requires access to classified information, you may be assigned to do details (such as answering the phone in an office) while waiting for your Security Clearance to be granted. In some cases, you may be authorized to attend non-classified portions of the training while awaiting the results of your security clearance application. You can get a background check done, but to actually obtain a "security clearance", I believe a current employer would actually obtain that for you as needed.
For instance, most people in the Navy don't have a security clearance. However, nonnuclear submariners have a confidential clearance, while those serving in the engine spaces have a secret clearance. To the best of my knowledge. Hmm, I have forgotten - I used to be a submariner back in the mid 90's...something like that anyways. But the FBI check gets you the clearance. And you can't just go get it for fun...it is on a need to use/know basis. So those employers advertising jobs are seeking candidates that have a security clearance in their current jobs. If your resume is good, and otherwise you meet the requirements, feel free to apply, and see what they say. They may be willing to try you if you have outstanding qualifications. Simple. Just apply for the job and the employer will do the rest. He / she will explain it to you. It does'nt take 500 words to answer this question ! This is something that they will do for you. Background checks and eligibility to view ITAR and Commerce regulated information. If you are a foreign person or a felon this may not be attainable.
Sage- Plagarism is against the law....http://www.taonline.com/securityclearanc... First of all, Security clearances go though the FBI. Normally, the company you work for will request a security clearance in your name in order for your access to thier particular security requirements.
Security clearances are only issued on a need to know basis and they are a many facited jewel i.e. classified, secret, top secret, crypto secret, and within these are compartmentalized classifcations.
When you see a job listing for a security clearance from a company, they are usually trying to hire someone away from another company or military people awaiting discharge. I know, because i have one now........Contact your local FBI office and they can help you a great deal....They really can and will....Good luck...PW Start with the Police, but you'll end up with the FBI. No worries, all they want is the truth, they don't want something in your past to blindside them |
