Secret Clearence

[Wango Tango]

Who has gotten a secret clearence in the last five years and what did it consist of. Do you have to do a sit down interview with a shrink, do they do interviews with your references, do you have to take a polygrapgh, is your credit checked? Wanted to see how in depth it was.

[Navyguy0023]

I don't think they totally disclose what all they do for a secret clearence, but here is a pretty good guide. They do check your credit, the do check your references (noramally just ask a few standard questions), they do check your whole criminal record, you do sit down with an interviewer, they don't make people talk to a shrink for a clearence usually, and they don't Polygraph for less than Top Secret usually.

Be complete in your answers.
Be 100% honest.
The interviewers do this all the time, they can spot holes in stories very easily. See above comments.
You should be fine, I havn't seen too many people get rejected for anything less than felony like stuff they were trying to HIDE. If your honest it usually just means you might have a little more explaining to do.
Trust me nothing to lose sleep over.

The first time I was up, the interviewer asked me about underage drinking, because I had once filled out a dental exam questionair and had answered yes to drinking while at the time I was underage. Keep you stories straight.

[Pryde]

I was interviewed twice in boot camp, first I interviewed in a group with all the TS candidates and asked general questions then I was asked individual questions by the same guy (shrink maybe?). Second I met with an individual investigator that asked more detailed questions. The second investigator went to my house and asked questions to my neighbors, family and high school about me. Basically nearly all of the people I put down as references, as well as some people that I did not list. I did not have to take a polygraph. I do not know about credit check because I was just a kid back then with no credit. It is an in-depth investigation and if you withhold anything they will most likely find it, so my advice to you is to be as honest as you can.

I had this done in 2001 so I don't know if this is valid or not today since it doesn't exactly fit your criteria.

[SteveMartin]

Best to tell the truth up front than to have a lie discovered later (which would end badly). They will talk to your references and neighbors (especially ones you didn't list on the form as references).

[Wango Tango]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I started to get my clearence a couple of years ago when I was deployed then the job changed and didn't need the clearence anymore but now I am going to have to get one and just wanted to know what all to expect. Thats pretty crazy that they asked you about underage drinking because of a dental sheet that you filled out.

[Fjold]

Oh and the so-called "sealed" juvenile record, isn't.

You might also be prepared to answer questions about any distant relatives that have anything unusual going on in their lives. Cousins with drug convictions or relatives in other countries that have different political beliefs. etc.

[CSACANNONEER]

Oh and the so-called "sealed" juvenile record, isn't.

You might also be prepared to answer questions about any distant relatives that have anything unusual going on in their lives. Cousins with drug convictions or relatives in other countries that have different political beliefs. etc.

Even if you have never heard of these relatives, "they" know about them. Who knows, maybe you'll find out you have a long lost brother living in a hut in Africa.

[Fjold]

Even if you have never heard of these relatives, "they" know about them. Who knows, maybe you'll find out you have a long lost brother living in a hut in Africa.

They found one of my relatives living in China during the cold war (1970's), that no one in my family knew about.

[strangerdude]

You must have something to hide if you're asking.

[Johnny Diablo]

Everyone has something to hide or at least they are not proud of.

I would deny coming here or knowing alot of the yuks here. (JK)

For a secret level: Fill out a form what is 956? Wait 10 months. Done.

I listed all my driving convictions to the date. Dates I attended college and grades... Reason for derogatory on my credit.

Helps if you have family already with clearances even though I didn't list them.

[Rem1492]

They are basically looking for anything you can be blackmailed for. Questions I get asked about other people are usually about gambling, character traits, anything that would make them untrustworthy.

If you drink, smoke, gamble, etc......... its ok, as long as you don't keep it a secret. Tickets, judgements, credit, and even buying a Hi-Point firearm are all acceptable, as long as its not something you lied about. (I would lie about buying a HiPoint though)

[SteveMartin]

Everyone has something to hide or at least they are not proud of.

I would deny coming here or knowing alot of the yuks here. (JK)

For a secret level: Fill out a form what is 956? Wait 10 months. Done.

I listed all my driving convictions to the date. Dates I attended college and grades... Reason for derogatory on my credit.

Helps if you have family already with clearances even though I didn't list them.

They usually want to know about foreign travel too.

[haiedras]

Getting a secret clearance isn't a huge deal, you fill out your SF92 form, and wait for the backlog to clear.

Now going for your TS/SCI or anything higher...then it starts to get more complicated.

[MIL-MH65]

Getting a secret clearance isn't a huge deal, you fill out your SF92 form, and wait for the backlog to clear.

Now going for your TS/SCI or anything higher...then it starts to get more complicated.

Yep, not that big of deal....the key is "Don't lie".

[Mike A]

My son's experience in the Marines a couple of years ago is much like what Pryde described in 2001. Govt. interviewer made a VERY thorough interview of myself and my wife and got contact info on all of our family (one of whom was serving in the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs at the time; not sure that actually helped....). The investigation wasn't pro forma at all--I had the distinct inpression they weren't just fillin' in some blanks. My son had some disputed taxes which held up his clearance until the IRS was satisfied; you need to make sure there aren't any loose ends like that.....