Have you ever held a security clearance? 

Yes I did a long long time ago, but I've never seen a provisional top secret clearance for over a year. I'm not buying the excuse they're short staff so they're still investigating the President's son in law all this time (similar to Trump's tax return audit). Same question applies with commander's discretion. How does the commander justify a provisional top secret clearance (especially a bigly one like Jared's) day after day for over a year? Is there a riubber stamp? Do they use carbon paper?

I have no xp regarding clearance, but I would figure that your everyday Joe (Jared) has less chance of being a spy compared to someone who has been in the industry/politics for years.  The main worry is that the everyday Joe would unintentionally leak info, so a class should be taught how to handle sensitive and recognize sensitive info is.

My haole friend speaks fluent Korean and was stationed in S. Korea.  I asked him why did they made him learn Korean?  He said since he's from ________ state, there is no way in hell he knows anyone in the north or has family in the north.  Vs. someone who is of Korean decent who has a higher probability of having family there.  So they make the Korean guys learn Russian or some other language.

Yes I did a long long time ago, but I've never seen a provisional top secret clearance for over a year. I'm not buying the excuse they're short staff so they're still investigating the President's son in law all this time (similar to Trump's tax return audit). Same question applies with commander's discretion. How does the commander justify a provisional top secret clearance (especially a bigly one like Jared's) day after day for over a year? Is there a riubber stamp? Do they use carbon paper?

Why are you acting so dense?  I explained the clearance is granted while the application is processed.  Before that, the information in it is reviewed for anything of concern. 

I explained some of the reasons a commander may grant an interim (not provisional) clearance. 

There is no "day after day" anything.  It's granted until it isn't.

 

I have no xp regarding clearance, but I would figure that your everyday Joe (Jared) has less chance of being a spy compared to someone who has been in the industry/politics for years.  The main worry is that the everyday Joe would unintentionally leak info, so a class should be taught how to handle sensitive and recognize sensitive info is.

My haole friend speaks fluent Korean and was stationed in S. Korea.  I asked him why did they made him learn Korean?  He said since he's from ________ state, there is no way in hell he knows anyone in the north or has family in the north.  Vs. someone who is of Korean decent who has a higher probability of having family there.  So they make the Korean guys learn Russian or some other language.

My company had a support contract in South Korea. One of our employees there was a Korean national.  There was this repeating cycle where a new commander would come in for his 1 year tour, see the employee was a contractor WITHOUT A US SECURITY CLEARANCE, would bar him from working with classified or in classified areas (basically fired him), investigate the details, then grant an interim clearance so he could work (rehire him).  In the meantime, he had to find a job for a month or 3 to pay his bills.

Apparently a foreign national civilian is really difficult to get a clearance for.  So while his application was in limbo at the state department, each commander would find him trustworthy and give him access.  Then a new commander would replace that one, and the cycle started over. 

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Why are you acting so dense?  I explained the clearance is granted while the application is processed.  Before that, the information in it is reviewed for anything of concern. 

I explained some of the reasons a commander may grant an interim (not provisional) clearance. 

There is no "day after day" anything.  It's granted until it isn't.

 

I'm trying to understand, so kind of like the movie Casino and Mr. Rothstein.  As long as you apply, you can work?

I'm trying to understand, so kind of like the movie Casino and Mr. Rothstein.  As long as you apply, you can work?

No.  It's based on the needs of the mission versus the risk posed by granting that specific individual access to classified.

In my case, I have held a Top Secret/SCI clearance.  Nothing new in my personal history would prevent me from being granted another top secret clearance.

If I applied for a civilian job (gov't or contractor/consultant) which required a TS clearance, the commander may grant an interim clearance based on the information I provided in the clearance application SF 86), and based on the fact I've held a clearance for 25 years previously.

If they don't really need me to access classified, I could easily take training courses or help with unclassified tasks while my clearance application is investigated.  It's totally up to the commander.

When I first came to Hawaii, my company hired 2 more employees for my contract task.  Neither of them had clearances.  For the 6 months it took for their Secret clearances to be adjudicated and granted, I had to escort them into and around the facility.  They couldn't work with classified, and if I left the facility, someone else had to be their escorts or they left with me.  When I went to lunch, they went to lunch.  It got old quick. 

https://www.thebalance.com/sf-86-security-clearance-questionaire-4058541

So you're not being investigated by the FBI before getting your TS clearance? Sorry, just being dense...

I've seen temporary, interim, whatever "higher level clearance" issued all the time.  I have had TS before, but honestly, it was a PITA.  I would have to log into a separate computer to check "high side" emails.  My clearance was specifically for one project and I actually thankfully went back to a lower level afterwards.

So you're not being investigated by the FBI before getting your TS clearance? Sorry, just being dense...

The FBI doesn't do the investigations unless the normal agencies are backlogged, like they were after 9/11.

Defense Security Services (formerly known as the Defense Investigative Service) and companies they contract with do the field work -- national agency checks, direct contact interviews, etc., -- but the DSS does the final recommendation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Security_Service

The FBI doesn't do the investigations unless the normal agencies are backlogged, like they were after 9/11.

Defense Security Services (formerly known as the Defense Investigative Service) and companies they contract with do the field work -- national agency checks, direct contact interviews, etc., -- but the DSS does the final recommendation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Security_Service

All my interviews were with FBI folks.  I believe one was actually retired and contracting.  When I was interviewed for other folks clearance, it was all with FBI folks. 

On a side note, I was interviewed when one of my good friends was up for some pretty high level security clearance.  I've known him since we were like 10.  Went same HS, college, lived in same state for a while, etc.  He was quite "talented" at drinking and gambling when we both lived on the mainland.  Of course those are the two primary questions that they have for your background check.  Does "X person" have a problem with controlling alcohol consumption or gambling.  I was prepared for those questions, knowing that they come up.  When those questions came up, it took a lot not to respond "not anymore" as all the memories of drinking and gambling came to mind from back in the day.   

I've seen temporary, interim, whatever "higher level clearance" issued all the time.  I have had TS before, but honestly, it was a PITA.  I would have to log into a separate computer to check "high side" emails.  My clearance was specifically for one project and I actually thankfully went back to a lower level afterwards.

Yes, TS data has many more restrictions than Secret, including the use of a SCIF to use the computers and other electronic equipment.  When you get into Codeword level programs, the systems are usually standalone, not approved to connect to any network or systems which are not part of that Codeword program.

All my interviews were with FBI folks.  I believe one was actually retired and contracting.  When I was interviewed for other folks clearance, it was all with FBI folks. 

On a side note, I was interviewed when one of my good friends was up for some pretty high level security clearance.  I've known him since we were like 10.  Went same HS, college, lived in same state for a while, etc.  He was quite "talented" at drinking and gambling when we both lived on the mainland.  Of course those are the two primary questions that they have for your background check.  Does "X person" have a problem with controlling alcohol consumption or gambling.  I was prepared for those questions, knowing that they come up.  When those questions came up, it took a lot not to respond "not anymore" as all the memories of drinking and gambling came to mind from back in the day.   

I was interviewed by the FBI, too, when I had my initial Secret and TS clearance interviews.  Re-investigations were mixed.  I never held a TS on active duty -- only after I became a contractor.

My last TS renewal was a DSS agent.

Like I said, if they can't get an agent to make the time, FBI can be tapped to do the interview.  Hawaii may not ever have enough DSS agents, so FBI could be the norm.

I was interviewed by a sub-contractor for my friends clearance. So no FBI or other federal agency.  The person that did the interview was actually my neighbors daughter.  That's why when I gave her my address, she paused for a moment while writing.  I thought that I was in deep doodoo because of her pause.

She offered me a job also after the interview.

I was interviewed by the FBI, too, when I had my initial Secret and TS clearance interviews.  Re-investigations were mixed.  I never held a TS on active duty -- only after I became a contractor.

My last TS renewal was a DSS agent.

Like I said, if they can't get an agent to make the time, FBI can be tapped to do the interview.  Hawaii may not ever have enough DSS agents, so FBI could be the norm.

Ya.  I wasn't disputing what you stated.  Just sharing my experience.

And gotta watch out.  The FBI interviewer I had for my TS clearance was a quite attractive female and tried the "I'm your friend" angle.  Almost worked. . . still told the truth of course, but almost worked. . . 

Yes I did a long long time ago, but I've never seen a provisional top secret clearance for over a year. I'm not buying the excuse they're short staff so they're still investigating the President's son in law all this time (similar to Trump's tax return audit). Same question applies with commander's discretion. How does the commander justify a provisional top secret clearance (especially a bigly one like Jared's) day after day for over a year? Is there a riubber stamp? Do they use carbon paper?

Could be as simple as he needs to know.

Ya.  I wasn't disputing what you stated.  Just sharing my experience.

And gotta watch out.  The FBI interviewer I had for my TS clearance was a quite attractive female and tried the "I'm your friend" angle.  Almost worked. . . still told the truth of course, but almost worked. . . 

You got honey potted.

I was interviewed by the FBI, too, when I had my initial Secret and TS clearance interviews.  Re-investigations were mixed.  I never held a TS on active duty -- only after I became a contractor.

My last TS renewal was a DSS agent.

I was not even told my interview for TS was that.  Been about 40 years, but IIRC, it was just two guys asking questions.  Among the odd questions were if I had misgivings working on things that could kill people.

No ID was presented.  Interview held in a conference room at the Northrop unit I worked at.

I was not even told my interview for TS was that.  Been about 40 years, but IIRC, it was just two guys asking questions.  Among the odd questions were if I had misgivings working on things that could kill people.

No ID was presented.  Interview held in a conference room at the Northrop unit I worked at.

That's unusual.  Every interview with me, they called to make an appointment.  When we met, they produced an ID. 

You should have asked for ID when they started your cavity search.      

Like I said, no idea it was a security interview.  Actually might have been the sponsor clearing me to work on their "light deprived"  program.

Regardless, months later I was notified i could come pick up my TS marked badge, though never had any idea it was in the works.

Remember, it's not what he says but what he does that counts, except if he shoots someone in Times Square... that's okay.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/i-will-give-you-everything-here-are-282-of-donald-trumps-campaign-promises/2016/11/24/01160678-b0f9-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html