How do you get secret government clearance?

[Doggiedog]

Anyone know?

 

[rocadelpunk]

i'd tell you, but then i'd have to kill you.

 

[pyonir]

Get a job that requires it.

(that's what i did anyway)

 

[Ranger X]

Through your job.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Convince the 50 million people that vote that you're only screwing over the 200 million people that don't vote.

 

[fatbaby]

3 years of background checks where they check everything.

 

[crumpet19]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Get a job that requires it.

(that's what i did anyway)

this is what I'm shooting for.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
3 years of background checks where they check everything.

Not for secret clearance. I don't even think they called any of my refrences.

 

[tcsenter]

IIRC a secret security clearance is the lowest of all the security clearances. Probably a background check and you're done.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
IIRC a secret security clearance is the lowest of all the security clearances. Probably a background check and you're done.

Nope, proprietary is lower.

Proprietary ---> Secret ---> Top Secret.

 

[BatmanNate]

Hike up your skirt.

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
3 years of background checks where they check everything.

Nope. It took me a month to get my final secret. Now I'm waiting on my TS which will probably take a year or more to complete.

The company you work for pays for your clearance, and you can only get one if the contract you're working on is classified.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: cchen
The company you work for pays for your clearance, and you can only get one if the contract you're working on is classified.

Yep.

 

[Ranger X]

For secret clearance, they'll fly all over the world to interview your contacts. It costs the company roughly 50k per employee so it's a huge gamble for them.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Ranger X
For secret clearance, they'll fly all over the world to interview your contacts. It costs the company roughly 50k per employee so it's a huge gamble for them.

That's for top secret. Look at my post above.

 

[Ranger X]

That's what I meant. Top secret ...

Not sure if this is true but my cousin said his company looked at his credit score to see how bad it was. He said if it's low, you're classified as someone who is more likely to sell out your country for money so those people might have a tougher time getting clearance.

 

[Adul]

extensive extensive background check, and it takes forever. Only like 3 people had top secret at my former company. You only get it if you really need it to do your job.

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: Ranger X
That's what I meant. Top secret ...

Not sure if this is true but my cousin said his company looked at his credit score to see how bad it was. He said if it's low, you're classified as someone who is more likely to sell out your country for money so those people might have a tougher time getting clearance.

For an initial background investigation, they look at your credit report as well as your driving record. Its an easy way to determine whether or not they should issue you the clearance.

Lots of companies give everyone TS clearances. Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen, and other large government contractors. Where I work (Northrop Grumman) most everyone has a secret, some have TS. I guess I'm pretty lucky to be getting a TS since I'm only a sophomore in college. But hopefully I'll be able to cash in next summer. People with secret/TS are very sought after, esp interns

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Ranger X
That's what I meant. Top secret ...

Not sure if this is true but my cousin said his company looked at his credit score to see how bad it was. He said if it's low, you're classified as someone who is more likely to sell out your country for money so those people might have a tougher time getting clearance.

That makes sense to me...

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

What is the benefit of having a secret clearance?

 

[amnesiac]

Is this in general or for military?

Military clearances are a biatch. They root through everything.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
What is the benefit of having a secret clearance?

I had to have it to work in certain buildings that had classified material for government contractors.

 

[propellerhead]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: tcsenter
IIRC a secret security clearance is the lowest of all the security clearances. Probably a background check and you're done.

Nope, proprietary is lower.

Proprietary ---> Secret ---> Top Secret.

Where'd you get that? Is that specific to your employer? Everywhere I've been (USAF and civilian) it was Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, then all the other ones they don't even mention.

www.dss.mil

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: propellerhead

Where'd you get that? Is that specific to your employer? Everywhere I've been (USAF and civilian) it was Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, then all the other ones they don't even mention.

www.dss.mil

I don't know if that was specific to my employer or not. Could have been. Those are the only stages i've ever heard about (never been in the military).

 

[Ranger X]

I'm sure Confidential and Proprietary are used interchangably.

Having security clearance has many benefits. Companies that require clearance won't have to throw down money of their own if you already have it to get you hired and working. Some people literally do NOTHING at their workplace until they get their clearance. If an employer can get you going starting day 1, that's good news for them.