Illicit Drug Use

I have been told a top security clearance is where they can call your references; as of rught now i just need a security clearance where i have been told based on the job i get they wont call references. if say i have to do a top security clearance in the future, can i then admit to trying marijuana two times before joining rotc?
Whoever told you that likely gave their interpretation of a particular scenario...with limited aggravating and/or mitigating circumstances weighed in the path to their conclusion.

Bottom line...if you require a clearance, you're required to fill out specific, detailed, accurate information. Lying on that documentation is no bueno. Omitting information is equally no bueno.

References are part of that paperwork exercise, as well. The government can...and most often WILL...exhaust all avenues to get a full picture of the clearance applicant. You very well might not know, however, if they've talked ONLY to the ones you listed...or if they added additional interviews to their list, "due to information obtained through the course of their investigation. "

Be smart...be honest...be all you can be.

I promise you...the risk far outweighs your perceived reward by failure to declare. And again...it's not like you killed Jimmy Hoffa (did you???????)...so nobody is gonna take away you birthday, for being honest.
 
I would be very leery about taking anyone's advice from this board -- all strangers to you -- on this topic. We all know what the right thing to do is and how we would all advise someone prior to their telling that lie But setting the record straight once it's been told is an entirely different matter because it comes with not only the possibility and full range of adverse administrative consequence, but -- however unlikely or remote. (and it is both unlikely and remote)-- very real exposure to financial and criminal liability.

If your lie made the difference in scholly award vs being passed over, then you stole, via fraud, the value of what you've already received and, were I deciding and that fact plainly evident, would say you should lose the remainder of that scholly and repay your plunder. But it's impossible to ever know if that single factor "made the difference."

Make a legal assistance visit and talk with a JAG -- or better yet, defense counsel -- either counsel being obligated by their license to protect your disclosure in requesting guidance as both privileged against further disclosure and confidential. Or the Chaplain, but he/she is not likely to have a JAG's clearance suspension and revocation experience, which remains in jeopardy even should your command forgive and waive their own action in light of your newly-formed clarity regarding Integrity.

No one else, except your mental health provider, if you have one, will guarantee that confidentiality as you weigh your conscience and penitent heart against your future and uncertain consequence.

There's no formula to what would happen and so much -- everything -- depends on you and other human (and, therefore, unpredictable) factors.

iMO, the most important question here is, "Can you commit...and should you be trusted...not to lie or smoke dope in the future?"

If you're still that scared kid who would lie about the little things, which probably didn't matter to your scholly award, then you'll lie about the big things that do matter, such as National Security secrets and service member lives, which can be (and are frequently) lost by "little lies" as seemingly inconsequential as fudging maintenance records.
 
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I have been told a top security clearance is where they can call your references; as of rught now i just need a security clearance where i have been told based on the job i get they wont call references. if say i have to do a top security clearance in the future, can i then admit to trying marijuana two times before joining rotc?
I did hear from a guy that admitted things during his interview that he had to fill out other forms. I don't know what he admitted to though.

And yes, they do background by talking to neighbors, known associates (church, athletic teams, groups), co-workers, etc, etc.

Just get off on the right foot and own up to everything now.

Put your Faith and Trust in God.
 
References are part of that paperwork exercise, as well. The government can...and most often WILL...exhaust all avenues to get a full picture of the clearance applicant. You very well might not know, however, if they've talked ONLY to the ones you listed...or if they added additional interviews to their list, "due to information obtained through the course of their investigation. "
I have been subject to multiple background investigations for work. They will absolutely knock on neighbor's doors/contact others not listed to ask about you.
 
Listen I'm not in support of lying, but asking THIS question on this forum had a 100% chance of getting the answers above. Most of the people here are military parents or retired military (again most), and (IMO) view either their past service or child's service through rose-tinted glasses. Of course the right thing to do would be to come clean and be 100% honest, but the truth is that everyone is human and messes up once in a while, and some things aren't worth losing an amazing career over. I would talk to multiple people that are currently active duty, and see what they think. I am in no way trying to discredit the people on this forum, but sometimes there are better resources out there that will have a more down-to-earth answer.
 
Listen I'm not in support of lying, but asking THIS question on this forum had a 100% chance of getting the answers above. Most of the people here are military parents or retired military (again most), and (IMO) view either their past service or child's service through rose-tinted glasses. Of course the right thing to do would be to come clean and be 100% honest, but the truth is that everyone is human and messes up once in a while, and some things aren't worth losing an amazing career over. I would talk to multiple people that are currently active duty, and see what they think. I am in no way trying to discredit the people on this forum, but sometimes there are better resources out there that will have a more down-to-earth answer.
I get what you're saying, here...but don't lose sight of the fact that security clearances go beyond just active duty military. Plenty of govt civilians, contractors, etc. follow the same application/investigation/adjudication path...and the rules, across the board, are mirror images. Those who may currently be in an occupational field where such clearances are necessary have a pretty good handle on the ins/outs. Those who have continually gone through them for 30-ish years...even more so.

I do agree...it's wise to do extensive research on such a problem...but the right/proper/honorable thing to do is pretty clear.
 
Of course the right thing to do would be to come clean and be 100% honest, but the truth is that everyone is human and messes up once in a while, and some things aren't worth losing an amazing career over.

Hard for me to argue with this statement. The last phrase is certainly true.

Which is why it’s better to come clean now, when there’s a decent chance of retaining your career, than waiting to possibly be caught later, in which case the chance of losing your career is better than decent.
 
The tangled webs of lying.

For the clearance process, simple past use of many drugs are just youthful experimentation.
Lying about the drug use shows lack of character and candor Personal Conduct adjudication factor) - at minimum it will impact your career field choices when I uncover the lie, at worse the discovery will cause a clearance denial.

Stand up and honestly report the information asked on the form.
 
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