Posted on Oct 18, 2022
Should I be worried about my TS clearance background check after providing my cousin's name as a school friend, which he didn’t even attend?
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I’m going through TS clearance background check. For an education reference I used my cousin and said he was a friend at the school I attended which he didn’t. The BI called and wants to interview him, should I be worried?
35L: Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
Investigation
Security Clearance
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
SPC Chris Cesternino, I'll tell you up front that you would want to 'clarify the record' and tell the BI exactly your relationship with him - He's your cousin and can attest to your attending school, but that he didn't attend.
I've been involved with personnel security for my entire military career and have been on all sides of the security investigations about a couple dozen times. The investigator doesn't care that you were a loner or the partier in chief. He's looking for someone that can personally verify your attendance and if possible, vouch for your character or at least attest to no red flags on your character.
If you are having trouble with a reference from that period in your life, let the investigator know. He'll be more apt to be flexible with you if you're honest and forthright with him.
I've been involved with personnel security for my entire military career and have been on all sides of the security investigations about a couple dozen times. The investigator doesn't care that you were a loner or the partier in chief. He's looking for someone that can personally verify your attendance and if possible, vouch for your character or at least attest to no red flags on your character.
If you are having trouble with a reference from that period in your life, let the investigator know. He'll be more apt to be flexible with you if you're honest and forthright with him.
Concur with COL Randall C.. If it looks like you lied on your investigation, you're going to have a bad time.
Soooooo......you used a reference of a friend for a school that you attended but they did not? I mean, as long as they can attest to you attending that school. But, I won't lie....that's a strange reference to put down for someone that didn't go to the school with you.
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I went to school when I was in my mid 20s. I went to class then to work. I didn’t care to make any friends. I just wanna be sure the BI won’t try to verify if he attended the school.
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SPC Chris Cesternino - Probably gonna get asked if they attended with you. But, I can't presume what they will ask.
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The world is full of folks doing shady crap, and the last thing the concerns of national defense need is another one with TS/SCI access.
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The WHOLE BIG DEAL about this little scenario you created is in reality it's inconsequential if you don't have a strong reference for your academic history.
What the back ground investigator is going to LATCH ONTO is the fact you were deceptive about something inconsequential. Sooooooooooooooo............ just how far are you willing to go for something that's a big deal?
You've shown you are easy to compromise................