I'm 27 and have various issues which make me concerned about whether I can get security clearance to work as a civilian Arabic Interpreter for the Military in Iraq. they say I need level I or II clearance.
1. I'm openly gay
2. I recently (a month ago) returned from a year and a half in the middle east studying Arabic
3. I have smoked marijuana maybe 5 times in my life but only once in the last 5 years ( 6 mos ago hasheesh)
4. Sanctioned for plagiarizing in college over 5 years ago (stupid, I know, but isolated incident).
Other than these things, I have no criminal record, good credit history, good employment references and experiences, and am very loyal to the US. Anyone have any knowledge about these issues affecting my chances for security clearance? Thanks!
2007-01-22 07:05:49 · 11 answers · asked by ShoWhit 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
1. I'm openly gay
- As stated.. should not unless you are military
2. I recently (a month ago) returned from a year and a half in the middle east studying Arabic
- it will... they will inquire about everything about that trip... why, when, who did you talk with, etc....
3. I have smoked marijuana maybe 5 times in my life but only once in the last 5 years ( 6 mos ago hasheesh)
- DUH... even with admitting it, yes that will be an issue....
4. Sanctioned for plagiarizing in college over 5 years ago (stupid, I know, but isolated incident).
- Probably the worst thing on here.... yes, for this is something that is directly tied to trustworthiness and character
2007-01-22 07:16:55 · answer #1 · answered by DiamondDave 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1. As you are requesting a civilian appointment the Gay bit shouldn't matter- but it MIGHT - 'cause they could pull out the same old "you could be pressured, etc.etc." bit. Since you're open about it, it DEFINITELY shouldn't matter 'cause you can't be blackmailed for something everybody knows anyway. Tell them this if they start to give you a hard time.
2. Can you verify where, when, why you were studying Arabic? As long as it wasn't in a Madras in the mountains - i.e. at a University somewhere - again, okay.
3. If you're in your 20's and HADN'T smoked weed in the last 5 years - then I'd be worried. Like Clinton "not inhaling." Give it up. The hash 6 months ago MIGHT be problematic.
4. Tell the truth up front about the plagiarizing. If anyone over the age of 80 can claim they have never plagiarized, they're lying,
And "They" already know - believe me. They know the color of your undershorts.
Main thing all the way through - TELL THE TRUTH. Don't minimize that which was wrong, but don't make a Federal Case out of it either. Be straight to the point.
GOOD LUCK!!
2007-01-22 07:28:20 · answer #2 · answered by 34th B.G. - USAAF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. I'm openly gay -- You're not going to be military, so I don't see why it would.
2. I recently (a month ago) returned from a year and a half in the middle east studying Arabic -- This one I don't know about.
3. I have smoked marijuana maybe 5 times in my life but only once in the last 5 years ( 6 mos ago hasheesh) -- since the last time was only 6 months ago - iffy (to me anyway). Then again if a drug screen came up clean, maybe no problem.
4. Sanctioned for plagiarizing in college over 5 years ago (stupid, I know, but isolated incident). -- don't know about this either.
I do know good credit, etc is a big plus.
2007-01-22 07:10:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They will badly hurt your chances. The 2nd will have little impact, but the others will.
Being gay is really a non-issue, as long as you are open with it. The biggest fear in the past was with it being used to blackmail somebody. Being open about that makes it a non-issue.
Drug use however is a very big problem. It is illegal, so you are breaking the law. Needless to say, people who break the law are not good security risks. If it was 5 years ago or more, little problem. But as recently as 6 months ago, that is a BIG problem.
Plagarization once again goes back to character. If you did it before, it is more likely you may do it again. And along with that comes lying, and distorting things to get the result you want.
Mostly, a security clearance is about your character, your ability to follow the rules and laws, and being a good citizenship. If I was an FBI agent looking at the record you just gave me, I would have serious misgivings. Being gay does not matter, nor does going to the Middle East. But the other ones would raise large red flags.
And I am just being honest. If anything, #3+4 are the most damning bits of information, and would be hard to get waived.
2007-01-22 07:15:45 · answer #4 · answered by dothan_mike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am not 100% sure but I believe you are going to have some trouble getting a security clearance. I had a high level one when I was in and saw a lot of people loose theirs because of things that they had done before they had joined. One big one was plagiarizing.
The best thing you can do is just ask. Sometimes if the need is great, they will waive your previous problems.
As for being gay, I think you should just keep that to yourself. The military will give you problems with being gay but they wont ask you if you don't tell. Your sexual preferences are your own so just keep them your own.
Also, keep the smoking pot to yourself too. Unless you have documentation saying you got caught smoking pot, I wouldn't worry about disclosing that you used to. Just don't smoke once you get your clearance because that's an easy way to loose it.
Hope that helps some. Good luck getting that clearance.
2007-01-22 07:14:51 · answer #5 · answered by JimmyOrangeSeed 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok for one if your goin to be a civilian still then they cant do anything about being gay and tht doesnt ruin your chances for a security clearance. About the only thing that I can see that would affect it would be the yr and a half in the middle east! I mean they are goin to grill the hell outta u about and its gonna take sometime to get the decision back. Cause believe me they are goin to look into EVERYTHING!! O and dont tell them about the hash!!!
2007-01-22 09:03:23 · answer #6 · answered by Dwayne M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure, I had a Secret security clearance but I think all they do is a general background investigation. I think for a Top Secret which a few of the guys I worked with had they actually go and interview friends and family members.
2007-01-22 13:08:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they're usually searching at no matter if he would properly be tempted to scouse borrow or settle for bribes and if there is an ongoing difficulty which will reason persistent monetary issues. The financial ruin will reason a a lot larger degree of scrutiny yet does no longer immediately disqualify him. What concerns maximum is that that is taken care of out now. yet till he has been out of it for 2 years with a sparkling bill of economic well being, i ought to no longer say.
2016-10-15 22:56:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The year and a half in the Middle East might be trouble, especially if your ethnic background is from that part of the world.
2007-01-22 09:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're asking the wrong venue by coming on to this blog for high security answer. Go right to the source, they won't pull punches, if you're not qualified they'll be the first to tell you so you don't need to waste your time, wondering!
2007-01-22 07:42:21 · answer #10 · answered by briang731/ bvincent 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋