How common is it for a someone in the Marines and Army to not have at least a secret clearance?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 07:51:07 -0500

I am asking simply because I was reviewing some documents and dozens of folks identified as AD, Res and Guard with ranks up to E7 indicated they did not have a clearance. On the AF side, we won't even give you access to NIPR without at least a secret (mil) or favorable (Civ).

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 2 at 2016 8:17 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:17:22 -0500

"It's MOS specific really. E7 and above need at least a secret clearance"
That mostly, but lets say it is Job/ Task related and also by grade.
Many Army folks work outside their school trained MOS every day. Some of those are in other MOS slotted lines that just don't have a fill, and the Army has many jobs that are additional duty's or worse required full time positions for which the Army has never created an authorization for.
Here is an example.. at the Company level, each company in the US Army has at least one "Training room NCO" Usually in the pay grade of E4~E5 That person should have a Secret clearance to do the job correctly, and that job is not an authorized line on the MTOE, yet filled in every unit I have ever seen, because it's needed.

Response by SSgt Mark Lines made Feb 2 at 2016 8:59 AM

SSgt Mark Lines — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:59:05 -0500

If memory serves , while I was on active duty, all E-6's and above had to be cleared for a at least a Secret clearance. You still had to have "Need to Know" for access to said material.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 2 at 2016 9:01 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:01:39 -0500

Most people just don't "need" one. The vast majority of what we do is Unclassified.

When I was still at BN Level, the S2 processed Clearance Activation's (as opposed to actual Clearances), and unless you were in H&S, an Officer, or SNCO chances are you didn't have one. Most folks in H&S didn't either. 600 people, and probably had 150~ folks with clearances (including a Comm PLT and a Scout Sniper PLT).

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 2 at 2016 9:21 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:21:25 -0500

Many MOSs do not require it. 88M off the top of my head. Don't know how you put a fill in a radio, but there it is. They get a background investigation but not a clearance.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 9:21 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:21:26 -0500

TSgt Joshua Copeland in my Unit, everybody needs a clearance, from the Supply guy, me, to the BC and everyone in between. If for any reason you get your clearance revoked, that would mean a PCS, if not chapter out. And I mentioned the chapter just because to get your clearance revoked, you gotta do something really dumb.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 9:30 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:30:20 -0500

The Army has a lot of MOSs where you just don't touch any classified information nor any gear that requires a clearance to operate. The most common secret gear the Army uses routinely are the hop sets for radios and to a lesser extent EW gear.
It varies a lot by MOS, though. In mine (Civil Affairs), everyone needs a Secret clearance, as most of our reports and information we use to build assessments and analysis is at least Secret. Once we get to E-7 and all officers need a TS/SCI.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 2 at 2016 9:38 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:38:02 -0500

MOS dependent and a matter of rank.

That said, I was a lower enlisted Army grunt, one who generally does not need such a clearance, but I received one. The testing unit I was in--I suspect--required more individuals with such clearances. That's the only reason I can think of as to why, one day out of the blue, I had Secret clearance.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Feb 2 at 2016 9:38 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:38:39 -0500

I had a secret clearance out of boot camp. I often think that is why I didn't get set back a phase. Lord knows the DI's would threaten that constantly.

I was already slotted into some follow on schools. That said, I think few junior enlisted, especially in the combat arms, have clearances.

Walt

Response by Capt James Kerins made Feb 2 at 2016 9:52 AM

Capt James Kerins — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:52:34 -0500

very common. There are many classifications and secret is very high up. You could go on many tours of duty and just have a ENTAC done on your background and that is the basic security clearance nationally.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Feb 2 at 2016 10:08 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:08:17 -0500

When you are being considered for a clearance you may not even know it. I certainly didn’t. I saw that it was completed 12/6/1973 --- but not until I got a DD-214 in 1977.

Also when I was a lieutenant some NIS guy came around and asked me about another lieutenant in my unit. I guess he was getting a top secret clearance or something.

Walt

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Feb 2 at 2016 10:32 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:32:40 -0500

Not that common but it is possible for lower enlisted E-1-E-5 to possibly get away without having a secret clearance, but E-6-E-9 more than likely have that to be the least of clearances.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 2 at 2016 10:37 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:37:33 -0500

I would tell you, but that is a breach of security. Why are you asking?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 11:27 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:27:19 -0500

No NIPR access without a Secret Clearance? Silly AF! ;)
Are you still allowed to use the latrine?

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Feb 2 at 2016 11:30 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:30:34 -0500

I was assigned Security Clerk as a collateral duty on board ship. Every Chief and Officer had a Secret or above. Most E-6 and below had at least a Secret, except for Deck Division, most of Engineering and Supply. I wish e-QIP had been around then. At least i was able to talk them into sending me to SSO school.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 2 at 2016 11:58 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:58:15 -0500

Even with eQIP, I still tell folks to keep an e-copy. Never know when they are going to change the system.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 2 at 2016 12:55 PM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:55:36 -0500

I'd bet its like the Navy and very few actually have a secret clearance. Us ET's and CT's had Secret and Im not even sure every ET in my division had Secret. Frequencies of Radar gets secret, IFF and CIC are all secret areas, but after that I'm guessing a very large part of my ship didn't have even confidential.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Feb 2 at 2016 1:29 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:29:32 -0500

TSgt Joshua Copeland It is very common. Only certain MOSes and duty positions require a security clearance. If you are not in one of them the Army will not pay to get you a clearance.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 2 at 2016 2:27 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:27:06 -0500

I think in the Army & Marines security clearances are MOS specific whereas the Air Force requires all Airmen to have at least a Confidential.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Feb 2 at 2016 3:50 PM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:50:14 -0500

Nothing like Air Force overkill? "Need access to an Unclassified system? You'd better have a Secret clearance!!!" :)

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 2 at 2016 4:46 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 16:46:25 -0500

For junior enlisted, very common.

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 7:12 PM

CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:12:34 -0500

very common. Non-citizens cannot have a clearance. we allow them on NIPR, but they cannot access any of our systems. In my case it's pay systems.

Response by LCpl Steve Smith made Feb 2 at 2016 9:21 PM

LCpl Steve Smith — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:21:10 -0500

when I was in, I was given a Secret Clearance when I was F.A.P.'d out to the U-Drive section of Base Motors. This was because their were a few times I had to Drive for Visiting Generals and I might over hear something deemed Secret or higher while driving for them. It is not completely M.O.S. Specific though it is a if necessary thing. It is given to those that they deem may come in contact or over hear Secret or above information or materials. BUT all Military Personal do get the confidential security clearance. after I E.A.S'd it was taken away, but it did make it very easy for me to get a new Secret Clearance when I was working Security at a Government contracted Aerospace Company. There I learned that just because someone has a Secret, TS or above Clearance (There are many Levels of TS) if it was deemed you do not have a need to know about a certain subject or Project you were not given access to the project area or information regardless of clearance level.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 8:21 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:21:02 -0500

Security clearances are issued on a need basis.

Response by Sgt Nick Marshall made Feb 4 at 2016 6:04 PM

Sgt Nick Marshall — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 18:04:34 -0500

Going back in time it was unusual to have a secret clearance, I only had one being a radio operator. Because my parents are English I was told I could go no higher.

Response by SFC Benjamin Varlese made Feb 7 at 2016 5:36 PM

SFC Benjamin Varlese — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 17:36:40 -0500

There are two reasons - one their own doing and the other above their level - that most soldiers and Marines do not have even a secret clearance: bad credit/financial decisions and a failure on the part of their leadership (Company level and above) to provide them the opportunity to. Every E-5 and above should have one and if their leadership or their own fiscal irresponsibility is not facilitating it then it is something the unit needs to address and rectify.

Response by CPO Curtiss Hill made Feb 7 at 2016 9:26 PM

CPO Curtiss Hill — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 21:26:36 -0500

Goes to need to know. I know that many Sailors don't get a security clearance unless they are going into a billet that requires one. Even if a Sailor is cleared for a security clearance, their command has to grant that clearance.

Response by SSgt Scott Walters made Feb 11 at 2016 3:19 PM

SSgt Scott Walters — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:19:03 -0500

Pretty common. If your particular job required clearance, you would go through the process.

Response by GySgt John Joseph made Feb 12 at 2016 11:49 PM

GySgt John Joseph — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 23:49:18 -0500

It is very common to not have a clearance level. It depended upon your MOS and if it was required

Response by Maj Sharon Malone made Feb 15 at 2016 9:29 PM

Maj Sharon Malone — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:29:08 -0500

Very common, especially for Reserves. It a "need" driven thing. If their billet requires a clearance (as my top secret did) they go through the process (background, etc). Otherwise, no. I needed it as battalion staff. An E-1 grunt may not.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Mar 16 at 2016 3:40 AM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 03:40:31 -0400

How does the rest of the Air Force without a clearance get access to a computer? NIPR is the Unclassified network at least that's how it is in the Marines and Navy.

Response by LCpl Waliq Knolle made May 3 at 2016 3:12 PM

LCpl Waliq Knolle — Tue, 03 May 2016 15:12:32 -0400

Its quite normal at least for Marines. A lot of Marines don't know their clearance level due to it never applying directly to their job sometimes. A lot of people found out they didn't have secret clearance once when i was on ship and we went into a modified river city where only people with secret clearance or higher could utilize computers for any reason. Honestly I've never known why I hate always had a secret clearance but I've also never questioned it.