How can you expedite a security clearance?

SSG Michael Hathaway — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 11:53:33 -0400

I have never had a security clearance. I applied back in MEPS 6+ yrs ago but nothing ever came of it. ERB states nothing and S2 says nothing. How can I get a clearance if S2 won't talk with me? I have one friend there and she has busted her butt to get my process going and has since moved units so back to limbo status. I would love to reclass to 25D but having no clearance hinders the packet.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Apr 4 at 2016 11:58 AM

CSM David Heidke — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 11:58:58 -0400

If it's stuck in the process you can go through your NCO support chain. But once it gets to the investigation authority, there isn't anything you can do.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Apr 4 at 2016 12:00 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:00:23 -0400

If your BN S2 will not assist, you need to push to BDE S2. Remember however a security clearance is issue to those that require one, not those that just wish to have one

Response by SSG Waldo Yamada made Apr 4 at 2016 12:15 PM

SSG Waldo Yamada — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:15:11 -0400

Ask your pac clerk. I used to have an inside man in s2 who did the clearance and got it quickly. But I feel your pain. S2 thinks they're top notch intel.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2016 2:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 14:08:56 -0400

If your MOS does not require a clearance and not sitting in a position that requires a clearance, then you will not be processed for a clearance. If reclassing to an MOS that requires a clearance then the process will be started automatically.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 4 at 2016 2:37 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 14:37:47 -0400

ensure your SF86 has all correct and up-to-date information on everyone

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Apr 4 at 2016 3:24 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:24:37 -0400

I just noticed you are an MP. Being an MP requires a secret clearance by MOS, you should already have one unless it has been revoked for some reason, request a JPASS check from your S2 to inquire.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 4 at 2016 7:50 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 19:50:03 -0400

What seems to get lost is there's a difference between the billet, designator, MOS, etc. requiring one and the up front requirement to be eligible for one. So an early pass on your history didn't indicate any nonqualifying aspects otherwise you would have been tossed out a long time ago. The system doesn't grant clearances because you want it, but rather have a bona fide need for one. So it's not clear to me what the actual hitch in the giddyup is. Hopefully it isn't a Catch 22 on this one.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 4 at 2016 8:15 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 20:15:41 -0400

The key is to make the S-2 do his effing work. People like that make the Army really inefficient.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 12:09 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 00:09:53 -0400

So I see a few issues here. If you are an MP and your clearance was revoked or suspended then the clearance adjudications facility at Ft. Meade MUST notify you through your units S2. Your Secret clearance periodic investigation will need to be initiated at the 9 year 11 month mark from when your clearance was finalized.

I was a previous S2 and dealt with CAF on a daily basis. I know it's frustrating to be in your situation but keep your head up and you can get to the bottom of the issue.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Apr 5 at 2016 6:41 AM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 06:41:31 -0400

I was lucky. I got my clearance pretty quickly, but that's not so much what I did vs the folks on the other side were on the ball and got mine good to go lickety-split. Besides what's already been said: location is another sure-fire way for you to get one. If you're PCSing soon and you get a choice of station: I would imagine almost anything OCONUS would require you to get one; South Korea especially. I remember my first unit scrambling to get those who didn't have clearances good to go before my first time in Korea.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 4:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:42:26 -0400

Ok so I read your post and I see the comments below. I am with the MD state G2 for the NG so it might be different, but this is what happens on our end...
If your position now does not require you to have a clearance you will not be put in for one, this is not MOS specific but more unit and line number specific for us. For instance an medic in a MI company might require a Secret but a Medic over at aviation might not. If you want to go 25D, at least for the guard, you have to find the unit/company that wants you and get a para/line and get scheduled for school. Your S3 needs to start getting you scheduled for school. This will make your S2 put in for your clearance. 25D is required to have a clearance... as far as the expedite goes... this is when it can come into effect... the S2 can request an expedite for school or deployment with and O5 signed memo. It will be sent to OPM, OPM can say no and S2 does not have to put that request in if they are worried about you not getting it. all in all... you have to show the need before they can put the paperwork in. Get scheduled for school and make S2 do their job.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 4:45 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 16:45:20 -0400

As a former military federal agent tasked with oftentimes doing SSBIs for security clearances and the like, all I can say is you would need to have lived in one town, gone to one school, worked at one prior civilian job, never traveled overseas, never been arrested for anything, never had a single late loan installment payment, and had only a half dozen friends who ever knew you long enough to make a dent in their memory banks. MAYBE, your SSBI might get investigated and processed through all proper channels and assigned to you in three months. Find your self working at the White House or hold some high rank, and that time frame can be further expedited by people with NAMES!!!

Response by CW3 Michael Clifford made Nov 28 at 2019 9:03 AM

CW3 Michael Clifford — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 09:03:44 -0500

The clearance you received as MEPS was a NAC (National Agency Check). It was not a clearance but simply a check to insure you were not a wanted person. I have been retired since 10/1994 but have held a TS clearance since 1977. Every 5 years the have updated it through reinvestigations. If you want to go into any field requiring a clearance (MI, CID, etc.), their acceptance of you will be contingent upon you obtaining a clearance. They will submit the request on you and you will then be called upon to fill out all of the necessary paperwork online, except your fingerprint cards. Those can also be done electronically but also with ink. These documents will be part of your packet to be accepted into those career fields. In 1977, before computers, it took me nearly a year to be accepted into the CID from the MPs. But once accepted, it took only days to be moved to a local CID office to work before going to the CID Agents Course, now offered at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.