Does Failing a Random Drug Test Prevent Me From Being Granted A Security Clearance?

Hello Joseph,

I recently failed a random drug test at my job and was subsequently terminated. 

I have since cleaned up my act, but I am having incredible difficulty landing another job with this clearance. 

I keep hearing that because I have a red flag on my clearance, employers will be reluctant to hire me and the only way to have the red flag removed from my clearance is to have an employer hire me and remove it themselves. 

Do you know of anything I can do to personally have this flag removed from my record, or do you have any advice for obtaining new employment with this red flag on my record.

Here's my response:

Thank you for contacting me.  First and foremost - Congratulations on making positive changes in your life!  You're not alone, nor the first person to go through this, and you will get through this experience.

It’s not that no one will hire you; it’s when, and can the adjudicator waver or mitigate your circumstances and conditions.

With drug use, there are specific constraints that are either limited to time passing, the actual entire amount of drugs used throughout your life; or a specific type of drug used.  In most cases, drug use must have been 12 or more months in the past, before you can be adjudicated and granted a security clearance.  The DEA is the exception and demands their employees have ZERO Drug Use!
 
When I was in the Navy, I processed a self-admitted drug dealer for a Secret Security Clearance Level.  The Navy wanted to send this sailor to the Middle East.  I didn’t personally think he would be granted a security clearance.  But he was completely upfront and honest and stated he was incarcerated before he joined the Navy, and the incident also occurred seven years in the past.  This sailor was ultimately granted a Secret Security Clearance and allowed to deploy to the Middle East.

This is because this sailor was evaluated using what's called The Whole Person Concept; where everything that has occurred in a person's life is taken into account.

So what are three options if drug use resulted in incarnation?

1. Take a temporarily or permanent position outside of Federal Employment, in a field that doesn't require a security clearance
2. Go back to school
3. Start your own business

So what are your options if drug use didn’t result in incarnation, and it occurred less than 12-months ago?

...now you're playing a waiting game before you can be granted another security clearance.

What are FOUR things you can you do now while you wait:

1. Take a temporarily or permanent position in a field that doesn't require a security clearance
2. Obtain documentation from counseling or a program that shows you're clean
3. Get 3 or more individuals to write you a recommendation letter
4. Join clubs, groups, or organizations that people in your field join, so you can attend meetings, network, and keep up on the latest knowledge in your field while you wait to get your clearance back

*** And apply for jobs with the understanding, even if hired; 12 or months will pass before you'll be granted another security clearance

So what are your options if drug use occurred over 12-months ago?

1. Apply for jobs both in and out of your field group

Be upfront on all your submitted paperwork about job termination and prior drug use.  This isn’t held against you.  The Adjudicator wants to mitigate and close every case, so they can move on to the next case to mitigate and close.

*** Here’s the last two options available to you if you're set on getting your security clearance back, and 12 or more months have passed since your last drug use:

1. Accept an entry level job in any field that lets you get your clearance back (this is what I did)
2. Accept a paid or unpaid internship in any field that lets you get your clearance back

To share a personal story with all of you…

…after the Navy, and without a degree or a clearance; I was out for work for over 2 years. 

So, while earning my degree, I accepted an entry level job with the FBI, because I knew it would lead to getting my own security clearance back.  There are many great and amazing individuals who work at the FBI.  The salary and working environment for myself were horrible (and such things are different for everyone), but after two and a half years, I was able to accept a position in the private sector with a very nice bump in pay.

Did I want to be unemployed, go back to school, or accept an entry level job to get my security clearance back – heck no, but I did what I had to. 

As with all decisions we make, weigh all of your options, and pursue the best fit outcome/s.  Regarding a person with prior drug use; they may have to endure a temporary job while waiting for 12 months to pass.  Before they can be granted a clearance again; when and where this is possible. 

And if obtaining a clearance is no longer an option; well now you get to pursue a life-long dream and career change!

So be open to all possibilities with best-fit outcomes.

Here’s to the best-fit outcomes occurring; or something better for all of us, in all that we do,

Joseph

Joseph Zarek, AFI, CDE, HE, HT, SA
Award Winning Author, Professional Speaker, Security Clearance Guru

Does a Medical, Mental Condition or Hospitalization Automatically Disqualify You?

Here’s a great question:

“If you have bipolar and have a hospitalization do you think that would be an automatic dis-qualifier?”

The quick answer is NO.  Everything in your background is looked at and qualified first.  Many individuals have different conditions and circumstances requiring them to take medication or be hospitalized who have and maintain their security clearances without incident..

A newly diagnosed or per-existing condition is not an automatic disqualification. 
So being bi-polar or hospitalized are not automatic disqualifiers.

While not everyone is granted a security clearance, over the last 27 years working with 5,000+ background investigations I saw 100% of all individuals with per-existing and newly diagnosed conditions receive, or be reinstated for their security clearance.

Your responsibility is to answer each question honestly:

List all per-existing and new conditions
Who is, or has treating you
What medication you’re on, or were on (including proscribed dosage/s)
And all good contact telephone numbers and business addresses of individuals and facilities who treated you

The adjudicator assigned to your case is required to qualify every block of information on each line on your entire submitted SF-86.

Regarding your medical history, the adjudicator will submit a request for your assigned case investigator to verify you were a patient, when you were seen, what medications you were on, or are currently taking, and would this medical professional recommend you for a security clearance. 

Only individuals who do not submit this information were either denied a security clearance, or their case was submitted for further review.

The take-away lesson:

Answer every question as honest as possible, submit your paperwork, and let the process happen. 

Information and Tips you can work with:

There are tens of thousands of background investigations already in the system ahead of you.  Some individuals require a polygraph examination, many do not.

Background investigation for Secret clearances take 1-6 months to complete.  Background Investigations for Top Secret Clearances and above, take 6-18 months to complete.

Be patient, and every 90 days, contact your security representative for a status update, and what else you need to provide. 

NEVER contact your adjudicator unless instructed to do so.  When I was an adjudicator at the FBI, every adjudicator carried a 400-600 background investigation caseload.  Everyone I worked with processed them as quickly as possible.

I hope this answers this question, and provides insight into the background investigation process.

Here’s to everything working out for you; or something better,

Joseph Zarek, AFI, CDE, HE, HT, SA
Award Winning Author, Professional Speaker, Security Clearance Guru

The Investigator is Trying to Trick Me; or Are They?

Here's a common circumstance:

"I am 24 years old and going through a clearance for my job. Recently I received the interim or temporary clearance. Then yesterday, I got a call saying the investigator wanted to talk with me about anything I might not have divulged. This worried me until I spoke to another younger person who went through a security clearance and got the same kind of call and it turned out that this was a bit of a "trick" as the investigator had no new information that he had turned up and my friend got the clearance. Is this common?"

The investigator isn't trying to trick you. This question is standard protocol to give you the opportunity to provide new information, or any information you may have forgotten or purposely omitted to include on your submitted SF-86.

Life happens. Something new may have happened since you submitted your SF-86, or you remember that speeding ticket you received

Whatever the circumstances, You get three chances to provide correct, factual information in your background investigation process:

When you first submit your SF-86
During your Personnel Security Interview
Prior to Adjudication

Take Away Lesson: Answer every question honest with all supporting facts.

Until next time, here's to everything working out for you; or something better,

Joseph Zarek, AFI, CDE, HE, HT, SA Award Winning Author, Professional Speaker, Security Clearance Guru