The biggest question we hear at veteran or military family events is, “How do I get my clearance back if it’s expired?”
To obtain a security clearance sponsored by a government agency or contractor, you typically must be employed by or have a job offer from an organization that requires security clearance. The sponsoring organization will then initiate the clearance process by submitting a request on your behalf. You will be asked to complete a detailed security clearance application, which usually includes personal information, employment history, references, and potentially financial disclosures.
After submitting your application, you will undergo a background check that may involve interviews with investigators, verification of your information, and a review of your criminal record, credit history, and other relevant factors. Depending on the level of clearance required, additional steps such as a polygraph test or psychological evaluation may be necessary. Ultimately, the sponsoring agency will review the findings of the investigation and make a determination on whether to grant you the security clearance. It’s essential to be honest and forthcoming throughout the process to increase your chances of a successful clearance outcome.
Many service members gain a security clearance through military service. However, after transitioning out, some veterans’ clearance expires and they are back at square one in hopes of obtaining a cleared job in the civilian world.
WAYS TO GET A SECURITY CLEARANCE BACK IF IT’S EXPIRED
- Join a Reserve component: Enlisting in the military reserve entails a significant time commitment. Following the initial training and integration into a permanent unit, reservists must attend drills one weekend each month, along with a two-week annual training session. But becoming a reservist (if you are not medically separated), can be a great way to get your clearance back or sponsored again.
- Work on a company’s overhead: If you’ve previously held a clearance, that can be leverage to convince a company to sponsor you again since you are familiar with the process. While you wait for your clearance to be adjudicated, offer to work on overhead if they have openings in admin, HR, recruiting, finance, or proposal work (depending on what skillsets you have). Many contracting companies have cleared recruiter openings and a military background can be an asset here.
- Join the government: In addition to targeting larger companies who are in a great position to sponsor, the government is another way to get your foot in the door.
HOW TO GET SCI BACK
What if you have been “read off” of SCI, (essentially leaving a program that requires SCI) but your TS is still active? One ClearanceJobsBlog subscriber writes:
“I began applying for clearance after being out of the cleared world for years. I was very happy to find out that my TS was added to CE (continued evaluation) in 2018 and is still active. I’m not currently working on a cleared job so I have no way to check my clearance. I’ve spoken to two different FSO’s when applying for jobs recently and received conflicting responses about my status. The first FSO said my TS was active because of CE. The second FSO told me my TS/SCI and CI poly were still good. Last week, a company was about to extend me an offer but at the last minute said they couldn’t because my SCI wasn’t good. I always thought that the SCI portion was as simple as getting briefings when you start a new job. Then it’s gone when you debrief upon departure. Can anyone help clarify this for me please? Can the SCI and CI poly be active within CE as well as my TS?”
To qualify for SCI eligibility, an individual must first receive a nomination for an SCI position, undergo a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), and gain approval from the relevant government agency. The Consolidated Adjudication Services (CAS) determine eligibility for accessing SCI, allowing individuals to obtain special access authorization for specific categories of SCI information. SCI access eligibility is categorized into three sensitivity levels, each requiring a different investigative process:
- SSBI without polygraph
- SSBI with Counterintelligence Scope polygraph
- SSBI with Full Scope polygraph
This really depends on the contractor, the program, and if your SSBI is out of scope or not. There is being indoctrinated/briefed/in access for SCI and then there is eligibility. You can be “read off” and lose your access, but retain eligibility.
