Help with interesting situation with my son.

Hello all, this is my first time on the forum so I apologize if this thread is in the wrong forum. Anyways, my son is a very interesting and nerve wrecking situation so please bare with me. My son, a former Marine officer and USNA alumni was going through the application and interview process for an intelligence agency. I believe during the process, there was a screening portion that asked if any of your family members have had any contact or encounter with US intelligence agencies in the past. My son said no and during the background investigation and screening, he failed it. Turns out it was because he was not honest during the interview and that apparently I had an encounter with intelligence members in the past that I did not know. The agency explained the details and I was able to recall the events of what happened.
Many, Many years ago , early 80s I was an intelligence officer (Not US Military). I was stationed at an island and the island contained a prison that housed many high level prisoners. One day, three people who arrived by plane and my commanding officer informed me they were reporters from the US embassy and were here to interview a prisoner. I was their escort and followed the three and was with them during the interview also helped translate. I showed them around the island that day and they did some surveying (Pretty cool people). When they left they took my name and that was the last I have heard from them. That is until now! Apparently it turns out the three were affiliated with an intelligence agency and not reporters, I dont recall anything negative with them and thought they were very nice people. I am unsure as to why this would make my son fail the screening. I feel very guilty as I feel like I have ruined my sons dreams, is there any way to appeal this? This was never an issue in past background checks or immigration for me or my son. Any help is appreciated.

Proudfatherofmarines said:

I believe during the process, there was a screening portion that asked if any of your family members have had any contact or encounter with US intelligence agencies in the past. My son said no and during the background investigation and screening, he failed it. Turns out it was because he was not honest during the interview and that apparently I had an encounter with intelligence members in the past that I did not know.

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Proudfatherofmarines said:

Many, Many years ago , early 80s I was an intelligence officer (Not US Military).

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You say you were an intel officer, non military, and they asked if any family member had any contact...the answer would be yes. If your son knew about your history, then he was wrong. If he didn't know what you were doing at the time, then HE should try to explain. That said, I suspect there is more to the story.

Old Navy BGO said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

I believe during the process, there was a screening portion that asked if any of your family members have had any contact or encounter with US intelligence agencies in the past. My son said no and during the background investigation and screening, he failed it. Turns out it was because he was not honest during the interview and that apparently I had an encounter with intelligence members in the past that I did not know.

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Proudfatherofmarines said:

Many, Many years ago , early 80s I was an intelligence officer (Not US Military).

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You say you were an intel officer, non military, and they asked if any family member had any contact...the answer would be yes. If your son knew about your history, then he was wrong. If he didn't know what you were doing at the time, then HE should try to explain. That said, I suspect there is more to the story.

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Sorry, maybe I should have elaborated a bit more, I was an intelligence officer in a foreign country's military. I was in the military, not for US. Son did not know about the story, I explained it to him but right now we are unsure if there are any ways possible to appeal.

Proudfatherofmarines said:

contact or encounter with US intelligence agencies in the past. M

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The question as stated on the post was contact with US intelligence agencies which the father definitely wasnt. However, you would have to imagine that they would want to know if there was contact with a foreign intelligence agencies. It is a weird quetion to be DQ for because I have to assume there are many people who have had contact with US intelligence asses and didnt know who they were.

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

It seems odd that your son who was military would not know of your service and what you did.

Humey said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

contact or encounter with US intelligence agencies in the past. M

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The question as stated on the post was contact with US intelligence agencies which the father definitely wasnt. However, you would have to imagine that they would want to know if there was contact with a foreign intelligence agencies. It is a weird quetion to be DQ for because I have to assume there are many people who have had contact with US intelligence asses and didnt know who they were.

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True, I did not know the "reporters" were affiliated with the intelligence agency at the time. If I knew than I would have told my son when he was applying for the agency. Im sure as agents they wouldn't disclose what they actually were to me.

Devil Doc said:

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

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Son knew about my Military service in foreign country. He mentioned it during the screening process. He did not know about my encounter with the so called "agents" and neither did I as I did not know they were agents. I guess they had my name recorded when they left the island almost 40 years ago. And yes, the screening process involved polygraph and various other screenings, it was a very complicated and long process.

helmsdown said:

It seems odd that your son who was military would not know of your service and what you did.

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Again, my son did know about my military service. In fact, I was the reason he decided to become a warrior. He just didn't know about my encounter with the agents and neither did I.

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

Click to expand...

Son knew about my Military service in foreign country. He mentioned it during the screening process. He did not know about my encounter with the so called "agents" and neither did I as I did not know they were agents. I guess they had my name recorded when they left the island almost 40 years ago. And yes, the screening process involved polygraph and various other screenings, it was a very complicated and long process.

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I hate to belabor the question but,

Forty years ago? A brief encounter 40 years ago killed your son's chance of employment with an intelligence agency?

I'm either missing something or I'm just missing, something.

I'm with Devil Doc. It seems to me that they didn't actually tell your son why, or he didn't convey what they told him, and you're guessing as to what happened. At least it appears that way from where I sit. But hey, if you want to beat yourself up have at it.

Devil Doc said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

Click to expand...

Son knew about my Military service in foreign country. He mentioned it during the screening process. He did not know about my encounter with the so called "agents" and neither did I as I did not know they were agents. I guess they had my name recorded when they left the island almost 40 years ago. And yes, the screening process involved polygraph and various other screenings, it was a very complicated and long process.

Click to expand...

I hate to belabor the question but,

Forty years ago? A brief encounter 40 years ago killed your son's chance of employment with an intelligence agency?

I'm either missing something or I'm just missing, something.

Click to expand...

Well I’m not going to disclose all the details of what happened when those “agents” had interviewed the prisoner, but since I was there I do recall what the prisoner was being interviewed for and I was technically the interpreter, at the end of the day I signed a bunch of documents saying “I will not do” I will remain” stuff like that. The prisoner was a pilot who had defected. It struck me too why this incident would Barr my son from this opportunity and this caught me off guard completely.

kinnem said:

I'm with Devil Doc. It seems to me that they didn't actually tell your son why, or he didn't convey what they told him, and you're guessing as to what happened. At least it appears that way from where I sit. But hey, if you want to beat yourself up have at it.

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They did explain what the reason was for. However, my son has tried reaching back to them and try to explain it and nobody is replying back to him. An official told him the best he could do is contact local congressman or write a formal letter but there isn’t much more detail involved after that.

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

Click to expand...

Son knew about my Military service in foreign country. He mentioned it during the screening process. He did not know about my encounter with the so called "agents" and neither did I as I did not know they were agents. I guess they had my name recorded when they left the island almost 40 years ago. And yes, the screening process involved polygraph and various other screenings, it was a very complicated and long process.

Click to expand...

I hate to belabor the question but,

Forty years ago? A brief encounter 40 years ago killed your son's chance of employment with an intelligence agency?

I'm either missing something or I'm just missing, something.

Click to expand...

Well I’m not going to disclose all the details of what happened when those “agents” had interviewed the prisoner, but since I was there I do recall what the prisoner was being interviewed for and I was technically the interpreter, at the end of the day I signed a bunch of documents saying “I will not do” I will remain” stuff like that. The prisoner was a pilot who had defected. It struck me too why this incident would Barr my son from this opportunity and this caught me off guard completely.

Click to expand...

I understand about your commitment to non-disclosure and will stop bugging you about this, but for this to become an issue when your son should not have known about it, i.e., the non-disclosure agreement, just seems bizarre. I cannot remember what your original question was but I obviously am of no help.

Devil Doc said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

Proudfatherofmarines said:

Devil Doc said:

wowza, the "intelligence agency" your son was applying for knew about you but your son did not?

or,

Was this picked up on a polygraph or something like that?

Click to expand...

Son knew about my Military service in foreign country. He mentioned it during the screening process. He did not know about my encounter with the so called "agents" and neither did I as I did not know they were agents. I guess they had my name recorded when they left the island almost 40 years ago. And yes, the screening process involved polygraph and various other screenings, it was a very complicated and long process.

Click to expand...

I hate to belabor the question but,

Forty years ago? A brief encounter 40 years ago killed your son's chance of employment with an intelligence agency?

I'm either missing something or I'm just missing, something.

Click to expand...

Well I’m not going to disclose all the details of what happened when those “agents” had interviewed the prisoner, but since I was there I do recall what the prisoner was being interviewed for and I was technically the interpreter, at the end of the day I signed a bunch of documents saying “I will not do” I will remain” stuff like that. The prisoner was a pilot who had defected. It struck me too why this incident would Barr my son from this opportunity and this caught me off guard completely.

Click to expand...

I understand about your commitment to non-disclosure and will stop bugging you about this, but for this to become an issue when your son should not have known about it, i.e., the non-disclosure agreement, just seems bizarre. I cannot remember what your original question was but I obviously am of no help.

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No problem and thanks for giving insight. The issue now isn't what happened back in the 80s but really is more of can we appeal this. It seems like the agency has been completely ignoring his calls and messages and moved on with the next candidate.

One more thing. My son is in the Corps and it looks like he'll be there forever. My daughter though, no military experience, applied to "an agency" a few years ago. She is a smart woman, a masters degree, tough as nails, college athlete, and was called in for an interview. It states on the agency website not to tell even family members the interest in joining. She didn't tell until she got the letter saying she was not selected. She told us she was directed to a non-descript office building in the Dulles tech corridor. It was much like any other job interview. She received a call a few days later saying she was not selected to go further in the process and that was it. As far as I remember she didn't try to inquire as to the reasoning. Probably due to the nature of the business, she figured the decision was not negotiable.

@Proudfatherofmarines - I suspect this is a case of "their game, their rules." I doubt there is an appeal process.

I encourage your Marine DS to pursue the other alphabet agencies - they all have slightly different standards and once in, he may have a chance to move between them.

I will say that any time that one applies to work for one of the alphabetical agencies, the questions are often not logical and quite often bizarre. Most of them are content in the fact that nearly everyone on the outside thinks that they know more about everything than they actually do, which is really good. They can afford to be very "choosy" when it comes to hiring, because all applicants really want a job there.

It is a lot like the military. Nobody joins the agency that they think they are joining, because very few people know anything about them (aside from what they know from hearsay or movies)