Security Clearance Application Process

Who Needs A Security Clearance?

This clearance is necessary for a wide range of roles within government agencies and defense contractors, including high-ranking officials and military personnel as well as support staff such as administrative workers, IT professionals, and security personnel. The level of clearance required—confidential clearance, Secret clearance, and Top Secret clearance—corresponds to the sensitivity of the information accessed and the potential damage its unauthorized disclosure could cause to national security. Examining the job description or consulting with the hiring agency can clarify whether specific roles require a security clearance.

Steps to Gain a Security Clearance

Obtaining a security clearance is comprehensive and time-consuming, often taking several months to complete.

Here are the essential steps involved:

Job offer: The process begins when a candidate receives an offer of employment for a position that requires a security clearance. This potential employer is known as the sponsor.

Completion of Standard Form 86 (SF-86): The candidate must fill out SF-86, a detailed questionnaire that gathers extensive personal information, including history of residence, employment, education, arrests, drug use, finances, and foreign contacts.

Preliminary screening: Initial checks, such as fingerprinting and verification of U.S. citizenship, are conducted to confirm basic eligibility.

Background investigation:

Credit check: A review of the candidate’s financial history to ensure no vulnerabilities could be exploited.

National Agency Check (NAC): A thorough review of the candidate’s criminal, financial, and other records.

Interviews: Investigators will interview friends, neighbors, supervisors, and coworkers to verify the candidate’s character and reliability.

Personal interview: The candidate will have a personal interview with a security officer to review the information provided and clarify any issues.

Polygraph test: Some positions may require a polygraph test to verify the accuracy of the information provided in SF-86 and during interviews.

Psychological evaluation: In some cases, candidates may undergo psychological or medical assessment to ensure they are mentally fit to handle classified information.

Adjudication: Evaluation of the candidate’s trustworthiness, reliability, overall suitability, and loyalty to obtain a security clearance for access to classified information.

Final decision: If the candidate successfully passes all background investigation and adjudication stages, a final job offer is extended, and the security clearance is granted.

The Defense Security Service (DSS) and other relevant agencies oversee this process to ensure that only the most reliable individuals are granted clearance.

What Makes a DOD Security Clearance Unique

A DOD clearance is unique due to its stringent requirements and thorough vetting process, permitting only the most reliable personnel security clearance to access classified information. The comprehensive background investigation includes checks on financial history, criminal records, and personal conduct, often involving polygraph tests and psychological evaluations. Continuous monitoring and periodic reinvestigations are also required, ensuring ongoing compliance with security standards. This rigorous process aligns with the specific needs of the defense sector, making a DOD security clearance distinct from other types of clearances.

Things to Consider Before Proceeding

Before pursuing a DOD security clearance, consider the following:

• Intrusiveness of the process: The clearance process is highly intrusive, involving detailed background checks, including financial history, criminal records, and social interactions. Interviews with friends, neighbors, and colleagues, as well as possible polygraph tests and psychological evaluations, are standard.
• Potential disqualifiers: Criminal conduct, drug involvement, significant financial issues, and risky foreign contacts can disqualify you. Assess and address any potential red flags in your background beforehand.
• Job security and career impact: A security clearance can enhance job opportunities in government and defense sectors. However, losing a clearance can lead to job loss or reassignment. Maintaining compliance with clearance requirements is crucial.
• Personal and family considerations: The process affects you and your family. Investigators may review your spouse’s background and foreign connections. Discuss the level of scrutiny with your family.
• Legal and ethical obligations: Obtaining and maintaining a clearance involves strict guidelines for handling classified information and reporting personal circumstance changes.

A security clearance lawyer can help you assess your eligibility, address potential disqualifiers, and guide you through the application process. They can also offer support if issues arise during the investigation or adjudication phases, ensuring you are well-prepared to secure and maintain your clearance. If you receive a notice that the agency intends to deny your application, a security clearance attorney can fight to overturn that decision and help you obtain the clearance.

Contact Paul N Jones Law Firm Today

When unfavorable issues arise, our lawyers will work hard to ensure investigators know and understand the circumstances that might not be apparent but can vindicate you and save your career. Paul N Jones Law Firm has the expertise and knowledge to handle each challenge that comes our way.

Although we are based in Dallas, TX., Paul N. Jones Law Firm serves federal employment law clients nationwide. He is also licensed in Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Texas, and Massachusetts.

The type of clearance you can be granted will depend on your position, the agency or company with which you are employed, and the scope of work involved.

There are three basic types of security clearances:

Confidential

Foreign employment, immediate relatives, marriages, and other personal relationships are screened with scrutiny during the application process.

Reinvestigated every 15 years.

Secret

It requires a national agency check, a local agency check, and a credit investigation. Bankruptcy, unpaid bills, and criminal charges may disqualify an applicant. Poor financial history is the number-one cause of rejection, and foreign activities and criminal records are also common causes of disqualification

Reinvestigated every 10 years

Top Secret: Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) & Special Access Program (SAP)

There is an extensive application process and background check known as a Single-Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). Investigators scrutinize dependents, friends, relatives, and any foreign travel or employment. Foreign travel and financial assets are investigated deeply. Character references are required.

Reinvestigated every 5 years.