What does the security clearance entail?

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USNAmomAZ

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How in depth is the security clearance check? What do they even look for? I assume mostly everyone passes, but what are they looking for? Past trouble and things of that nature? Or do they call references on the SF 86? Do they confirm your resume and call coaches and teachers and things like this? I assume hardly everyone that gets in to the academy poses a risk for our country, so I am just curious what things stand out as flags to them. Also, when will DD know if she gets the security clearance? Thanks!
 
USNAmomAZ said:
How in depth is the security clearance check? What do they even look for? I assume mostly everyone passes, but what are they looking for? Past trouble and things of that nature? Or do they call references on the SF 86? Do they confirm your resume and call coaches and teachers and things like this? I assume hardly everyone that gets in to the academy poses a risk for our country, so I am just curious what things stand out as flags to them. Also, when will DD know if she gets the security clearance? Thanks!
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Anything you're especially worried about?
 
I don't see how anybody in this forum could possibly know what precisely is checked. Like most security clearances, it is not something they outline. Would it make any sense to tell people exactly what is going to be checked and who they are going to talk to?

If I recall, each appointee must get a statement sent to the academy from their local law enforcement agency indicating whether the candidate has any pending or past law violations. [not speeding tickets ... more serious matters]
 
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I agree. I haven't seen anything about needing a security clearance. The background check seems to be for police records. I'm not aware of any secret programs at any SA (why would I be???) I suppose if there was one, it would be need-to-know and you go through a security background check at that time.
 
If you google SF86 you will find a link where you can download the form. Your mid will be doing summer training at various military bases and could be on submarines, surface warfare ships, aircraft carriers, etc. I believe they hold a low level security clearance while at the academy. Of course, once they graduate, they may get other security clearances as needed.
 
Basically, there are three levels of security clearances: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Almost all service members possess "Confidential" as it is the lowest level. Nonetheless, all classified material is only to be seen by people who have the "need to know", regardless of their security clearance level.
 
What they check

USNAmomAZ said:
How in depth is the security clearance check? What do they even look for? I assume mostly everyone passes, but what are they looking for? Past trouble and things of that nature? Or do they call references on the SF 86? Do they confirm your resume and call coaches and teachers and things like this? I assume hardly everyone that gets in to the academy poses a risk for our country, so I am just curious what things stand out as flags to them. Also, when will DD know if she gets the security clearance? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Based on my own experiences, for the first level clearance, Confidential, they really just want to ensure that the person at the academy is the same one that applied (that your DD is not a sleeper agent). They check to make sure that there are no security flags, which might indicate susceptibility to being blackmailed or making bad decisions, such as drug charges, theft, joyriding, etc., usually just doing a records check. For the higher level clearances, if those become necessary, which can happen before graduation if a Mid is being considered for the Nuke program, for example, they'll talk to people who know the mid and try to ascertain the Mid's character.
 
For the secret clearance (required for all midshipmen), they'll generally contact you only if there are issues with something on your SF-86. None of the references I listed on the SF-86 were actually contacted. I never heard about it after I-Day, and didn't even know if I really had a secret clearance until summer training.

However, your mid might want to participate in training or internships that require a TS clearance, which obviously involves a much more thorough background check. Certain communities (e.g. Nuke, EOD, SEAL, Intel) will also require a TS clearance.
 
The bottom line is that they are looking for any indicators on why the government cannot trust one with national security information.

You need to make the assumption that ALL of your data and ANY referrals may be contacted and/or visited in-person. It is better to be honest and upfront than to try and hide something. The "trust" of a security clearance is that you can be 100% truthful...through admitting or reporting certain activities...one's inability to do that can immediately cause a person's clearance to be pulled and is far worse than if the person was upfront and honest.

Reporting ANY contact with foreign national (even if it is family/relatives) or travel to foreign nations is extremely important.
 
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