Posted on Apr 4, 2021
Will I lose my top secret clearance if i become an officer?
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i'm a 35s interested in the green to gold program i want to be an officer (specifically intel) i know that MOS are not guaranteed i wanted to keep my top secret clearance so i could possibly use it for future employment on the civilian side. i want to know if i become an officer would i lose my top secret clearance forever?
Officer
Green to Gold
Enlisted-to-Officer
Security Clearance
Civilians
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Your clearance will terminate when you leave the military or retire. Any employer who has positions that require government clearances is only interested in whether you have gone through the background checks that enable a clearance. The employer must request granting of a clearance and can judge how long the checks will take based upon what level you once held and the period of time that must be covered to reissue at the level required by the position he is offering.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
That's not accurate. Clearances are good for 2 years after someone ETS's or retires - or if it's going to expire before that then expiration. It doesn't terminate once one ETS's.
If it's been more than 2 years since leaving the military or it expired, an organization is more likely to initiate the background investigation for a clearance because they see the person had one and know they aren't wasting money on it.
If it's been more than 2 years since leaving the military or it expired, an organization is more likely to initiate the background investigation for a clearance because they see the person had one and know they aren't wasting money on it.
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LtCol Robert Quinter
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - Thanks for the correction. Shows what happens when you retired 30 years ago. I will maintain my position that it takes less time for renewal if you were previously subject to the full investigation.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
LtCol Robert Quinter - As I said, an employer is more likely to pay for the background investigation if they hire someone who has had a clearance in the past. It's not a guarantee. But it's more likely. Also I'm not sure that it takes less time to process the SF86 and do the investigation. It 100% depends on the individual and how long it's been since their last investigation, if anything significant has changed, etc.
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LtCol Robert Quinter
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - It takes less time to investigate 6 months or a year than two or three years.
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You would never lose your clearance, the level may be suspended, otherwise a wast of money. If you do not have an active TS when you are commissioned or separate from service, it is all about the timing of your last BI, generally only good for 5 years with a TS.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
Clearances are only good for two years after someone ETS's or retires. No matter the level. Or if it expires before the two years. If someone doesn't use it within 2 years after they ETS, they lose that clearance. It will be out of scope and no longer valid. However, a business is most likely to pay for the background investigation to do a new T5 if they see they had held a TS/SCI in the past.
For the last few years, T5 investigations (what used to be SSBI) are good for six years because OPM has been backlogged.
For the last few years, T5 investigations (what used to be SSBI) are good for six years because OPM has been backlogged.
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