Sometimes, it can be confusing to keep up with what security clearance terms mean. Whatever your knowledge level, check out what you know and what you might need to brush up on. If you need to review first, check out this recent list of terms published on the ClearanceJobsBlog.com before you take the quiz.
411 ON security Clearance Terms
Whether you just joined the national security workforce or you’ve been in the industry for a long time, the good news is that there are a lot of resources available to help you navigate the career field. You don’t have to get a second degree in security clearance terms 101, but a general awareness and understanding of what is required of you and what adjudicators and investigators are looking for in the process will help you not only obtain a security clearance but also maintain it.
In case you missed a few on the quiz, here’s a review:
- Access – Authority that allows an individual to obtain knowledge of, or access to, classified information, materials, or work areas.
- Adjudication – An examination of a person’s character or conduct over time, resulting in a favorable or unfavorable determination of their employment suitability, eligibility for access to classified information, materials, or areas, or for their retention in Federal employment.
- Adverse Information – Information that adversely reflects on a person’s character, integrity or reliability that suggests that their ability to safeguard sensitive information may be impaired, or that their employment and national security eligibility is not in the best interest of the U.S. Government. For example, a history of misbehavior, i.e., drug abuse, criminal activity, employment misconduct, etc.
- Background Investigation – An official examination of facts or other pertinent information that covers a defined period of normally no more than 10 years. The information is compiled from a review of various records, interview with the subject, and interviews with persons who have knowledge of the subject. The information collected must be sufficient to allow an affirmative or negative determination of a person’s eligibility and suitability to work for the Federal Government.
- Classified Information – Information requiring protection against unauthorized disclosure (marked CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET when in documentary form, to indicate its classified status), pursuant to Executive Orders 12958 and 12968.
- Credit Check – A credit history report conducted on the subject of a background investigation. The report contains financial information collected from creditors, lenders, and public records and organized by credit bureaus or other credit reporting services.
- Fingerprint Check – Also referred to as a criminal history record or rap sheet – Is a listing of specific information taken from fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI in connection with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment, naturalization, or military service.
- National Security Position – A position that (1) involves activities of the Government that are concerned with the protection of the nation from foreign aggression or espionage, including development of defense plans or policies, intelligence or counter intelligence activities, and related activities concerned with the preservation of the military strength of the United States, and/or (2) requires regular use of, or access to, classified information.
- Security Clearance – Certification issued by a designated personnel security official or designee that grants an individual access to classified information, on a need-to-know basis, up to the required classification level (Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential) to perform official duties.
- U.S. Citizen – A person born in the U.S. or its territories, or born in a foreign country to U.S. born parents are U.S. citizens by birth. A person not born in the U.S. can voluntarily become a naturalized U.S. citizen once all eligibility requirements are met. Also, a minor can derive U.S. citizenship following the naturalization of one of both parents.
If you’re juggling all the terms and acronyms, it’s always good to have some resources to save so that you can refer back to them when you need them. Bookmark this page, and you’ll know what your security officer is talking about the next time you have to complete a security review.
