What security clearance is required to be 36A (Finance Officer) in the Army?

2020-11-04T17:21:34-05:00

Reserves/AD?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2020 5:34 PM

2020-11-04T17:34:49-05:00

https://usasd.armylive.dodlive.mil/files/2019/12/Officer-MOS-Security-Requirements.pdf
Click on "Officer MOS Security Requirements" a few paragraphs down.

Officer-MOS-Security-Requirements.pdf

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2020 5:51 PM

2020-11-04T17:51:15-05:00

I can't say I definitively know. It's going to be at least Secret, and TS as you get higher in rank, but I've been in TS/SCI situations with Finance Officer briefing so I could see a TS being needed.

GoArmy.com doesn't seem to spell it out.

That said, I'm curious what your 36A ambitions are. I have 20+ years in finance and banking and came into the USAR with an MBA in Finance and a CFA. I didn't make it into the finance branch myself. It's an incredibly small branch to get opportunities into.

There are literally 50 times more vacancies (at Company grade ranks) in Logistics than there are in Finance in the USAR. It's among the smallest branches. As such, getting in will be hard, and career progression schools will be less frequent.

If you're seeking experience for the civilian sector you're better off with civilian experience to get exposure to both sides of the income statement, and more realistic exposure to a balance sheet, and statement of Cash Flows. The Army is just one big expense entity.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 4 at 2020 7:15 PM

2020-11-04T19:15:30-05:00

Every officer is required to have a Secret clearance; non-negotiable. Anything higher is based on requirements/duty position.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2020 8:00 PM

2020-11-04T20:00:41-05:00

Min Secret, but. a TS is preferred

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2020 8:17 PM

2020-11-04T20:17:47-05:00

Secret clearance is the minimum, regardless of component (RA/USAR/NG). Pretty much every commissioned officer is required to have at least a Secret clearance. Higher clearances depend on he job/unit of assignment.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2020 8:38 AM

2020-11-20T08:38:41-05:00

Current 36A here, commissioned last year. Every branch will require you to have a Secret clearance, anything higher than that will be based on the position. If you're just coming in, you shouldn't have to worry about anything, unless the position you're going to fill is typically reserved for a higher grade. I took a position as a BDE Budget Analyst which was reserved for an O3 - this requires me to get my TS. For the rest of my LT buddies I graduated from F-BOLC, no one else has had that same requirement and so I remain an outlier in this respect. Hope this helps.