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Anomie07
10-20-10, 03:32 PM
No, this isn't a thread asking what the eligibility requirements are for a security clearance.

I served for 5 years as an 0231 Intel Specialist. I'm currently out of the Marines going to university to pursue a bachelors in political studies, which I believe would be a good supplement to my military experience in pursuing a civilian career. My concern here is that of my TS clearance eligiblity, will will expire early 2011. Once this happens, am I potentially shooting myself in the foot for finding a job once I've finished university? The money a company will have to spend on me to get a new clearance investigation done might not be worth their time and money, despite my experience and then-recently obtained degree. In this situation it seems I'm faced with deciding to either pursue a career now with no degree, but with clearance eligibility, or pursue one after obtaining a degree, but with expired eligibility.

My question then is if this is a correct assumption to make? Is there still a chance certain companies would be willing to hire me, despite the relapse in my clearance eligibility?

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

devilbones
10-20-10, 03:58 PM
Your pretty much done right now anyway. If nobody has your clearance and you read out you are just like somebody without.

Kegler300
10-20-10, 04:34 PM
If you have been out of the military, civil service, or DOD contractor service for more than 24 consecutive months, you will require a periodic reinvestigation anyway. The SSBI/PR is valid for five years from the closed date for TS/SCI access, but is good for 10 years for secret access. The key factor, though, is that you've already established eligibility, which makes a very big difference when applying for a civil service or DOD contractor job, regardless that the investigation has lapsed.

Anomie07
10-20-10, 10:17 PM
Thank for the replies. It's good to know that the fact that I've had eligibility for TS/SCI before will mean something. It would be discouraging to think that without current eligibility I'd be on the same level as some random civilian just out of college. I suppose the only time not having eligibility would become a problem is trying to get a job with a civilian contractor, since they don't enjoy all the funding in the world from the government like the 3-letter agencies do, and therefore can't shell out 200,000 or whatever it may happen to cost to have an investigation done.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Semper fi.

doesitnotmatter
10-21-10, 08:35 AM
if you have a TS and it is not active for a certain amount of time it will just become inactive. you will always have the clearance. when you get hired at a job that requires the TS then that company will have to reopen your investigation. make sure you have a copy of your SF-86 both a hard and soft copy. this will expedite the reactivation of your clearance. this is coming from a former SSO. your and 02xx you should know this already.

Preacher
10-21-10, 09:11 AM
Don't know why you can't get a job now that requires your clearance and continue to go to school. I hired on with the government on a Cooperative Education program while I was persuing my Bachelors Degree. I worked part time until I graduated, then had the choice of either going full time with the government or going my own way.

Meserole08orah
10-21-10, 11:09 AM
Even without a degree... since you had a clearance and KEPT it while you were in, they are more willing to pay for it because i highly doubt you robbed a bank or killed someone lol. Its worth a try the worst they can say is no go fill sand bags. But think about it... If you go to apply had a clearance and just needed to renew it or whatever and joe blow from down the road applied for the same thing and never had one, its cheaper and better for them to hire you. Because though he may be honest and not have anything negative... you never know and in business class they told us to go with someone who already has it because its easier

brian0351
10-21-10, 03:53 PM
Everyone has already touched on the key points.

One thing to keep in mind however, is that keeping your clearance is generally only for contracting jobs. If you apply to a 3-letter agency, they have they're own process for clearances. Plus all of them (minus the State Dept) require Lifestyle polygraphs.