How long is a Secret clearance valid?

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:38:12 -0500

I haven't found consistent information on this. When I left Active Duty, on my way out the door, S2 told me that my security clearance (Secret) was good for 2 years after my ETS date; since then, other sources claim 5 or 10 years, and nothing I have found factors in what effect my joining the Army Reserve immediately after Active Duty has on the timeline.

Anyone here have a good answer to this?

If I don't find a solid answer, that's alright with me as it's more a matter of curiosity. I don't need the clearance for anything.

Related sidebar: Soon after I left Active Duty, I got a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but I couldn't start the job for several weeks as they had to conduct their own background check. I was told my (military) security clearance didn't mean anything to them.

Who knew the USDA was so James Bond?!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 15 at 2016 10:45 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:45:16 -0500

Doesn't ANY break in service require a further check if a Top Secret clearance is needed for a position?

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Jan 15 at 2016 10:58 AM

SFC Adam Potter — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:58:54 -0500

I was told 2 years as well, and then it would go inactive. Any clearance job you would take would still require a check by OPM, however it may not have to go in depth with a previous clearance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 11:15 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 11:15:32 -0500

Generally, a security clearance after separation from the military is good for 2 years. It may be less if the periodic investigation window expires less than 2 years at the time of separation. For instance, re-investigation for a SECRET clearance occurs every 10 years. If separation from the military occurs 1 year prior to the re-investigation than that service member would have 1 year left on their current security clearance instead of 2 years.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 15 at 2016 12:23 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 12:23:33 -0500

Your "Clearance" is a LIGHTSWITCH. It is turned on/off when you are in a Billet that requires said clearance. Your "Investigation" (Like the SSBI = Single Scope Background Investigation) has an Expiration Date.

As an example, when I joined the Marines I had an NAC (National Agency Check) w/ SSBI, My initial investigation for Secret (NAC) was good for 10 years (1994 expired in 2004) but my SSBI was only good for 5 years (1995 expired in 2000, with Periodic Review in 1999 for 5 years expired in 2004). When I got out of the Marines in 2002, my clearance went INACTIVE until I became a Contractor and it was converted from Government to Industrial (same expiration date).

Note: This is me 15-20 years in the future, so much of this may have changed. But generally speaking, you Investigation lasts until expires, your Clearance is good while you are holding a billet that requires it. As you shift jobs, you "may" be required to get different investigations which will change the dates of your investigation expiration out 5-10 years.

Edit: Spelling

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 1:44 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 13:44:17 -0500

Secret clearances are good for ten year, but as others have pointed out can be turned off by the military - indeed they should be once the need to know is no longer there.
USDA will do their own investigation, as does all federal agencies. Not sure why that happens, but it is a truth across agencies.
Even stranger was that the Department of the Army did a new investigation on me when I took a DA Civilian job even though I had a recently reinvestigated Secret clearance from the Army.
Go figure.

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 15 at 2016 2:13 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:13:13 -0500

A government security clearance requires a periodic re-investigation every 15 years for a “confidential” clearance, every 10 years for “secret,” and every 5 years for “top secret” - from what I heard. When a clearance is inactivated (because of switching jobs or leaving the military), it can be fairly easy to reinstate within the first 24 months, as long as that falls within the periodic re-investigation window. After that, it becomes significantly more difficult. In other words, if your clearance is going to lapse, it is important for you to consider some options to reactivate it within the first two years.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 15 at 2016 4:17 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:17:56 -0500

We got that question all the time when SMs punched out and then presumed their clearance was good going to work for a contractor or other Agency. It never is because it's pulled when you leave the service. If you go to work for a contractor, they have a security office that processes you for a new one. If your skill is urgently needed back at DoD, then the existence of a prior clearance and investigation that's still has a shelf life does aid in getting an interim clearance. However you have to go through the process again. So for all you out there that say you "hold" (current tense) a clearance after you get out are lying on your resume. Use "held" if you need to but most advise against putting that stuff on resumes as they get floated around and identify you as an intelligence target.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Jan 16 at 2016 4:35 PM

PO3 Michael James — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 16:35:33 -0500

Don't Know.. My understanding some 45 years ago.. message traffic had a "GP4".. meaning that the information would "downgrade" every 4 years.. Secret, after 4 years, would become Classified.. Classified after 4 years would become Unclassified EFTO.. ETC, every 4 years.. eventually becoming declassified, unless it was re-entered information, and up-graded.. Consequently, individual clearance would require .. MOUTH SHUT for duration !!

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Jan 19 at 2016 7:52 AM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 07:52:35 -0500

10 years.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 8:08 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:08:45 -0500

Be aware; your clearance can be downgraded, if it remains inactive for too long. I separated active duty and then returned to the Reserves; however I found mine was downgraded.

Downgrades make you unable to use the computer network, and essentially useless in the modern work environment; bottom line, it was a deal-breaker to return to service. Fortunately for me, it was only an administrative fix; but it took an extra several months of waiting.

Response by MAJ James Fitzgerald made Jan 19 at 2016 9:26 AM

MAJ James Fitzgerald — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:26:59 -0500

SGT Tracy...I hope you received the information you were looking for from all of these posts. I am not responding to your question, but I am responding to what 'seems to be' a possible waste within the Federal government...many have commented about having to get another clearance, get their clearance updated, simply because, what is often referred to in the civilian world as 'silo existence.' The military is struggling to get enough dollars to support our 'troops currently serving,' as well as the Retired population...it's not likely to happen, but it could possibly save each organization money, if all Federal agencies had access, selected to use that access, rather than going through the process again, ALL at the taxpayer's expense, which is all of us...just using your information, and the responses of others to question these expenditures, as we continue to deficit spend within the Federal government. (this is not to start a debate how the Federal government slices up the pie, rather to just maybe point out the obvious).

Thanks for allowing me to take your question in a slghtly different direction...MAJ Fitz

Response by SFC Steven Wheeler made Jan 19 at 2016 9:54 AM

SFC Steven Wheeler — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:54:21 -0500

After I retired, I initially worked for a navy contractor, who, as they told me, "converted" my secret clearance to the civilian side and that would be good for 2 years. I was just coming off terminal leave when I signed with the company. They told me that my civilian clearance would be good for two years before they needed to renew it. I thought it was odd because on active duty, my clearance was good for another 6 years at the time. They told me that the civilian side is only good for 2 years. We completed the contract after 10 months, so I have not needed it since. Hope this helps.

Response by CPL(P) Nathaniel Burke made Jan 19 at 2016 10:28 AM

CPL(P) Nathaniel Burke — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:28:36 -0500

The investigation for a Secret clearance is good for 10 years, regardless of break in service. The clearance itself is inactivated or activebifnyoubarebin a position that uses it on doesn't use it, respectively

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jan 19 at 2016 11:20 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:20:56 -0500

SGT Dave Tracy - your clearance is good ONLY for either as long as your job position requires it, OR 5 years since last adjudication. Caveats, such as CI Poly, etc have their own expiration dates, but die as soon as your clearance does.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 2:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:12:00 -0500

Your clearance is/was with the DOD it meant something even if you filled out the paperwork again it saved time and money.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Jan 19 at 2016 2:37 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:37:46 -0500

Just renewed my Secret clearance last year. Still 10 years for Secret and 5 years for TS, above TS I have no idea. Now about the Department of Agriculture, I have seen on many Job listings Security Clearances or Public Trust. Public Trust I'm guessing is different than a Security Clearance. I sounds like they are very similar, but maybe investigated by a different company?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 3:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:15:44 -0500

All dates are dates from the completion of the investigation. 15 years for Confidential. 10 years for Secret. 5 years for Top Secret. It does not matter when you got out, or breaks in service. It only matters when the investigation was completed. When you leave a unit or the service your access to classified is revoked. This does nothing to the clearance itself. All government clearances are investigated and adjuticated by the same office. Reference everything in the news about OPM being hacked.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 3:22 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:22:07 -0500

DOD and OPM (Office of Personnel Management) use the same forms and database to enter your clearance information, but then they are total different from there. In the military you are given a clearance level - secret, top secret, etc. OPM does a back ground investigation to see if there are flags to bar employment as a federal employee - I work for the Dept of Justice and we have to have our investigation updated every 5 years and include all employment, addresses, etc for the past 10 years. In the guard - I had a secret clearance and in 18 years - I think I only updated my information 2 or 3 times - but never had an investigator interview me or go talk to my co workers, etc. OPM does interviews and went out and talked to several former employeers and people that I listed as knowing me when I leaved at X or Y. As others have said - when you move the need for the clearance may be upgraded, removed etc. When I was detailed from DOJ to the State Deptartment to go to the AOR - I had to have my background investigation changed to a secret clearance. Most federal employees that don't work for DOD only have the background investigation - not an clearance.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 19 at 2016 3:24 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:24:07 -0500

They are good for 10 years from the date that the investigation closed. That is regardless of when you left the service. TS for good for 5.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 4:06 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:06:10 -0500

10 years for a secret,
5 years for Top secret,
Normally gone (cancelled) shortly after you leave federal service, (investigation remains but clearance is gone because you don't have a need to know)
After leaving service it's much easier to clear for an interim clearance from your new employer.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jan 19 at 2016 4:33 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:33:42 -0500

I am definitely seeing common threads of information in the wealth of responses you have given. I believe I have a much better feel for it now, and I thank you all for it!

Response by COL Robert Davies made Jan 19 at 2016 9:59 PM

COL Robert Davies — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:59:26 -0500

My suspicion while I was on AD and in USAR status was that Secret was good for 10 years. TS is basically good for 5 years but you need to start review about a year in advance.

Response by CH (LTC) Carl Pfeiffer made Jan 19 at 2016 10:25 PM

CH (LTC) Carl Pfeiffer — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:25:00 -0500

The answer needs to be broken down. Unfortunately technology has outstripped personnel security regulations. Normally a Secret security clearance eligibility determination is good for ten years from the date of the investigation. If you leave Federal service, the two year clock starts running. When you joined USDA, the clock stopped. The problem is that your NACLC investigation, which is good for Soldiers and contractors, is insufficient for Federal civil service. You need an ANACI which is slightly more intensive on employment and residences. The ANACI has been replaced by the T3 which is now the Secret level investigation for everyone. Technically speaking your Secret eligibility from DoD is still valid even though they need to run a different investigation. The problem is that the Federal government does not have a unified data base like JPAS for DoD to verify eligibility determinations made by all other branches of government authorized to make them. Thus the USDA cannot easily verify your military clearance eligibility. As you have found out, the regulatory requirement to reciprocate clearances still does not exist.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 5:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 05:21:23 -0500

Secret Clearance is good for 10 years after competition of investigation, TS is good for 5 years after investigation. so if you got it when you 1st came in and your at 8 years now and getting out you would have about 2 years left yes, but if your coming up on 10 yrs from when they completed the invest. then you have to try to get it renewed before getting out(recommend any way) or just lose it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 8:14 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:14:15 -0500

I know for a fact that it stays with you for 10 years. If your going to re enlist in any branch they want to know when your clearance is going to expire after that you'll need to get your sf 86 completed

Response by MSgt Devon Saunders made Jan 20 at 2016 9:58 AM

MSgt Devon Saunders — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:58:47 -0500

It's good for 10 years. Point blank...

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 20 at 2016 8:44 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:44:32 -0500

As a securiity manager I can tell you that a secret background investigation and adjudication is good for ten years from the adjudication dates. Access to classified up to secret is based in the billet. You could have a background investgation for TS/SCI but because your position only requires secret, that is your level of access. When you seperate under honorable conditions or retire you sign a non disclosure agreement but your background investigation is still good through the termination date...five years for Top Secret and 10 years for Secret. Access is based on position requirements.

Response by CW2 Michael Mullikin made Jan 20 at 2016 10:17 PM

CW2 Michael Mullikin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:17:37 -0500

Security Clearances must be updated every five years, so your clearance is good for five years from the issue date or last update. The S2 has access to a computerized system called JPASS that can supply the current, or past, status of your clearance; this only requires your name and ssn. If you feel you might need a clearance in the future, have your USAR S2 submit a request for you. This is important bcause civilian employers are becoming reluctant to invest the money (they claim, up to $20,000) or the time (up to six months) when they have to have you on the pay roll but can't give you access to classified information. Your friends at USDA are blowing smoke, probably because they don't know any better. The vast majority of security clearances are now the responsibility of the US Office of Personel Management; They can tell USDA what your ckearance status is in about 3 minutes (JPASS). Let me know if you have other questions. I started doing background investigations for the Army in 1971. I was later a founding member of the Defense Investigative Service, who took over the security clearance mission from the services. After I retired from the Army I conducted background investigations as a contractor for a major government agency. All together, I have 31 years experience in conducting security investigations and related activities.

Regards,
Mike Mullikin

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Jan 21 at 2016 4:00 AM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 04:00:55 -0500

Technically your clearance ends when you out process. Your investigation may be valid for different time frames based on you access. Your clearance is not a permanent thing. You have a clearance based on your duty assignment and your need to access certain information. Your clearance can change because you change jobs while on active duty. I think that when you report to your reserve unit they can still use the clearance document that your S-2 should have given you showing your clearance. I'm a little out of date on this so I would recommend just talking to the S-2 in you new AR unit.

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Jan 21 at 2016 4:34 AM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 04:34:55 -0500

OK, I just did some research for you and found that as long as you don't have a break in service more than 12 months your clearance is still valid within DOD and also other federal agencies. If you are interested in doing the reading the information is in AR 380-67 Chapter 3-19, c1 and Chapter 4-1 thru 3. Here is a link to the reg. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r380_67.pdf . I hope this helps.

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Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Jan 21 at 2016 7:58 PM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 19:58:24 -0500

I'm amazed at how much discussion and disagreement this topic has caused. There is an AR that has all of the answers (AR 380-67). Take the guess work away and read the reg. Then if you are leaving the military let the security people at the next agency figure it out.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 12 at 2017 3:46 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 15:46:35 -0500

Your clearance is good for 10 years from adjudication. Your access is based on the position you are in. Just because you have the clearance doesn't mean you need to know.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Aug 9 at 2018 6:54 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 18:54:38 -0400

10 years if working in the position. Once you leave that job it is no longer active. It goes into the category as current which you would have to get an interm and go through the process again if you need the clearence.. I know this from experience that is fairly recent. However, things change. Your last point is valid. Each government agency has its own clearance procedures and don't grandfather other agencies.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Apr 1 at 2019 8:56 AM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 08:56:03 -0400

I was a Security Manager. It's all very straightforward. Clearance itself is granted by the command or agency. Interim Clearances can be granted when investigations are initiated. Clearances are legal to be granted on the following bases: TS based on a Background Investigation (BI) or Special Background Investigation (SBI). After 5 years, it reverts to max clearance of Secret. After 5 more years, it reverts to max clearance of Confidential. After 5 more years, it expires completely. A Secret based on a NAC reverts to max Confidential Clearance after 5 years and completely expires after another 5 years.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made May 19 at 2020 11:00 AM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Tue, 19 May 2020 11:00:36 -0400

The USDA background check probably was closer to the standard check for most jobs where you could come in contact with children. Looking for domestic abuse / drug offenses / sex offenses / DUI / etc. It would have nothing to do with security clearance, just can you stay out of trouble if they hire you. For my jobs as security officer each company has done their own background check, then some of the cities and counties an officer may work in for that company may require their own fingerprints and background checks and sometimes then a license. The company I am with now works largely with defense contractors so they also asked us to do the secret clearance. Interim was fairly quick since I had secret in Army, but the final clearance took 8 or 9 months. Some of our managers are required to get TS so that could be another 6 months added at that point.The other responses that I have read here are correct mostly for after you get civilian clearance also, as we will have to have files updated in 5 or 10 years depending on level. We take classes on this as a part of our jobs too.