Can your Army recruiter ask for you to get your secret clearance?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:36:27 -0500

I ship out to army as 25b on June 23rd, I find it funny how my recruiter told me I would get an interview with a investigator right after I signed a contract, it’s been 1 month and an investigator didn’t call me not once, but I have friends (7 to be exact) who have been put through meps with the same recruit as me and signed a contract last week and 2 signed contracts today and they all got to interview with an investigator on the spot when they signed the contract, why didn’t I get that opportunity? I think it’s because I did something bad when I was 16 but it was expunged from my records and he told me I would be good to join if I don’t say anything (yes I know it was wrong to lie but focus on the other parts I’m asking right now) so I didn’t , but I think he is probably telling them to prolong my clearance until I ship out because maybe he thinks I will get caught for lying so he doesn’t want them to interview me now and later, they end up finding out I lied they will kick me out and he won’t make his quota because I never shipped out because of me getting caught up, Is that what is going on here or he can’t do anything for me to be in contact with an investigator before I even ship ? Because how is it that everyone else is getting in contact with investigators but I’m not? You expect me to believe that waivers go in order from whoever submitted them first to last , but clearances don’t go in order ???

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Feb 20 at 2019 7:46 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:46:36 -0500

He may have informed you incorrectly, it's been a while since I had to put in for a clearance but if I recall even things done as a juvenile needed to be reported. Believe it or not I've always heard that it's worse to lie or not divulge all information than reporting on it because after all many of us did things we were not particularly proud of when young and they take that in to consideration. I've also heard that many clearance submittals are denied because of bad credit or other personal financial issues-Good luck!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 7:49 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:49:23 -0500

You could consider revising your SF 86 and add the offense, or bring it up during your interview, just don't let it go past that point. Read these articles, it may help you articulate your error or misunderstanding of the requirement.
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2011/01/26/relevance-of-criminal-conduct-and-security-clearances/amp/

https://news.clearancejobs.com/2015/10/15/sealed-expunged-criminal-records-sf-86/amp/

Relevance of Criminal Conduct and Security Clearances - ClearanceJobs

The Adjudicative Guidelines states that “Criminal activity creates doubt about a person’s judgment, reliability and trustworthiness. By its very nature, it calls into question a person’s ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules and regulations.” Because of the high rate of adult recidivism, this issue is perhaps one of the best predictors of future compliance with rules for handling classified information.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Feb 20 at 2019 8:00 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:00:29 -0500

NOTHING is hidden from the military. You need to come clean about that record. Your recruiter may not like it, but he's not the one who could get kicked out for lying. That record will be found during their background investigation so it's best to tell them now. Remember, it's your life, and your future on the line. That recruiter will NOT step up and tell them that he told you to leave that information out. That recruiter will NOT be the one who has to suffer the consequences of being discharged for lying. It will all be on you. Step up and do the right thing, it's called INTEGRITY.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 8:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:17:35 -0500

The background check will find it. And if that doesn’t find it the Investigator will.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 20 at 2019 8:41 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:41:10 -0500

Kid, They will investigate when they want to and will. They can do it anytime before AIT.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 8:54 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:54:30 -0500

Im not seeing where your recruiter asked you to get a clearance but it’s sounds like you’re being paranoid because you lied.
Whatever has happened with your friends doesn’t mean it will be the same for you. For my clearance before I was able to sign you have to talk to someone over the phone for an initial interview that your liaison will put you through to and answer some questions to ensure you qualify for an investigation. Before all of this you have to have a finger printed background check which should pull up anything you have against you.
The clearance investigation process can take a while and wherever you are basic/AIT they will find you and conduct your final interview before it gets sent for review.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 10:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:30:48 -0500

The recruiter has nothing to do with when your investigation starts or stops. They do not have that authority, nor would they want it. The investigations are different for every one. During my first enlistment I talked with someone at MEPS the day I signed. When I came back in, it wasn't until the last couple weeks of my OSUT that I met with an investigator.

Little advise for you, the Army does what they want and what is best for them, always, no exceptions. With that, they also owe you zero explanations about why they do what they do in what order. I am not saying this to be cruel, just trying to help you out. You will realize soon enough when you get to Basic, there is a method to the madness, it is just above your rank. So relax and enjoy the ride.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 10:37 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:37:49 -0500

Lying is not the Army way and will catch up with you. You may be interested in knowing about the Army Values. Integrity is a core value.

ttps://http://www.army.mil/values/

Army Values

The seven Army Values are the foundation of the Army Profession.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 21 at 2019 2:14 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 02:14:09 -0500

Lots of comments but one critical thing missing. Don't know if you filled out the questionnaire but "you can answer no if the case was expunged" isn't on the form the last time I had to do it. Presumably the expungement occurred at a local/state level. If the original court finding was sent to the Feds (there's a list of stuff that is required to be sent), the expungement order has no authority at the Federal level and court clerks don't typically pitch that stuff that way because they know it. The FBI, US Marshall, BATF, etc. have access to your SSN and any court record sent their way. DIS and others doing a background check pings on all these sources. If you didn't report the information on the questionnaire, then the investigating entity can read that three ways. Nothing there, you lied, or you thought you were OK. I've seen it cut all ways with folk under my command and the only pattern I could discern was more related to the offence. Shoplifting at the mall is one thing. Domestic violence is another. Also, I've personally have been interviewed early and other times late after they talked to everyone else in the phone book. It's a matter of how they read your response and the results of their pings to the LEO side. Then it's what's the easiest path to conclude the investigation.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 7:02 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 07:02:27 -0500

Recruiter has nothing to do with a security clearance. Not everyone who goes for a secret the investigator meets with. It's only when they have some type of questions about your sf-86 and what they have found. For my renewal back in December it took about 2 weeks before the investigator called me and it was only a 45 min meet he said it was his fastest ever. It is usually some simple questions. My first two security clearances I never met with an investigator so you never know.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Feb 21 at 2019 8:28 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 08:28:10 -0500

Your recruiter has zero, actually less than zero control over your security clearance investigation. You are so far out of your zone here. It will happen when it happens. Just go with it.

Response by PO2 Robert M. made Feb 21 at 2019 1:01 PM

PO2 Robert M. — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 13:01:15 -0500

Well, I had to wait for my Background Investigation until I was ready for the school. Since I just was turning 18, my investigation was quick! - I am from a small town in Northern Minnesota, and all my references were having coffee at my family's Drug Store.
Chief of Police, Minister, Teachers and others were in ONE SPOT!
It was such a farce... the waitress said "you guys FEDs? - Checking up on Bob" -
They asked her how did she know...
"Well, you are wearing sunglasses, driving a FORD LTD, Trenchcoats and strangers, that is how I know"
Needless to say, my clearance was waiting for me when I was a week from school!
Needless to say, that was in 1980 - I am certain a lot of things have changed!!!

Response by SGT Richard Ahlstrom made Feb 21 at 2019 10:56 PM

SGT Richard Ahlstrom — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 22:56:52 -0500

I do BIs. For a secret clearance all that is done is a review of the SF-86, credit history and a criminal history check. No interview unless you have issues in your background, i.e alcohol, drugs, criminal, foreign travel, financial are the most common issues.

Response by SFC Michael Wilkins made Aug 16 at 2021 10:11 AM

SFC Michael Wilkins — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 10:11:37 -0400

I was a recruiter and they do an NCIC on everyone that goes in. I was put under investigation because I put someone in that had charges that did not belong to them. I had to pull the warrants just to prove they were his dad’s charges that got listed on the sons record. I proved it by showing the date of birth on the warrant because they had a DUI when the sone was three years old. So the son got to stay in the army.