When trying to get a Top Secret clearance to become a 31D, would it be a problem if my father is a citizen of Spain?

Leslie Valerio — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:10:53 -0500

Hello, I am interested in 31D as my MOS and I have all of the qualifications but when it comes to receiving the clearance I’m not sure if I’ll get it. My mother and I are U.S Citizens but my father is a citizen of Spain, would this be an issue when attempting to get top secret security clearance that is needed for this job?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2024 12:36 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:36:03 -0500

I would say no problem. My Honduran Cousin was the deputy ambassador or deputy chief of mission of the Honduran embassy in Washington DC and later Ottawa, Canada. I was applying for a top-secret clearance because that is required to be a Civil Affairs Officer. Spain is not a hostile country and it is part of NATO and the European Union.
Others here can give you more factual information. I don't see it as a problem as long as you put it down. If he was part of the ETA ( A Basque separatist terrorist organization) Then this could be a problem.

If you go in as military police like I did originally, You will get a Secret Clearance and that's easy! I was a 31 Bravo and later a 31 Alpha. I just retired from the Army Reserve two years ago.
Let us see what others think.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 21 at 2024 7:20 AM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 07:20:51 -0500

Short answer: Having an immediate family member who is a citizen of another country is not a defacto disqualifying situation, but it could be based on your relationship with them and how much they "exercise their citizenship of another country".

It all comes down to the relationship you have with your father and how much influence he has over you. If, as I expect, you have a close and continuing relationship, then it then becomes dependant what relationships your father has with Spain, the government/citizens of Spain, why he's a Spanish citizen in this country, etc.

The sole purpose of a security clearance determination is to decide if it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue a security clearance for an applicant. The government's concern is summed up in the guidelines around access to classified information (DoDD 5220.6). Specifically Guideline B about Foreign Influence:

"The Concern: A security risk may exist when an individual's immediate family, including cohabitants, and other persons to whom he or she may be bound by affection, influence, or obligation are not citizens of the United States or may be subject to duress. These situations could create the potential for foreign influence that could result in the compromise of classified information. Contacts with citizens of other countries or financial interests in other countries are also relevant to security determinations if they make an individual potentially vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or pressure."

So, can it affect your ability to get a clearance? Yes. Will it? That is a very subjective question and every situation is unique. If it's a case where "He's a dual-citizen of Spain but hasn't been back to the country in over 15 years and doesn't have any contact with other Spanish nationals" it likely would be minimal. However, if it's one where he's a citizen of Spain, does work for the government of Spain, and has a close relationship with a government official - that's an almost guaranteed denial.

Everything else is probably going to fall in-between and it's going to be up to the adjudicators to determine how much of risk he has of putting the interests of Spain ahead of the United States, and if that makes you potentially vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or pressure based on your relationship.
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* DoDD 5220.6 - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/522006p.pdf

522006p.pdf

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 21 at 2024 9:52 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 09:52:40 -0500

I live in Denmark, my mother-in-law was Danish, my wife is Danish. No problem getting mine.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jan 21 at 2024 11:17 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:17:23 -0500

Without knowing anything about your father I'd say it might delay the process a bit but shouldn't keep you from getting one.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jan 21 at 2024 3:45 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 15:45:55 -0500

Reminds me of a TS push for pilots in the mid 60s. We had a Major whose mother-in-law was a registered Nazi in Germany. Didn't deny him the clearance, but took a while to get the info from Germany.

Response by COL Dan Ruder made Jan 21 at 2024 6:15 PM

COL Dan Ruder — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 18:15:48 -0500

Your profile states that you are a "recruit". You will most likely go through the process (SF-86) to first qualify for a SECRET level security clearance while you are a recruit. TS investigations are more thorough and require a Single Scope Background Investigation. In your stated situation, and regarding TS investigation, as long as you are not a spouse of or a cohabitant with a foreign national then additional investigations may not be needed. Your situation is not uncommon. Your organization's security officer is best positioned to address any concerns you have regarding your specific situation.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2024 5:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:41:14 -0500

That alone will not be an issue UNLESS they find out something about your dad when they are doing the background investigation.

I know people with 35 series MOSs who have tons of foreign relatives and have a TS/SCi and have held it for years.

Response by MAJ Louis Giamo made Jan 22 at 2024 6:31 PM

MAJ Louis Giamo — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:31:25 -0500

My wife held Korean citizenship when we got married and I had no trouble getting a TS clearance.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 23 at 2024 8:02 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:02:31 -0500

Having a foreign citizen in your immediate family isn't an automatic disqualifier but it will extend the investigation process as they check everything out.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2024 10:55 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:55:04 -0500

As many of the other responses have stated it should not prevent you from getting a clearance. It will take longer to process completely as you will have a foreign contact listed. Even when your clearance is finally granted you might still not be able to get access to certain programs/facilities due to foreign contacts but that is specific to that program/facility and usually involves so more investigation into your background. I have seen it with others that have a TS/SCI clearance but were not allowed to work in certain areas or get access to certain programs due to foreign contacts. Each situation is different and depends on the information being classified and why.

The best course of action is to fill out the SF86/eQIP honestly and provide as much information as possible. Any information you can provide on the relationship with your father can go a long way in making the investigation process go fast and smooth.