View Full Version : Another Clearance Question
Hello all. I apologize if this has been brought up before. I did a search for "Top Secret Clearance", "Secret Clearance", and "Clearance", but did not find any specific answers to my questions.
Here is my situation:
I received a top secret clearance (SCI eligible) while serving in the Marine Corps. After separating from the Marine Corps, I was the victim of a scam in which I lost all of my money. It was a bogus "job", so not only did I lose all of my money, but I also lost my means to earn money. Long story short, my finances have suffered and my debts have been neglected due to other obligations (I also have an outrageous child support payment which has been "under review" by TX for over 1 year, so 60% of my wages have been garnished due to a combination of the scam and the low-paying job I had immediately afterward).
I also had a vehicle repossessed during all of this. Ironically, I had finally received enough $$ to catch up on my vehicle payments - literally just days after the lending institution decided it was too late to pay them - and they refused to let me catch up. I was told I either had to come up with the full amount for the vehicle or return it.
Everything was a domino effect caused by the scam, and I have the paperwork to prove it.
I have been speaking with a recruiter about getting a shot at SF in the NG, and until recently the chances were slim at best. However, I was recently told that there is currently an opportunity to get that shot at SF, but the window is small, and it all hangs on my clearance.
So, my questions are:
Though my finances are horrible, is there a possibility that they look at the circumstances which caused them, consider my previous top secret clearance, and consider giving me enough of a clearance (secret) to get a shot at SF?
How far back will they need to go for my clearance if I received my top secret in Jan 2006? I've been busy digging up addresses and references for the past 10 years, trying to juggle my references around. I thought that they would only need information for the time since my most recent clearance. Though I can get enough info for the past 10 years if necessary, there are people I would much rather use as my top three references that I am having to associate with a specific address only.
Thanks in advance for all of your input. If you think you can help and you need some specifics please let me know and I will send you the info you need.
R/S
The Reaper
09-13-2009, 20:21
I don't see it happening.
What they are going to see is a history of bad decisions and a repeated inability to meet your financial obligations.
This makes you subject to manipulation for financial reward.
Best of luck.
TR
MARSOC0211
09-13-2009, 21:29
If I understand this correctly, DONCAF adjudicated your TS with SCI eligibility in 01/06. Therefore, unless your TS (SCI) was revoked by DONCAF, then it will remain current until DONCAF revokes it or until 01/11 whichever come first or you begin your PR. Typically clearances are initially transferable between branches of service (not to DOE, DOJ, or any other entity).
With that being said, you need to sit down with one of the DSS investigators, give them all your paperwork relevant to your issues and tell the investigator the truth . If the investigator even senses that you are attempting to conceal info or attempt to even slightly "bend" the truth, your chances will be tanked right there.
There is a possibility that you will be able to retain your clearance (if it hasn't been revoked), or at least get a secret clearance. Either way, you are going to have an uphill battle, plus it will probably come up again during your subsequent PRs.
Good luck brother
If I understand this correctly, DONCAF adjudicated your TS with SCI eligibility in 01/06. Therefore, unless your TS (SCI) was revoked by DONCAF, then it will remain current until DONCAF revokes it or until 01/11 whichever come first or you begin your PR. Typically clearances are initially transferable between branches of service (not to DOE, DOJ, or any other entity).
With that being said, you need to sit down with one of the DSS investigators, give them all your paperwork relevant to your issues and tell the investigator the truth . If the investigator even senses that you are attempting to conceal info or attempt to even slightly "bend" the truth, your chances will be tanked right there.
Thanks for the info, MARSOC0211. Yes, the adjudication summary from the copy of my JCAVS Person Summary reads: "PSI Adjudication of SSBI OPM...determined Eligibility of SCI - DCID 6/4 on (Jan 2006) DoNCAF". They have already looked up my clearance, and the clearance is still good according to them. I had explained my issues with the NG recruiter, who discussed it with the "security guy" (sorry, not sure what their titles are). The "security guy" said to go ahead and fill out a new SF86 and explain the circumstances. I had filed reports with the local sheriff's department and the IC3 (http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx) once I realized what was going on, so hopefully that comes in handy.
Losing all of my money has definitely been a humbling experience. All I can do is explain what happened, and respect the determination of the investigators.
Thanks for your input, The Reaper. I know what you posted will be their first impression. Hopefully my supporting documentation can convince them otherwise.
R/S
http://www.opm.gov/extra/investigate/Fin-2000/fin0007.asp
Just an FYI, most DOD background investigations are now being done by OPM.
Many questions related to clearance adjudications can be answered by searching both the OPM and DSS websites. They post their adjudication guidelines.
Back in the in 1981, we bought our son a Bicycle at the Montgomery Wards store in Dothan, Alabama. Paid for it with a Wards Credit Card.
Very shortly there after, we moved to TX. I tired to use my MW Card there and they said it was no good. Seemed odd to me, but they said the Alabama stores were in some different system. But they quickly set me up with a new account. Now since I let my wife (still do, by the way), keep me out of trouble and let her pay all he bills, I never realized that we never did get a bill for that Bicycle - $90.
Fast forward, about 3 & 1/2 years. We want to buy a new car and need a credit check. They find a "bad pay" remark and give me a hard time about the car. I was convinced that they had me mixed up with someone else. So I called this number provided and talked to the lady at this collection agency. After a while, I finaly relaized that the dispute was over that bicycle. We had moved, we had changed the account, and for some reason, which I don't know, none of their bills were ever forwarded to us. So I asked what I could do to make it right. Lady told me "nothing." I said I wanted to pay and to reemburese Montgomery Wards for any money they were out. She said I could do that, but also said that it would not make much difference. Anyway, she sent me an invocice for the total expenses owed - it came to $157. I wrote them a check and a long letter explaining the problem and how I thought it all came about, I included copies of the different Wards account numbers - kept copies for myself. They eventually sent me a receipt and a thank you.
Fast forward another year. Suddenly, I need a TS, SBI (plus one little add-on that was only good for one day). This thing comes up again. In fact it nearly derailed it. If I had not written the letter (well before I even knew I was going to need that TS, SBI), and if they had not sent me the receipt and the thank you. I would have possibly not been able to get that clearence. At least that is what the investigators told.
So that is just about $90. Sounds like your problem is considerably more than that - so as the "Reaper" said, Don't see it happening.
Thank you all for your input. I submitted my EPSQ paperwork last week, along with a statement and supporting documentation (case numbers filed with both the local sheriff's office and IC3 regarding the money I lost in the scam).
Their response was that I am not currently eligible for a secret clearance.
Regardless, this is an obstacle that can be overcome. I will post updates of the progress for those that might be in the same boat (hopefully not many).
Thank you all for your input. I submitted my EPSQ paperwork last week, along with a statement and supporting documentation (case numbers filed with both the local sheriff's office and IC3 regarding the money I lost in the scam).
Their response was that I am not currently eligible for a secret clearance.
Regardless, this is an obstacle that can be overcome. I will post updates of the progress for those that might be in the same boat (hopefully not many).
Keep yourself squared away, move forward and show them that you are responsible-the passage of time with a clean financial (as well as everything else) record will assist you; but it will take time.
Word of advice: Don't lie. Not to anyone for anything, esp re: your background investigation issues. If you get the clearance you get it; if you don't then you don't. It will be what it will be. If you lie you will be found out. I held and treasured those wild & scary clearances for 23 years, and lyng about anything won't cut it, ever. Good luck, do right, and press on.
One thing I would point out is that the investigator is not looking for a perfect flawless person. You are human, the investigator is human, shit happens. What they are looking for is ZERO surprises.
I really took it in the shorts on my divorce so my finances were abysmal. ( That story requires mass amounts of scotch. ) I laid my life out there for the investigator recently and had to do a lot of extra explaining about my finances. The investigator asked me if I could be blackmailed and I laughed because everybody already knows my story. I don't hide anything and my friends were able to answer the questions with the same answers I had already given.
I got the TS/SCI, and pretty quickly too; less than four months from the application submission. Don't give up hope, show forward progress, go take a Dave Ramsey class in your local area. Bottom line, as already stated, don't lie, fib, flip flop, or stretch the truth in any conceivable way and it will work out eventually.
Probably won't happen in the near future, but like others have said: Be smart about your finances, make the honest effort to pay off any bad debt, get everything on paper (judgement-collecting lawyers can be a pain in the arse to get statements from) and, when the time comes, be upfront and sincere about prior mistakes/rough times.
I made some stupid financial decisions as a PFC (hard to imagine, I know) that REALLY came back to bite me in the ass (Credit cards, car repo, student loans, you name it). It was bad...
I worked hard, went almost 2 years without any spending money IOT pay off my debts and, when it came time for my clearance, I presented everything to the investigator. no issues. It can be done, but it just ain't easy.
HTH
greenberetTFS
10-07-2009, 16:27
I went through a TS clearance in the early 60's and somehow they had talked to my grandma who spoke broken english and was suffering from early dementia and gave them quite a story about my mother being a gypsy from Temervac,Vouikova! :eek:
Mom came over from Poland in 1904 with grandma and was floored with this response when "they" said this maybe a problem.......:rolleyes: This turned out to be true and I eventually received the clearance,but for some reason grandma,possibly ashamed, kept it a secret about our gypsy heritage........:p Never be surprised what can come up in a security clearance.....................;)
Big Teddy
SFC Donnell
05-16-2011, 22:14
While there are anecdotes about people who's clearances were denied over the most smallest issues, there are a lot of people who should never been given access to anything important out there with Top Secret. Do set your financial affairs in order before applying. Quite frankly with unemployment at 17% or more the number of persons with perfect credit trying to join the military will not be high. Give it a shot, worst they can do is tell you no.