Will my past financial issues DQ me with a TS Clearance? Are there exceptions? Prior Service wanting to go 35P.

2015-04-09T03:56:22-04:00

Response by SGT Vanessa Elias made Apr 9 at 2015 8:09 AM

2015-04-09T08:09:20-04:00

I guess to rephrase the question (since i was limited on characters), i was prior service 42R, ETS'd in 2008, had a 6 year, goign on 7 year break in service. I have been speaking to a recruiter lately and am suppose to take the DLAB very soon. According to Prior Service Business Rules i can re class into a 35P slot given I pass the DLAB and obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance. I have bad credit, mostly from several years ago. I haven't had any financial trouble lately, but I want to know if my past financial issues will have a damper on getting that TS Clearance. Are there any exceptions with clearances, and would I be able to sit down with an interviewer and explain my past financial issues with them? I have no criminal record. Just a few parking tickets and one speeding ticket from a year ago. Drivers License has a suspension more than 12 years ago, but is good to go now. I have family who are in trouble and have been in trouble in the past with the law, but I do not associate with them one bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and If anyone can fill me in on the process and steps that they went through when going 35P, I would love to get some insight. Thank you.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 9:32 AM

2015-04-09T09:32:12-04:00

SGT Elias, I kinda went through the same thing however I'm not prior service but I don't think OPM looks at your status in the military so much. I had some charged off accounts that I was paying through a credit counseling company and was told to make sure that all that debt was paid to really make sure I could get my TS clearance. I had the chance to talk with a former OPM investigator that said the will also take payment plans into account as long as you have established a good payment history with them. I was in the same boat, paid my debt before I started the process and 2 years later I'm still in and have my clearance. However I do know that some people pass the initial investigation and get hemmed up later. I know some people who have graduated their course at DLI and are still there pending their clearances. I was held over for a couple days in basic because of my clearance but haven't had any snafus since then. I hope this helps, theres some decent information out there but really if you have no outstanding debt and just some scrapes on your credit report in the past you should be fine. Also, moving violations shouldn't hurt you, I should know.... lol

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-04-09T15:43:13-04:00

SGT Elias, you should be okay. You'll have a security interview. Be 100% open and honest and nothing will come back to bite you later on. As long as you have no outstanding debts, issues with the law, or a bad military record, than everything should roll smoothly. Although, I'm sure you'll run into a few hiccups, depending on the seriousness of your past. But please, don't take my word for it. I'm just rolling off of experience here. Best of luck, SGT!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 9:04 PM

2015-04-09T21:04:32-04:00

SGT Elias,

As a former BN Security Manager, I had to deal with issues like this all of the time. Your best bet is to get with your security manager and ask for a copy of the 13 Adjudicative Guidelines. This is what I told my guys. Within these guidelines are the factors that DOD CAF looks at when they consider giving or taking a clearance. The neat thing is that for every concern that would cause question, there are mitigating factors that show the COC and adjudicators at CAF that you are doing your best to take care of the issue. Like others have said, when it comes time for your reinvestigation be 100 percent honest. It's also DOD policy that you self report any issues. If you don't have access to a security manager or S2 NCOIC, check out this link: http://www.dss.mil/about_dss/news/20130919.html. Another good link is http://extras.sltrib.com/Utah_Data_Center/security_clearance.pdf.

BLUF-just be up front and do what you can to show you are taking care or have taken care of the issues. They go off the "Whole Person" concept and realize no one is perfect.

DSS posts frequently asked questions on the security clearance process

A personnel security clearance is an administrative determination by competent authority that an individual is eligible, from a security standpoint, under national security standards for access to classified information.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 12:29 AM

2015-04-18T00:29:34-04:00

I had a bankruptcy seven years prior to enlisting as a 35P and did not have any issues with getting my clearance. I can't say much about your other stuff. I'm on my second trip to DLI and can say that it can be extremely mentally challenging but enjoyable.