Does a security clearance renew automatically?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:48:37 -0400

Does a security clearance renew automatically or do you yourself have to start on the process? What can cause you to loose a security clearance these days? I have one for a few years now but I have not used it or anything all I know about it is just that I have one.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Mar 23 at 2016 9:50 AM

CSM David Heidke — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:50:24 -0400

no, you have to apply for it every time.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 9:52 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:52:45 -0400

No, assuming you have a clearance from DOD then it does not automatically renew. Secret Clearances are valid for 10 years. Once you 10 year anniversary comes up you will have a new investigation that review all the same items on the hit list from prior; credit score, criminal arrest record, foreign assets / contacts, travel history, drug use ect....TS / SCI gets more complicated as they may issue you a lifestyle polygraph but that is dependent on the organization that is sponsoring your clearance.

If you have one but don't use it I would recommend renewing it if your due to expire soon...its a valuable asset to have in your back pocket.

Response by MSgt C Madd made Mar 23 at 2016 9:52 AM

MSgt C Madd — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:52:46 -0400

No it does not. 10 years for Secret to be renewed, less for all other levels. Contact your security manager for your personal details.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 9:53 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:53:26 -0400

No, I can only speak for the Army side, but assume it is similar to the Navy. They are good for 10 years unless something of your own doing causes you to lose it early. You have to reapply as you get to the 10 year mark.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 10:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:17:56 -0400

Various things can cause you to lose your clearance. From criminal charges to a simply clerk error.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 23 at 2016 10:20 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:20:35 -0400

If you are aware that your Security Investigation (not the same as your Clearance) is about to expire (about a year out), get to your local Security Manager and begin filling out the Forms (all electronic now) for a Periodic Reinvestigation.

Your "Clearance" is like a Lightswitch. When you are in a Billet that requires it, it is turned on. When you are not, it is turned off. The Investigation is what allows it to be turned on/off. The Investigation (for up to Secret) is good for 10 years from final Adjudication (less for TS).

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 10:24 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:24:38 -0400

Piece of advice. Always keep your e-quip paperwork when you apply or renew your clearances. Going back ten years in the military with all the moving around can be a pain in the butt. Having the previous copy is a big help in getting the renewal done quickly. As far as losing your clearance. Depending on the level of clearance you have you can lose your clearance for such things as DUI's, bankruptcies, or almost any kind of UCMJ action. Your S2 should notify you when the time is coming to renew or if you were to lose it for any reason.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 10:40 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:40:46 -0400

Clearance eligibility *always* expires and has to be renewed, no matter who did the investigation or who adjudicated the result. By default, eligibility of Public Trust (basically, to grant you access to internal, protected data at the unclassified level) will expire after 15 years, Secret after 10, TS/SCI after 5, and most SAPs use the TS/SCI standard (plus usually polygraph) but then add on annual re-adjudication as part of a continuous evaluation program.

Getting it renewed is based on either *need to know* or position requirements. Simply put, if you aren't in a job that requires you to have access, or otherwise in a position that is required to maintain a baseline eligibility, then you won't be investigated or re-investigated. Additionally, large gaps in service can justify administrative (non-punitive) de-activation of your eligibility, which then requires re-investigation (or if the investigation is still fairly current, sometimes merely re-adjudication) to get back.

What can cause you to *lose* eligibility earlier than that -- excepting the administrative downgrade or de-activation -- is the same thing that could block an adjudication otherwise; if you violate the 13 adjudicative guidelines, and cannot sufficiently mitigate the circumstances of the violation. The 13 guidelines are available <a href="http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/60321.htm">[here]</a>, and each has a series of potential factors that can indicate a concern and factors that could mitigate the concern. The applicability of these is done by the adjudicator, *not* the investigator, which for all DoD personnel will be the DoD Consolidated Adjudications Facility (CAF) at Ft. Meade, MD. The investigator's job is merely to gather and organize the facts relevant to your case, *never* to make an overall recommendation or determination.

Source: I've been a Security Manager at virtually every echelon in the Army over a period of more than a decade. Also, I have worked directly for DoD CAF on the civilian side.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 11:14 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 11:14:57 -0400

No the clearance must be renewed. Usually you keep up on it so you don't have to be reminded to do it. If it lapses there could be some major problems at work, and it will take longer to fix it. You also get to explain to your Command why you 'forgot' to update it.

An investigation can have it suspended, UCMJ can have it revoked, bad discharge can have it revoked, bad credit can have a TS or higher revoked (with a secret bad credit usually only effects the renewal). A secret is good for 10 years while you are in service. I -think- a TS is 2 or 3 years. A Secret only lasts a max of 2 years once you get out of the service, and is a great boon to some employers if your clearance is active.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 1:48 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:48:23 -0400

No. Each one in subject to an SSBI every five years, something that was a mainstay of my job as a CGIS special agent.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 23 at 2016 1:53 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:53:32 -0400

Clearances have to be renewed. The intervals are based on type. Secret, which is the most common, is every 10. IIRC, the TS and TS/SCI are more frequent.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 23 at 2016 8:17 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:17:05 -0400

Urah Phib CB 1! Everyone is on the mark. I'll add that a clearance also dies when you leave the service so make sure your resume NEVER says "currently hold" the day after you leave. You just lied on your resume. If you go to work for an outfit that does Federal work that requires security clearance, they have their own security office that will process you. Having a previous clearance can help in getting a new interim, but you have to do the drill again. So keep all your E-Quip stuff handy for the next Security Manager that needs to massage you.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2016 12:35 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:35:13 -0400

I didn't realize Rally Point was secure enough to so openly discuss the processes we use to permit access to items vital to national security. Best advice I saw was "...contact your S2 (security manager)".
We never know if the seemingly innocuous information we have is the last piece of the puzzle for an enemy.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 10:54 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:54:21 -0400

No ... You have to go to Security Officer of Installation ... Depends on your type and how long granted ... Don't let the time pass by ... Others have regretted it

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 3:08 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:08:03 -0400

You have to renew it yourself. It is easier the second time. Most positions require at at least secret.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2016 5:23 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 05:23:36 -0400

No, it does not automatically renew. Your NO SC should tell you that you need to resubmit the former for your clearance. I think it was an SF-87. You can lose your clearance for many reasons. Least of which is bad credit. So, keep up with your bills, keep your nose clean and you should be fine.

Response by SN John Hennion made Apr 19 at 2016 11:08 AM

SN John Hennion — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:08:29 -0400

Its depends on who did it and when .. What is your MOS .. I was a radioman and i have a TS (full clear) lev 5 Aka acrs the board and it never exp.. Well not until 2069 anyhow as i was told by nav admin in my div

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 12 at 2017 3:48 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 15:48:19 -0500

Quick answer...once adjudicated it is good for ten years. Access is based on the position. You or your sec manager has to begin the process to renew...it is not automatic.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made May 6 at 2019 8:01 PM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Mon, 06 May 2019 20:01:30 -0400