So you want a security clearance or been told you must have one

You’ve made the right choice to read this blog if you want a security clearance or have been told you’re required to get one.

Where do you start and what do you do?

First, it’s important to know, they aren’t just given out to anyone. Your rank, position, and title will not get you one, while having a legitimate “Needs to Know” will.

No worries, no one is perfect, but before all of our nation’s secrets are given to you on a platter, your current and past actions and behaviors are going to be looked at to make the determination if you should be given a security clearance; not.

The most important thing is for you to do is be honest and upfront. Answer each question truthfully, and provide all relevant facts pertinent to the questions being asked. The second thing you want to do when there are areas of concern raised is that you are able to show you are proactive in addressing them.

Security Clearance

A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. This investigation focuses on an individual’s character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, criminal activity, emotional stability, and other similar and pertinent areas.

Security clearance procedure is governed by adjudicative guidelines adopted by executive order and by federal regulations and statutes, as well as the standard procedures of the issuing agency (i.e. FBI, USN, Veterans’ Administration, etc…) All applicants for security clearance must fill out an Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire (EPSQ) and/or Standard Form 86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF86.)

All investigations consist of checks of national records and credit checks; some investigations also include interviews with individuals who know the candidate for the clearance as well as the candidate himself/herself.
None of this is bad or should be considered the end of the world. Even with a couple of red flags; most people do receive a security clearance; while only a handful of individuals do not in the most extreme of cases.

Investigators are human and understand no one is perfect or lives in such a world.

Not every action and behavior is looked at negatively, but some circumstances we’ve been involved do require clarification before a person is granted a security clearance. Everything is taken into consideration accordingly; on a case by case basis.