ChasingBlueSky 0 #1 July 22, 2003 Applying for jobs all over the place - and came across a couple today that asked someone with Top Security Clearance, or the ability to qualify for it. How does a non-military person obtain this, what is the procedure? Let me guess, if you told me, you would have to kill me? Any help or link to a web site on this would be great. Thanks all._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 July 22, 2003 Well, if you really "need-to-know" . . . Generally one applies for secret clearance at the local FBI location. State and local officials who require access to classified material must apply for a security clearance through their local FBI Field Office. The candidate should obtain from their local FBI Field Office a Standard Form 86 (SF 86), Questionnaire for National Security Positions; and two FD-258 (FBI applicant fingerprint cards). One of two levels of security clearance, Secret or Top Secret, may be appropriate. The background investigation and records checks for Secret and Top Secret security clearance are mandated by Presidential Executive Order (EO). The EO requires these procedures in order for a security clearance to be granted; the FBI does not have the ability to waive them. Secret Clearances A Secret security clearance may be granted to those persons that have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified at the Confidential or Secret level. It is generally the most appropriate security clearance for state and local law enforcement officials that do not routinely work on an FBI Task Force or in an FBI facility. A Secret security clearance takes the least amount of time to process and allows for escorted access to FBI facilities. The procedure is as follows: FBI performs record checks with various Federal agencies and local law enforcement, as well as, a review of credit history. Candidate completes forms SF-86 and FD-258. Once favorably adjudicated for a Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Top Secret Clearances A Top Secret clearance may be granted to those persons who have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified up to the Top Secret level, and who need unescorted access to FBI facilities, when necessary. This type of clearance will most often be appropriate for law enforcement officers assigned to FBI Task Forces housed in FBI facilities. In addition to all the requirements at the Secret level, a background investigation, covering a 10-year time period, is required. Once favorably adjudicated for a Top Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #3 July 22, 2003 Same procedure, actually. The EPSQ can be downloaded online; not sure about submission procedures for civilians when it comes to the TS level. FWIW, I have had a TS-SCI for over 15 years. Not that I want a job in retirement that requires it. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #4 July 22, 2003 Probably referring to being 'Bonded', meaning, the police and FBI check you out and see if you have a record, you are photographed and fingerprinted. I once worked for a financial entity, IT department (of course) and because the nature of my duties I needed to be 'bonded' for security reasons.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #5 July 22, 2003 QuoteWell, if you really "need-to-know" . . . Generally one applies for secret clearance at the local FBI location. State and local officials who require access to classified material must apply for a security clearance through their local FBI Field Office. The candidate should obtain from their local FBI Field Office a Standard Form 86 (SF 86), Questionnaire for National Security Positions; and two FD-258 (FBI applicant fingerprint cards). One of two levels of security clearance, Secret or Top Secret, may be appropriate. The background investigation and records checks for Secret and Top Secret security clearance are mandated by Presidential Executive Order (EO). The EO requires these procedures in order for a security clearance to be granted; the FBI does not have the ability to waive them. Secret Clearances A Secret security clearance may be granted to those persons that have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified at the Confidential or Secret level. It is generally the most appropriate security clearance for state and local law enforcement officials that do not routinely work on an FBI Task Force or in an FBI facility. A Secret security clearance takes the least amount of time to process and allows for escorted access to FBI facilities. The procedure is as follows: FBI performs record checks with various Federal agencies and local law enforcement, as well as, a review of credit history. Candidate completes forms SF-86 and FD-258. Once favorably adjudicated for a Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Top Secret Clearances A Top Secret clearance may be granted to those persons who have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified up to the Top Secret level, and who need unescorted access to FBI facilities, when necessary. This type of clearance will most often be appropriate for law enforcement officers assigned to FBI Task Forces housed in FBI facilities. In addition to all the requirements at the Secret level, a background investigation, covering a 10-year time period, is required. Once favorably adjudicated for a Top Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Thanks!_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 July 22, 2003 Don't count on getting it anytime soon. I was on the "Hurry the fuck up" list and it took me 1 year and 5 months to get my letter. Now I'm set though!!! Trust me...getting one as civilian is FAR differen't than the military. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #7 July 22, 2003 That's the reason I renewed mine the month before I retired. Very shrewd thinking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #8 July 22, 2003 Quote That's the reason I renewed mine the month before I retired. Very shrewd thinking. Well....considering the job you have done in the military you can write your ticket for an analyst position anyway. Have lots of friends that have done that. Most would rather be operators though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #9 July 22, 2003 Also see; http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/WhatsNew/FBIsecclear.pdfquade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #10 July 22, 2003 but if you were hired by a civilian agency much of the paper work for your TS-SCI has to be redone anyway and repaid for, the clearance is for you, but it belongs to the institution that paid for it, and there is a ton of paperwork to transfer it. Civilian contractors have different billets than military units...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiverRick 0 #11 July 22, 2003 QuoteApplying for jobs all over the place - and came across a couple today that asked someone with Top Security Clearance, or the ability to qualify for it. How does a non-military person obtain this, what is the procedure? Let me guess, if you told me, you would have to kill me? Any help or link to a web site on this would be great. Thanks all. I worked for United Technologies on the Stategic Defense Initiative (star wars) during the 80's. I was required to have a top secret clearance. They hired the DOD to administer them. I filled out about 15 pages of info. They even went to my old neighbors and questioned them. It took about 6 months for my clearance to go through. As far as I know you are cleared for a job. You cannot get a blanket clearance just in case you need it. never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #12 July 22, 2003 QuoteDon't count on getting it anytime soon. I was on the "Hurry the fuck up" list and it took me 1 year and 5 months to get my letter. Now I'm set though!!! Trust me...getting one as civilian is FAR differen't than the military. A few months back when I was considering a career change and becoming an ATC - I was told that the background check would take 6-14 months depending on how backed up the feds were. I guess there were a few people that lost their job after a year when they found some red flags. I never bothered since I was informed that I was too old at age 30 to work for ATC. Oh well. I am curious - what do they consider red flags?_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiverRick 0 #13 July 22, 2003 One more note. If you apply for a clearance and you had one previously, they only have to clear you back to the previous clearance. This makes it cheaper and quicker. never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #14 July 22, 2003 Quotebut if you were hired by a civilian agency much of the paper work for your TS-SCI has to be redone anyway and repaid for, the clearance is for you, but it belongs to the institution that paid for it, and there is a ton of paperwork to transfer it. Civilian contractors have different billets than military units... Not for any of the positions I am uniquely qualified to fill I don't. Still, I am not interested in any of that sort of work now. I am way too hippified now. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #15 July 22, 2003 not for TS..once it expires it has to be completely redone IIRC..____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #16 July 22, 2003 Having looked at working at one of the national labs, it was my understanding that there is no mechanism for an individual to get a security clearance . Basically, the hiring entity needs to submit the request.... So a search for security clearances here DOE security FAQ good article from the Post good luck...I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #17 July 22, 2003 i'm not far from becoming that way myself....give me another year or two to collect some more gear and refine my flying.... i should have specified Civilian companies.. Military to anything DoD is much easier____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #18 July 22, 2003 Quotewhat do they consider red flags? Arrests, bankruptcies, legal battles. pretty much anything that makes you vulnerable to coercion. Quotethey only have to clear you back to the previous clearance. Not really......I had a Secret for almost 10 years. My TS still went back 10 years from when I applied. That's about a 7 year overlap. Now....for the same level...I'm not sure. However, like we have already mentioned, anything done in the military is almost worthless as a civilian. It helps....but there will still be more paperwork. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiverRick 0 #19 July 22, 2003 Quotenot for TS..once it expires it has to be completely redone IIRC.. I haven't had a clearance since 1991. Top secret,SAR (special access required). My memory isn't as good as it used to be.We also had people cleared "Secret" maybe that's what I was thinking of. never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #20 July 22, 2003 QuoteI haven't had a clearance since 1991. My "Secret" was supposed to be done every 5 years. It was NEVER reinvestigated the entire 10 years I was in the AF. We'll see what happens with the TS. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkvapor 0 #21 July 22, 2003 Quoteit was my understanding that there is no mechanism for an individual to get a security clearance . Basically, the hiring entity needs to submit the request.... This is also what I was told and read online. A civilian cannot just get one to have one. You have to have a need to know, and get your appliciation submitted by the contractor that deals with sensitive information. My secret clearance took a few months to get cleared to 'interim', while they completed a more thorough investigation. (usually takes about 5-6 months for secret, up to a year or longer for top secret). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #22 July 22, 2003 QuoteQuoteit was my understanding that there is no mechanism for an individual to get a security clearance . Basically, the hiring entity needs to submit the request.... This is also what I was told and read online. A civilian cannot just get one to have one. You have to have a need to know, and get your appliciation submitted by the contractor that deals with sensitive information. My secret clearance took a few months to get cleared to 'interim', while they completed a more thorough investigation. (usually takes about 5-6 months for secret, up to a year or longer for top secret). That is interesting - you would think if the "need to know" basis was on a per job basis, HR would not ask you if you currently had any sort of clearance._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #23 July 22, 2003 Quote . . . HR would not ask you if you currently had any sort of clearance. Generally speaking, they aren't hiring the rocket scientists to work in HR.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luna 0 #24 July 22, 2003 QuoteQuoteit was my understanding that there is no mechanism for an individual to get a security clearance . Basically, the hiring entity needs to submit the request.... This is also what I was told and read online. A civilian cannot just get one to have one. You have to have a need to know, and get your appliciation submitted by the contractor that deals with sensitive information. My secret clearance took a few months to get cleared to 'interim', while they completed a more thorough investigation. (usually takes about 5-6 months for secret, up to a year or longer for top secret). Not only do I think this is the correct policy, I also think it is the most prudent course of action. Going to the FBI is one thing for certain jobs, but like at my job (civilian military contractor), we have to have a DOD clearance. Other jobs would require a DOE clearance. Even if you knew exactly what type of clearance you needed, the DOD and DOE aren't going to let you just apply for one on your own, as stated above (FBI may be different). The fact that they stated "or the ability to qualify for one" means that they will get you the clearance, you just have to have a clear record so you won't get rejected for it. We had to let someone go after she couldn't qualify for one (was in processing for over 2 years, and no, they are not that backed up right now). I think it had to do with her credit. Of course, they prefer someone who already has a clearance because it costs them money to get one for you (yet another reason not to go get one on your own). Good luck! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiverRick 0 #25 July 22, 2003 That is interesting - you would think if the "need to know" basis was on a per job basis, HR would not ask you if you currently had any sort of clearance. I think it shows that you can get one. They are expensive and time consuming. It probably sucks to have to fire someone when thier clearance doesn't go through. never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
