Top Secret Security Clearance

[Auwe76]

I was wondering if moving around a lot while I was younger (as in a minor, w/ no control over the situation) would negatively effect my chances for a security clearance? I haven't married any foreign nationals or anything like that, and the moves were pretty much within 10 miles of each other, if that helps somehow...?

Also under things that could DQ me for a Top-Secret clearance, I noticed that it mentioned mental disorders or something to that effect. I was diagnosed for a couple of things when I was younger (i.e. more than ten years ago) - major depression, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), and RAD (reactive attachment disorder) right after my father died, and I mean like 6 months after, so I hardly think its admissible. I digress, anyways, would these things be automatically dis qualifiers? Or would it be possible to get a waiver, or contest these things?
I quit seeing the psychiatrist soon after I was "diagnosed" with those things. I haven't had any suicide attempts or kill lists or anything stupid like that- like I said I was diagnosed with these things right after my father died, hardly a time that any child is stable.

so to reiterate:

-could me moving so much when I was younger (again, obviously not in my control) disqualify me for a clearance?
-could "mental disorder" be waived if evidence was shown that it was negligible? (psych exam showing that I was clear of any "disorder")

Thank you for any suggestions or advice about this.

Respectfully,
A. West

[Pete0331]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auwe76 so much when I was younger (again, obviously not in my control) disqualify me for a clearance?

No, unless it was due to illegal activities.

I have no idea about the psych issue.

[davblay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auwe76 I was wondering if moving around a lot while I was younger (as in a minor, w/ no control over the situation) would negatively effect my chances for a security clearance? I haven't married any foreign nationals or anything like that, and the moves were pretty much within 10 miles of each other, if that helps somehow...? Also under things that could DQ me for a Top-Secret clearance, I noticed that it mentioned mental disorders or something to that effect. I was diagnosed for a couple of things when I was younger (i.e. more than ten years ago) - major depression, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), and RAD (reactive attachment disorder) right after my father died, and I mean like 6 months after, so I hardly think its admissible. I digress, anyways, would these things be automatically dis qualifiers? Or would it be possible to get a waiver, or contest these things? I quit seeing the psychiatrist soon after I was "diagnosed" with those things. I haven't had any suicide attempts or kill lists or anything stupid like that- like I said I was diagnosed with these things right after my father died, hardly a time that any child is stable. so to reiterate: -could me moving so much when I was younger (again, obviously not in my control) disqualify me for a clearance? -could "mental disorder" be waived if evidence was shown that it was negligible? (psych exam showing that I was clear of any "disorder") Thank you for any suggestions or advice about this. Respectfully, A. West

August, from what I see on your profile you haven't been to MEPS yet! I hate to ask a question to a question, but have you even talked to a recruiter yet?

[Auwe76]

Indeed I have actually talked to a recruiter. And I was pretty much good to go, got qualified (on the ASVAB) for w/e I wanted, but; About 5 months ago, I had a siezure. From what the Dr's at the hospital said, it was simply an overload of brain circuits (best description he had for me); I had a virus for a week prior to the incident, and my fever was 105 the day of. I took many tests, all of them said I was fine. The Dr's said I was fine, that it supposedly happens to just about every body in their lifetime, yada, yada, etc. Also, I have no tendecy in my family for these.

The Dr's at MEPS however, wanted me to have shown that it was just a one time thing. So they said come back in six months, basically. I am currently working on getting another neurologists opinion on this matter, in an attempt to get a waiver, as from what I've read in the Recruiting Manual, it is not an automatic, no matter what DQ. Unfortunately, since the Dr's at MEPS told my recruiter that, he doesnt seem to like returning my phone calls, or emails. Quite annoying, but he has a job to do, I suppose I understand. Anyways, that was quite long winded, my apologies.

*Edit* I haven't been to MEPS for the physical as of yet, as they requested my medical doc's first. However I see no problems other than that.

[Auwe76]

Very good to know about that one, thank you CPL. (PETE0331)

[Pete0331]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auwe76 The Dr's said I was fine, that it supposedly happens to just about every body in their lifetime, yada, yada, etc. Also, I have no tendecy in my family for these.

Yeah right.

You better start praying. This will be a serious issue.

[Auwe76]

anyone with info on the psych thing?

[Kegler300]

Here's the adjudicative guideline for Emotional, Mental, and Personality Disorders for determining access to classified information:

"GUIDELINE I: EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND PERSONALITY DISORDERS
27. The Concern. Emotional, mental, and personality disorders can cause a significant deficit in an individual's psychological, social and occupational functioning. These disorders are of security concern because they may indicate a defect in judgment, reliability or stability. A credentialed mental health professional (e.g., clinical psychologist or psychiatrist), employed by, acceptable to or approved by the government, should be utilized in evaluating potentially disqualifying and mitigating information fully and properly, and particularly for consultation with the individual's mental health care provider.

28. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:

(a) An opinion by a credentialed mental health professional that the indivldual has a condition or treatment that may indicate a defect in judgment, reliability, or stability;

(b) information that suggests that an individual has failed to follow appropriate medical advice relating to treatment of a condition, e.g. failure to take prescribed medication;

(c) a pattern of high-risk, irresponsible, aggressive, anti-social or emotionally unstable behavior;

(d) information that suggests that the individual's current behavior indicates a defect in his or her judgment or reliability.

29. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include: (a) There is no indication of a current problem;

(b) recent diagnosis by a credentialed mental health professional that an individual's previous emotional, mental, or personality disorder is cured, under control or in remission and has a low probability of recurrence or exacerbation;

(c) the past emotional instability was a temporary condition (e.g., one caused by a death, illness, or marital breakup), the situation has been resolved, and the individual is no longer emotionally unstable."

[Pete0331]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kegler300 (c) a pattern of high-risk, irresponsible, aggressive, anti-social or emotionally unstable behavior;

Except for the anti-social part, this describes every Grunt I have ever known.

[JoeInVille]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete0331 Except for the anti-social part, this describes every Grunt I have ever known.

LOL

[Auwe76]

That is great to know MGySg! Thank you very much for that information!

[DGardner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete0331 Yeah right. You better start praying. This will be a serious issue.

It's true, usually not to the degree that most people would recognize it to be a seizure, but just about everyone has had one whether they realize it was a seizure or not.

[Brewer0311]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGardner It's true, usually not to the degree that most people would recognize it to be a seizure, but just about everyone has had one whether they realize it was a seizure or not.

I was Pre-Med before I got in and I've never heard of that, but it may be true. What you need to worry about is that they DID recognize it as a seizure. Whether your a grunt, intel, supply, or even admin; they can't send you to a combat zone with a history of seizure/s. The Corps already doesn't have a big budget so why would they risk sending you to boot, MCT, MOS school, or however far you make it and then find out once you get to the sandbox or the wonderful mountains of Afghanistan that you have another one? You have to think about it from both ends of the spectrum. Yes the Corps needs more Marines, but would they want to put you or other Marines in the situation to possibly have a man/woman down for non-combat reasons? Especially if it were in a combat situation?

[mikeab84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auwe76 I was wondering if moving around a lot while I was younger (as in a minor, w/ no control over the situation) would negatively effect my chances for a security clearance? I haven't married any foreign nationals or anything like that, and the moves were pretty much within 10 miles of each other, if that helps somehow...? Also under things that could DQ me for a Top-Secret clearance, I noticed that it mentioned mental disorders or something to that effect. I was diagnosed for a couple of things when I was younger (i.e. more than ten years ago) - major depression, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), and RAD (reactive attachment disorder) right after my father died, and I mean like 6 months after, so I hardly think its admissible. I digress, anyways, would these things be automatically dis qualifiers? Or would it be possible to get a waiver, or contest these things? I quit seeing the psychiatrist soon after I was "diagnosed" with those things. I haven't had any suicide attempts or kill lists or anything stupid like that- like I said I was diagnosed with these things right after my father died, hardly a time that any child is stable. so to reiterate: -could me moving so much when I was younger (again, obviously not in my control) disqualify me for a clearance? -could "mental disorder" be waived if evidence was shown that it was negligible? (psych exam showing that I was clear of any "disorder") Thank you for any suggestions or advice about this. Respectfully, A. West

IDK..I just wanted to take this opportunity to say DONT GO WITHIN 100 FEET OF A PSYCHOLOGIST! These "doctors" sole duty is to find any reason to sell you drugs. That's it. They're the reason why are generation can't take a **** without having an anxiety attack.

[mikeab84]

although I would say, in your instance, with such a traumatic experience, therapy could probably have been helpful. Sorry for ranting..