If you’re completing your SF-86 for the first time or up for reinvestigation, keep these tips in mind. Don’t let small details turn into months-long delays in the adjudication of your background investigation.
1. List all aliasas
This includes nicknames, maiden names and married names – living off an AKA may mean you miss out on a reference – particularly from a former employer.
2. List all family members
This includes step children, half-siblings, and even relatives you rarely or never see. If you have foreign-born relatives you’re not in contact with, still list them – but indicate your last interaction and the nature of your relationship.
3. Avoid acronyms
Working in the military and defense industry can mean working in a sea of acronym soup – don’t frustrate your investigator by using acronyms or ‘inside-baseball’ terms that he or she may not know about.
The main thing to remember is that your background investigation will be read by someone who doesn’t know you at all – fill in the blanks, make everything clear, and you’ll have a happier investigator and a quicker determination.
