Holding a security clearance isn’t the result of passing a one-time test and then defaulting to autopilot for the rest of your professional life – it’s a standard of responsibility that requires continual awareness and forthrightness. Seemingly benign slip-ups or a lack of transparency around personal life developments can jeopardize the clearance you’ve worked with integrity to obtain. The positive news for cleared professionals is that awareness and attention to keeping your clearance in good standing is all that’s needed to stay in the clear. If you find you don’t put much thought towards maintaining your security clearance, here are some general guidelines to start with as you move forward professionally.
Be Honest Throughout Reinvestigations
With many cleared professionals now being continuously vetted in real time, maintaining constant honesty is crucial. While it may seem obvious, you may be surprised to learn how easy it can be to compromise standards of honesty simply through omission or benign forgetfulness regarding life changes. Any foreign contacts you interact with or any recent financial troubles you’ve encountered are all within the realm of things that should be reported. Having an open-door policy towards reinvestigations should be your top priority, no matter the ups and downs in your life.
Report Life Changes Promptly
Stay ahead of the game by proactively reporting big life events, such as a new marriage or side hustle endeavor – doing so will prevent you from having to reactively answer a flood of questions or undergo further investigation. Just as someone who is moving states and changes their auto insurance ahead of time to avoid a DMV disaster, the same applies to cleared professionals who look ahead. Doing so will save you a hassle in the end, and self-reporting demonstrates both trustworthiness and responsibility – both of which are green flags for holding a security clearance.
Keep Finances in Order
Major financial troubles or enormous debts aren’t something to be judged for, but they can be red flags for vulnerabilities such as accepting bribes or being blackmailed. It may sound fickle to worry about financial appearances, but maintaining a sense of perceived reliability is part of the responsibility that comes with holding a security clearance. Having financial problems is a valid circumstance but hiding them is not.
Maintaining a security clearance through the years might sound exhausting, but don’t let the technicalities frighten you. As long as you maintain honesty and openness, there’s minimal room to worry. Take the quiz above for a little added help with understanding and preparing for reinvestigations to maintain your security clearance for the long haul!
