Posted on Nov 19, 2018
COL Thomas F.
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I was recently offered an assignment that requires a TS clearance. However, as you can guess, I don't have one. So the owner of the slot tells me to go get one so he can bring me on board. However, again, my current position doesn't require a TS, so my current organization says, "No". Catch-22 right? Any suggestions on how to get around this conundrum so I can get my dream job?
Posted in these groups: Ts Security Clearance
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 6 y ago
COL Thomas F. the Command can grant an interim for the purpose of initiating a TS Clearance to take a developmental/broadening assignment. I had a BCT Commander direct us all to have one, not for him, but so we could be read on for other things. I had to have one at the Naval War College, operated on an interim the whole time. Clearance moved at half the speed of smell.

Once you have it, you just need to keep it current with periodic re investigations. Do t let it ever slide back to secret.

Corollary to the Transportation Corps motto: nothing moves until something happens. I'd go through your rater to the senior rater and tell them you'll lose this unless you can get one initiated.
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COL Thomas F.
COL Thomas F.
6 y
Appreciate the input. As I learned along time ago, you don't get if you don't ask. I went to my next higher HQ and asked through G2 for help. All they wanted was a letter from my branch manager saying the TS was required for my next job, and voila, they were very accommodating.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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CAPT Kevin B.
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Odd that storyline was given to you.. The sponsoring organization is responsible for getting that for you. So if they want you, their security office needs to sponsor you. Presuming you have a Secret, then when you actually are put in the billet, an Interim TS can be granted while the rest of the stuff goes through the mill. If you need a SSBI, then that takes 6-9 months, hence the reason for "Interim". This stuff is done a thousand plus times a week system wide. No mystery. You can't retain a clearance higher than what your billet calls for. So even though you may be within the burn life of a particular clearance, it is either active or turned off. It can be turned back on quickly if you bounce to a different billet that requires it.
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COL Thomas F.
COL Thomas F.
6 y
thanks. I present that back to them and my branch manager. Maybe they'll budge. I think the big issue is they just don't want to pay for the clearance... as I am consistently told.
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CAPT Kevin B.
CAPT Kevin B.
6 y
"Don't want to pay" is Code Speak for "We don't want you that bad." I remember all the stuff I had to get just to do my various jobs. It's a two edged sword. The higher the ticket, actually subtickets, the more intense the debriefings, the more cross validations, the more "penalty" if you get sideways with it. I never talk about some of the what/where I was, but after I was debriefed the final time, it felt like I took roller skates off. If you go the route, then make sure you follow every rule and procedure 110%.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
COL Thomas F. - I have never, ever, seen or heard where the bill for that goes. I was the DCO for a BDE and the S8 worked for me. Never got a bill from Division.

My BDE S2 would make a common sense determination on need and initiate, whether it was Secret or TS. Your situation would fall into that column.
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CAPT Kevin B.
CAPT Kevin B.
6 y
From what I recall the background check outfits are mission funded for x amount of staffing to do y number of SSBIs etc. When I was Skippering or working out at the J4 shops, there wasn't a "bill" to pay. That was some time ago, so things might have changed. I knew I was deep into it when I upgraded from SCI to SP back in the day. But that was when I was toting 3 passports as well. Ah, the memories of the rat infested SIPR rooms....
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