Cyber Network Defender
Cyber Network Defender
Posted on Nov 3, 2015
Am I experiencing too much difficulty in reclassing?
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I am 1 semester away from graduating with a Bachelors in cybersecurity. I have been interesting in both 17C and 25D, moving away from my current 68W MOS, but have been getting odd answers to questions by retention. I do my research and check the milper messages and check the cyber sites before I go to retention so that I am not caught by surprise.
So, a couple of years ago I followed the advice of my retention at my previous duty station and decided to wait until I got to my current station to drop a reclass packet for 25D. I was told that I should wait until I am near my re-up window. I did this and now I am on assignment. So I went to retention and asked if I could start on my packet, one stipulation was that I need to get security clearance which I currently have none. They told me that I needed to be certified and have experience in IT and cyber and that since I was on assignment, I am ineligible to reclass plus I would need to get a poly done as part of my packet. I thought this was odd since the milper message stated different requirements.
So I contacted someone at the Cyber Command school and was told very different. 1 – since it is an application MOS, I can drop a packet regardless if I am on assignment as HRC will drop my assignment if I get selected for school. 2 – The poly is part of the school (17C) and thus not needed for the packet. 3 – certification is helpful but not a requirement. 4 – IT experience is helpful but not a requirement. I told retention this and got no response.
Now, I want to start the process for security clearance by getting a memo from retention to bring to my S2 shop to begin the background checks and paperwork. Retention is still stressing that I am on assignment. So now I am being told that in addition to above, I have to PCS to my next duty station and wait until I have done 2/3’s of my time there and then I can request a memo from retention there to start my security clearance and drop a 25D packet since 17C is now closed.
Is this true? Can I get a memo from another source (like the CO or XO) for S2 and get started on this? Unless it’s OCONUS with a term of 3 years with dependents, how in the world am I going to know if I have done 2/3’s of my time at a duty station? And by that time, usually the soldier would be on assignment. I feel like I am getting stone-walled or the run-around. Any help or advice? Or am I SOL of security clearance and reclass?
So, a couple of years ago I followed the advice of my retention at my previous duty station and decided to wait until I got to my current station to drop a reclass packet for 25D. I was told that I should wait until I am near my re-up window. I did this and now I am on assignment. So I went to retention and asked if I could start on my packet, one stipulation was that I need to get security clearance which I currently have none. They told me that I needed to be certified and have experience in IT and cyber and that since I was on assignment, I am ineligible to reclass plus I would need to get a poly done as part of my packet. I thought this was odd since the milper message stated different requirements.
So I contacted someone at the Cyber Command school and was told very different. 1 – since it is an application MOS, I can drop a packet regardless if I am on assignment as HRC will drop my assignment if I get selected for school. 2 – The poly is part of the school (17C) and thus not needed for the packet. 3 – certification is helpful but not a requirement. 4 – IT experience is helpful but not a requirement. I told retention this and got no response.
Now, I want to start the process for security clearance by getting a memo from retention to bring to my S2 shop to begin the background checks and paperwork. Retention is still stressing that I am on assignment. So now I am being told that in addition to above, I have to PCS to my next duty station and wait until I have done 2/3’s of my time there and then I can request a memo from retention there to start my security clearance and drop a 25D packet since 17C is now closed.
Is this true? Can I get a memo from another source (like the CO or XO) for S2 and get started on this? Unless it’s OCONUS with a term of 3 years with dependents, how in the world am I going to know if I have done 2/3’s of my time at a duty station? And by that time, usually the soldier would be on assignment. I feel like I am getting stone-walled or the run-around. Any help or advice? Or am I SOL of security clearance and reclass?
Posted in these groups: 
25D: Cyber Network Defender
Military Career
Reclass
Security Clearance
Cybersecurity
25D: Cyber Network Defender Military Career Reclass Security Clearance Cybersecurity
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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They cannot stop you from applying contact master sergeant Washington as they said there's a way around everything the unit provides
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SSG Michael Hathaway
Thank you, SSG Ed Mikus Well, if retention won't give me the memo to start the security clearance process, I'm pretty much dead in the water.
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SSG Ed Mikus
there is always another way in this giant organization. My retention refuse to process my packet at all, the commander signed the memo for the clearance, my G6 signed as my BN Commander, and i turned my packet into proponent myself. all that did cause complications later, some i was expecting, others i was not. the point is, they system is there for a reason, but when you have to get something done, there is always another way.
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Contact MSG Washington here at Fort Gordon. He should be easy enough to look up in global or you can look on most Fort Gordon web pages. He is the authority for packet submission and approval. Work with him closely to sort out exactly what you need to do. Also keep in close contact with your current branch manager at HRC. You may need to do some creative coordinating later with your assignments.
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