Understanding Security Clearances- back to resources

Defense Security Service (DSS) saw a dramatic increase in security clearance requests even before the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Considering the emphasis the administration has placed on defense and homeland security, growth in jobs requiring security clearances, and thus clearance investigation requests, is highly likely.

From a career standpoint, it’s important to know that clearances are tied to companies and projects on an “as needed” basis only. ” Individuals cannot obtain security clearances on their own. There is no “Clearances R Us. Also, it takes upwards of a full year to obtain a “secret” security clearance and between 1-2 years for Top Secret, Special Compartmental Access (SCI, SBI etc) and CI or NSA Polygraph clearances. Because of a company’s cost and the time involved in obtaining a security clearance, someone without a clearance is at a severe disadvantage when applying for a defense industry position.  Those currently employed in positions requiring a clearance should think long and hard about moving to another industry and losing that clearance in the process.

Disclaimer: The following generalized FAQ was provided by Defense Security Service (DSS) as a convenience to our clients.  We are not experts on security clearances and security investigations. For specific issues, up to date information or definitive answers to concerns or questions, we suggest visiting www.dss.mil or calling The DoD Security Services Center at 888-282-7682.

What is DSS?

The Defense Security Service (DSS) is an agency of the Department of Defense (DoD) with an FY2006 budget of approximately $262 million and reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI). DSS provides the Secretary of Defense, the DoD components, federal government defense contractors, and other authorized recipients, with a full range of security support services, as permitted by law and Executive Order. The mission of DSS is to oversee and ensure the protection of national security assets in industry and provide integrated security services to the Department of Defense. DSS’s main mission areas are the National Industrial Security Program (NISP); Security Education, Training and Awareness (SETA); Collaborative Adjudication Services (CAS); and, Defense Information System for Security (DISS).

When might a clearance be needed?

Security clearances may be requested on individuals in the following categories whose employment involves access to sensitive government assets:
- Members of the military;
- Civilian employees working for the DoD or other government agencies;
- Employees of government contractors.
How secure is the information provided to DSS?
The governing Federal statute concerning the protection of personal information is the Privacy Act of 1974. A limited number of DSS employees and its contract suppliers have access to personal information in the performance of their legitimate, official duties. You can be assured that these individuals are held to a very high standard regarding the scrupulous protection of all information. Our standards of professionalism are fully consistent with the protections provided under the laws and statutes of the United States, including the Privacy Act of 1974.
How does the security clearance process work?
All candidates for a security clearance are asked to complete a security questionnaire, usually the Standard Form 86 (SF 86), which explains the purpose of the security clearance, sets out the government’s personnel security policy, and asks for the personal details required to conduct necessary checks . DSS conducts the clearance investigation for the Department of Defense (DoD). Other investigative activities also conduct background investigations for federal government and government contractor employees. The DoD will accept these investigations as the basis for a security clearance if they are current. After the investigation is completed, an adjudicator, a person trained in the process of reviewing and evaluating security clearance information, reviews the results of your investigation and compares it to established qualifying criteria for access to classified national security information. A favorable investigation and adjudication will result in certain procedures being taken by your organization (for example, security briefings, access badges, etc.). If you are not notified of these types of events, you should contact your Company’s Security Officer.
 
Why do some clearance investigations take longer than others?
Your request for a clearance investigation may be delayed before it gets to DSS because of internal processing requirements of the requester. Incomplete or inaccurate completion of your security forms also delays an investigation. In other cases an investigation takes more time due to special situations such as the need to cover multiple geographic areas, especially overseas locations; difficulty in locating records and people who know you; and, expanding the investigation to clear up discrepancies or issues.

What are the citizenship requirements to obtain a clearance?
Only U.S. citizens (including naturalized citizens) are eligible for a security clearance. However, if compelling reasons exist to grant access to classified information to an immigrant alien or a foreign national, such persons may be granted a "Limited Access Authorization" (LAA). LAAs may be granted at only the Confidential and Secret level (higher levels of access are prohibited) and are limited to individuals whose special skills or technical expertise are essential to the fulfillment of a DOD requirement which cannot reasonably be performed by a cleared or clearable U.S. citizen. For More Information on LAA’s speak to your Security Officer.

All potentially cleared individuals must be employed in a job which requires access to classified information and must be nominated for clearance by their employer. The employer must submit a request for investigation, and the completed investigation must be reviewed by an adjudicative body which has the power to grant or deny clearances. The employing agency or company will then be sent a letter of clearance informing them that the nominated employee has been cleared for access (to whatever level is appropriate).

How does being married to a foreign national affect the ability to obtain a clearance?

The Defense Security Service conducts background investigations on persons whose employment requires them to be cleared as eligible to have access to Confidential, Secret, Top Secret (TS) and/or Special Compartmented Information (SCI). DSS does not make the decision whether a person meets the eligibility requirements and should be given access. This decision is made by various adjudicative bodies, depending on the applicant’s employer (i.e., DoD contractor, Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.). Each adjudicative body follows uniform regulatory guidelines in making clearance eligibility determinations, however, and these guidelines do not necessarily disqualify an individual based on their having a foreign national spouse. Each case is investigated and evaluated on its own merits. If it is determined that the spouse would not constitute a security risk, a clearance will be granted assuming no other disqualifying factors. It should be noted, however, that anyone requiring SCI eligibility is also subject to some additional requirements beyond those for Confidential, Secret and TS.

What conduct and financial factors does an adjudicator consider when evaluating an applicant’s background?
The adjudicator considers the following factors when evaluating an individual’s conduct:
1) The nature, extent and seriousness of the conduct
2) The circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation
3) The frequency of the conduct and how recent it was
4) The individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct
5) The voluntariness of participation
6) The presence or absence of rehabilitation and other pertinent behavioral changes
7) The motivation for the conduct
8) The potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and
9) The likelihood of continuation of the conduct
Naturally, each case is judged on its own merits and final determination remains the responsibility of the specific department or agency. Any doubt as to whether access to classified information is clearly consistent with national security will be resolved in favor of the national security.
When dealing with financial considerations, guidelines approved by the President of the United States in March 1997, state:
"The Concern. An individual who is financially overextended is at risk of having to engage in illegal acts to generate funds. Unexplained affluence is often linked to proceeds from financially profitable criminal acts.
Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:
a. A history of not meeting financial obligations
b. Deceptive or illegal financial practices, such as embezzlement, employee theft, check fraud, income tax evasion, expense account fraud, filing deceptive loan statements, and other intentional breaches of trust
c. Inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts
d. Unexplained affluence
e. Financial problems that are linked to gambling, drug abuse, alcoholism, or other issues of a security concern.
Conditions that could mitigate (lessen the severity of or moderate) security concerns include:
a. The behavior was not recent
b. It was an isolated incident
c. The conditions that resulted in the behavior were largely beyond the person’s control (e.g., loss of employment, a business downturn, unexpected medical emergency, or a death, divorce, or separation)
d. The person received or is receiving counseling for the problem and there are clear indications that the problem is being resolved or is under control
e. The affluence resulted from a legal source
f. The individual initiated a good faith effort to repay overdue creditors or otherwise resolve debts."

Please be aware that answering all of the questions on the SF86 accurately and truthfully is very important, because it is taken as evidence of your reliability and honesty. Indeed, if your clearance would not be denied otherwise, it could be denied if it is discovered that you attempted to conceal information about yourself. It is also possible that even if your clearance were granted, it could later be revoked if dishonesty on the forms is later discovered. Although DSS is not involved in the adjudication process, it is hoped that this general information is of assistance.
What is the investigative process?
A PSI consists of one or more of the following inquiries:

• A National Agency Check (NAC) -- A search of investigative files and other records held by federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the 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 and sheriffs, with jurisdiction over the areas where you have resided, gone to school, or worked.
• Financial checks.
• 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.

For More Information
If you have any questions concerning the investigative process, the Defense Security Service or its mission, or have any other concerns about your security clearance investigation, you should call the DSS Customer Inquiry Service at 1-888-282-7682. You may also contact your Security Officer, the local DSS office, or write the Defense Security Service, Office of Public Affairs, 1340 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314-1651.