Secret Clearance

[tenacity2986]

Hey all! So i recently got an offer from lockheed martin, and its contingent on getting secret clearance. I currently work for BAE and they've submitted the application and I've been waiting for a little over 6 months now... I wasn't granted interim unfortunately and will need to wait for full clearance to come through before I can hop on over to LM... I hear this takes up to a year for the investigations etc to take place. Does anyone else have experience with this they can chime in with!?!!! I'm worried that lockheed will rescind the offer if I don't get clearance in a 'reasonable' amount of time... thoughts?

Much appreciated!!:awe:

 

[cabri]

As long as the paperwork is in, most DECENT companies will allow you to work on an Interm clearance unless contract says otherwise.

The security officer can usually also track progress.

But if they want to shaft you, the clearance issue can be used and you are really unable to do anything about it.

 

[tenacity2986]

Well I wasn't granted interim at BAE, and am waiting for full clearance. When and if I get full clearance, I can give my 2 week notice and go to Lockheed... if I can obtain the clearance in a reasonable timeline... Not sure how long this will take... I mean it's been 6 months and I haven't heard a single thing nor have I been interviewed yet so its a little demoralizing to see a considerably better paying job waiting for me that I can't start because of this clearance roadblock!!

Any my security officer said he hasn't heard anything either... I've heard of it taking upwards of 18 months, which is why I continue to interview while having already accepted this contingent offer with Lockheed.

 

[MongGrel]

Lockheed Martin would do that on their own if it's true and they made you an offer.

You do not get a security clearance and talk to them, if they considered you at all they would be doing that on their end.

*edit* NM yeah looks what they are doing at the moment, I've went through similar things in the past.

They take awhile to research everything in your past in some places.

If they find anything, they would rescind the offer.

 

[tenacity2986]

Yeah unfortunately I have a DUI from February 2009... Which means that its still included in my 7 year history unfortunately. February 2016 would be when it would no longer need to be on the SF86. But that's still 7 months away. I think more than anything though, for secret they want to see if you have patterns, and how recent the charges are etc. But other than that, I have foreign contacts, all family that lives overseas. I think its the foreign contacts, coupled with my visits to China, India, and Taiwan in the last 7 years that may raise an eyebrow and cause them to not issue an interim. Again this is just a guess, who knows whats really going on behind the scenes

 

[Caravaggio]

... I think more than anything though, for secret they want to see if you have patterns, and how recent the charges are etc. But other than that, I have foreign contacts, all family that lives overseas. I think its the foreign contacts, coupled with my visits to China, India, and Taiwan in the last 7 years that may raise an eyebrow and cause them to not issue an interim.

I have no idea how the U.S. Clearance system works, but if it is anything like the UK system for sensitive posts in aerospace (and I bet they share data anyhow), I would imagine that those foreign visits and contacts are giving them concern, especially if your first language is not English. I cannot imagine that a single archaic DUI would freak them, but a pattern, as you say, would be an insurmountable hurdle. The delay might even be due to their need to check-out your friends and their acquaintances. But that is extremely costly for the future employer.

The good sign is, that if you were of only marginal interest, they would have turned you down by now. Perhaps you have special skills? Sometimes large organisations recruit people not to employ them but to stop their rivals employing them...

You could always try NSA, they would be thrilled to get you, with that matrix of contacts.

 

[Hugo Drax]

You wont get clearance. Anyhow your info is now on the internet unfortunately.

 

[Nograts]

Is there a way to follow up? Over 6 months seems a stupid amount of time for a secret. There's millions of people with that.

 

[cabri]

Is there a way to follow up? Over 6 months seems a stupid amount of time for a secret. There's millions of people with that.

The security officer should be able to make a request.
Or you could request yourself via the Freedom Of Information Act.

Doing the latter will also probably piss of someone and end up getting you denied.
Also anything that you actually do get will be heavily reacted.

Alternatively, contact your US Senators/Representative for assistance

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I currently work for BAE and they've submitted the application

They submitted it for you? I thought the process of obtaining a clearance was something you are supposed to do yourself? For example, I might have to fill out a SF-86 soon, and all the information I'm finding on how to do talks about the form I'm supposed fill out electronically, with some additional steps, etc, and submitting it all to a sponsoring agency (unless this was who you are referring to), but no mention of involvement from the employer?

Also, I'd think LM has plenty of unclassified work while you wait on the clearance.

 

[cabri]

An individual does not directly submit for a security clearance.

They are "sponsored" by someone that already has clearance and the government "determines" that clearance is needed on such a project.


As I stated before; many companies may not have work requiring a person's skill set/pay available for the time that is needed to wait for a clearance to come through.

If an interim clearance can be obtained great; otherwise they expect you to wait. And many companies can/will not afford to keep a $75K person on the payroll doing a $45K job.

 

[mrgeppetto]

I don't see why they wouldn't be willing to wait if they offered you the job.

 

[cabri]

I don't see why they wouldn't be willing to wait if they offered you the job.

If you are not working at the present, are you willing to wait months or years for the clearance to be processed?

If the company has to wait, the work is not getting done and they are not able to bill. They have obligations. go find another person that is willing to jump ship and has a clearance.

 

[piasabird]

Everyone in the military in certain fields has to have a security clearance also. SECRET is not much of a security clearance. With all the on-line stuff it is a wonder anyone can get a security clearance.

 

[gus6464]

So you were not issued an interim for secret? That's kind of odd as it's not that high of a clearance. I was issued an interim Top Secret clearance in 2 weeks at my old job when I got hired. Then the full SSBI was issued in 6 months. I was put in for an SCI and that one took a little over a year.

 

[Hugo Drax]

Yeah unfortunately I have a DUI from February 2009... Which means that its still included in my 7 year history unfortunately. February 2016 would be when it would no longer need to be on the SF86. But that's still 7 months away. I think more than anything though, for secret they want to see if you have patterns, and how recent the charges are etc. But other than that, I have foreign contacts, all family that lives overseas. I think its the foreign contacts, coupled with my visits to China, India, and Taiwan in the last 7 years that may raise an eyebrow and cause them to not issue an interim. Again this is just a guess, who knows whats really going on behind the scenes

Your gonna get rescinded.

 

[MtnMan]

I had security clearances both in the Navy, and as a civilian contractor to work on computers in a number of '3-letter' agencies.

The longest was my Top Secret /NI, just over 60 days.