View Full Version : Is Intelligence out of the picture for me?
TheFewTheProud9
09-20-10, 06:32 PM
Hello Marines, i just swore in a couple hours ago and i am picking a job. Their are alot of jobs that interest me and that is why i have a "general enlistment" contract still right now.
Im looking at Intelligence because it looks like a MOS that could translate well into the civilian world while still serving my country and becoming a Marine. The only thing im worried about is the Top Secret Security Clearance. I hear they dig up almost everything on you, and though i dont have a criminal record. In high school i was suspended for about a week for having posession of a controlled substance.
Police was never involved and only the school knows about it, but im guessing this would effect my chance of getting the job?
haebyungdae
09-21-10, 08:43 AM
Be open about it and don't hide it. You can get a TS clearance for 5 or less experimental uses of marijuana/hashish. More then 5 and you are DQ'd from getting a TS clearance and the usage or possession of drugs other then mj/hash is also an automatic DQ for a TS clearance.
Just be honest about it with your recruiter, but then again he should already know because you already went to MEPS right? And on your medical assessment forms it asks about drug use.
I was a moral waiver (mj usage) and I currently serving in the 2600 field (electronic warfare).
il duce
09-21-10, 09:02 AM
Sgt hit the nail on the head
be honest because they'll dig up everything you've ever done... on the other hand, there's no need to tell them you stepped on a cricket in the parking lot and feel guilty for it...
I was suspended 3 times for drinking. No problem with TS clearance
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 09:25 AM
Thanks Marines, i'm just thinking about it because i only got suspended from school and nothing else happened. and my recruiter said they dont care about your high school record, thats why i dont know if i should bring it up.
I also put down at MEPS that i never got suspended from school
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 12:10 PM
Hello Marines, i just swore in a couple hours ago and i am picking a job. Their are alot of jobs that interest me and that is why i have a "general enlistment" contract still right now.
Im looking at Intelligence because it looks like a MOS that could translate well into the civilian world while still serving my country and becoming a Marine. The only thing im worried about is the Top Secret Security Clearance. I hear they dig up almost everything on you, and though i dont have a criminal record. In high school i was suspended for about a week for having posession of a controlled substance.
Police was never involved and only the school knows about it, but im guessing this would effect my chance of getting the job?
hah, they won't care about you having a bag of pot in high school
When they do an SSBI they're looking for you to be truthful. If you spill everything and they confirm it, you'll probably be fine. It's likely they won't give a frak diddly do about a single incident that didn't even involve law enforcement, so tell them, the guys in suits will laugh it off and keep researching everything else.
The only thing you don't want to do is lie. They probably wouldn't find those records because it's not part of the normal investigation to look at internal incidents where there wasn't police involvement but there's a chance. Better they know about it and not care than have them stumble upon something you failed to mention.
But no, they won't care. Just tell them.
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 12:11 PM
I also put down at MEPS that i never got suspended from school
I assume this was by your recruiter's instructions and he knew that you had, correct?
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 01:47 PM
I assume this was by your recruiter's instructions and he knew that you had, correct?
Thanks for the advice, and no he didnt tell me to do that. But he did say that they dont give a diddly squat about about what you did in high school if only the school disiplined you. which is why i put i wasent suspended on a question.
and it wasent a bag of pot it was controlled pills (only 2) so i think that would be worse then just marijuana.
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 01:57 PM
Oxy?
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 02:00 PM
Oxy?
Yea im pretty sure that was it.
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 02:14 PM
Wait, you got in trouble for possession of something you didn't know?
Either way, since it wasn't consumption and there was no legal involvement, it's highly likely that the folks doing the background check will not give half a frak. There was no arrest, no conviction, nothing but the school's report which is barely worth the paper it's written on. Basically, don't worry about telling them but don't try to hide it either. Doing so is far, far worse than the incident itself.
Also note that while there are a number of apparent disqualifying things for a TS clearance, there are plenty of exceptions made.
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 02:30 PM
Wait, you got in trouble for possession of something you didn't know?
Either way, since it wasn't consumption and there was no legal involvement, it's highly likely that the folks doing the background check will not give half a frak. There was no arrest, no conviction, nothing but the school's report which is barely worth the paper it's written on. Basically, don't worry about telling them but don't try to hide it either. Doing so is far, far worse than the incident itself.
Also note that while there are a number of apparent disqualifying things for a TS clearance, there are plenty of exceptions made.
Yea thanks alot it makes me feel alot better if i do 02XX and then they start conducting a TS.
Hopefully they dont find out anything about it, other then that little incident im clean. I just dont hope they do find out i got suspended and they see i put down not suspended at MEPS and i get a fraudulent enlistment. :cry:
Zulu 36
09-21-10, 02:47 PM
Yes, the the background investigators will probably go look at his high school records as they are within the ten-year window of time and he doesn't seem to have a whole mess of schools to go visit.
But, it also depends on the tasking they get from their headshed.
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 02:49 PM
Yeah, they won't care about that either. The fraudulent enlistment threat gets thrown around but few ever get kicked out for it and even fewer actually charged. Now if you had a serious felony on...
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 03:02 PM
Cool Thanks, when i swore in they were saying that if i lied i would go to jail for 5 years and i would be fined $200,000.
But yea if they dont ask about the high school record i wont say anything, but if they do ask ill just tell them the truth. since i was caught with pills i hope that dosent DQ me because their harsher on pills then marijuana/
FattyTheFerret
09-21-10, 03:13 PM
Yeah, if you faked your transcripts or concealed a felony or neglected to mention you had a serious medical condition but hell, I knew three guys in MRP that got kicked out for not revealing asthma...
ggyoung
09-21-10, 04:01 PM
The military and intelligence????????????
Hello Marines, i just swore in a couple hours ago and i am picking a job. Their are alot of jobs that interest me and that is why i have a "general enlistment" contract still right now.
Im looking at Intelligence because it looks like a MOS that could translate well into the civilian world while still serving my country and becoming a Marine. The only thing im worried about is the Top Secret Security Clearance. I hear they dig up almost everything on you, and though i dont have a criminal record. In high school i was suspended for about a week for having posession of a controlled substance.
Police was never involved and only the school knows about it, but im guessing this would effect my chance of getting the job?
They check everything dude. I know sometimes they even check family members backgrounds in some cases. For a top secret security clearance they focus a lot on your credit. They ask you a lot of questions. The reasoning is that the military could be afraid that you might sell state secrets. Personally, and every situation is different, but if you weren't arrested and you were only suspended I don't think it would be too much of a problem, but Intelligence is certainly a field where your background can make a difference in regards to being selected.
TheFewTheProud9
09-21-10, 10:20 PM
They check everything dude. I know sometimes they even check family members backgrounds in some cases. For a top secret security clearance they focus a lot on your credit. They ask you a lot of questions. The reasoning is that the military could be afraid that you might sell state secrets. Personally, and every situation is different, but if you weren't arrested and you were only suspended I don't think it would be too much of a problem, but Intelligence is certainly a field where your background can make a difference in regards to being selected.
Yea i guess im screwed then.
Because my sister is a felon and my mom lives in another country.
Yea i guess im screwed then.
Because my sister is a felon and my mom lives in another country.
Well, just be positive about it. You never know. I knew a few guys from when I was Active Duty who told me stories about some of the things they got up to and they still got into Intel (although God knows why they would brag about it).
FattyTheFerret
09-22-10, 12:16 AM
Yea i guess im screwed then.
Because my sister is a felon and my mom lives in another country.
Not at all. They don't use your family's criminal record to disqualify you nor your mother's current residence. Plenty of people with TS/SCI have spouses who are still foreign nationals or family members currently in jail.
Again, what matters is that you reveal everything they want to know. Your honesty to them is a far greater indicator of your trustworthiness than your actual records.
Not at all. They don't use your family's criminal record to disqualify you nor your mother's current residence. Plenty of people with TS/SCI have spouses who are still foreign nationals or family members currently in jail.
Again, what matters is that you reveal everything they want to know. Your honesty to them is a far greater indicator of your trustworthiness than your actual records.
Agreed, just be aware though that there is a possibility they will check up on it. Honesty is key here.
Zulu 36
09-22-10, 11:59 AM
The primary focus of a SSBI is YOU. It is far more complicated than some of the folks here seem to think it is because their SSBI went smoothly. Yes, they WILL look at your high school records.
The investigators are looking at five main areas regarding you:
1. Loyalty (to the United States of America.)
2. Integrity (are you honest?)
3. Discretion (can you keep a secret?)
4. Morality (are you a closet homosexual, sex offender, alcoholic, druggie? Note: being a homo is not a disqualifier anymore, but being a closet homo can be.)
5. Character (are you a good person, no significant criminal record, etc.)
The SSBI investigators do not make the final decision on whether to grant or deny you a security clearance. However, they can make a recommendation to deny which does not have to be followed by the granting authority (but often is).