Anyone who has applied for a security clearance knows the tedium of filling out the multiple sections of information. In the past year the common portal for completing the forms has changed, and government applicants are looking at a whole new world of acronyms thanks to the National Background Investigation Systems (NBIS). While we’ve offered a number of articles at ClearanceJobs over the years with tips and tricks on how to fill out the forms, how to speed up the process, and how to prepare for a personal subject interview, sometimes it’s also worth noting the things on the form that make us go…hmmmm.
1. You need to know your neighbor’s middle name.
The options for middle name for your neighbors and references isn’t ‘I don’t know’ – it’s either an initial or ‘doesn’t have one.’ Security experts have advised me that you can check ‘doesn’t have one’ even if your neighbor does, in fact, have a middle name. But this is where overthinking is your security clearance application nemesis – some of us have a really hard time not filling out every detail.
The best advice is to do your best. Where you’re able to ask your neighbor or reference, it’s actually a good opportunity to give them a heads-up that the government may be calling.
2. You Can Estimate the Date You Got Married.
The national security workforce needs whole people, not perfect people. And the reality is real people can’t remember every detail about their lives. Fortunately, the SF-86 doesn’t require them to. The form allows individuals to estimate certain sections and dates. That’s good news. But filling out the form can make you question your life choices when you realize it asks for your neighbor’s middle name, but allows you to estimate the date you were married.
Use estimated dates wisely. Remembering every summer job is hard, or when you started and stopped every job change really isn’t required as long as the date ranges are close. But don’t just phone it in and start estimating everything. If you have a way to reference the dates – old tax forms, Amazon shopping saved addresses and other records can be your friend.
