I go to meps next thursday. I am looking at 25U (Signal Systems Support Spc). I know this requires a secret clearance. I have disclosed all else in my life that I needed to as well as brought up the issues with my past credit to my recruiter. She is telling me the are only worried about "larger" then normal credit problems and to not worry about it.

On the paper work to apply for a clearence where I had to initial a TON of stuff..LOL. I remember one of the questions if not more then once being about credit issues. I asked her about it again and she said dont worry and mark no.

Well I am concerned that this is going to bite me in the butt. I was honest about everything to this point and I dont want this to screw me in the end....

Any Suggestions?

OK. I'm not a recruiter, and am not wanting to disagree with an active recruiter, but you do need to know that credit is one area where they scrutinize closely. Not that my answers are going to make you feel better, but I will stress that the primary thing they are looking for IS honesty first and foremost. The credit issue is a secondary item that creates a large problem for those seeking a final secret clearance.

Have to look at it this way, if you can't handle your own credit, how are you going to handle our countries secrets?

One way to show the investigating officer, is that all of your credit issues are disclosed up front, and THAT you are making restitution and getting that owed MONEY back to those you borrowed from. You have to show that it is being addressed. Letters from those creditors stating that you are working with them in getting the debt cleared would help ensure that you are eligible for assignment with a Secret clearance.

You need to understand, that if you fail to obtain a secret clearance in the field known to require one, you will be re-assigned to a MOS where one isn't a requirement...you won't have a choice. Ask your recruiter what happens is you don't obtain a clearance, where will you be assigned? Can you plan ahead in case that happens? Is there another MOS/job she can place into the contract that you would like to do?

Tks Gunny.

Alot of this I am aware about. I did forget to mention that I am going in Army National Guard. My recruiter is telling me I will know how good my chance is for getting a clearance when I go to MEPS next week. So if it looks like I wont get one from what the person that does the interview we will change my MOS before I even sign the contract. SO sorta am planning ahead. She is also supposed to be checking on some things in regards to this so I will have to see what happens.

At first it seemed as if my recruiter wanted me to not mention that I had credit issues in the way my paperwork was filled out. But I could be mistaken. I do take responsiblity for my actions and if I cant get the clearance I do understand.

About the statement about if I cant handle my own finances how can they expect me to handle national secrets...well seeing who are talking about I can see how they may think or HAVE to think that way...but just cause I lose a job and cant pay a bill or so...dont mean I would be a risk with national secrets...BUT better for them and the county to be safe then sorry...

Hope this works out for you. Having bad credit isn't a show stopper, as long as reasonable explainations are provided. Job loss is one of those reasonable explanations. What they are trying to determine is level of trustworthyness, and committment to ones obligations. Maintaining good credit standing is just a logical barometer that is used concerning security clearances. By the way, I would recommend that you use the information on your credit report when filling out the clearance application. The credit report lists all of your documented mailing addresses going back forever. You'll need those same addresses on the clearance application anyway. This way it will all match up.

I deal with clearance issues daily in performance of my current job. I hire and fire based on clearances. My own company requires a full background check to include credit standing. Its a must pass or no hire.

Just make sure to get everything cleared up and make sure you pass your security clearance before you ship to basic otherwise you could end up being a hold over in basic waiting on your clearance. You will be sitting on a concrete floor eating MRE's and riding in the back of a pick up until it clears.

BTW gunny what field do you work in and who exactly are you hiring and firing, do you fly off the handle on someone if they fail a clearance.

In fact I need to check if discharge type will affect getting a job at los alamos.

Its not only about handling government secrets but also how suceptible you are to bribes, for example. If the Ruskies offer to pay off all your debt and then some for a few pieces of paper, would you? (rhetorical)

If you HAD bad credit than thats one thing, people fall into bad times. They may ask you to explain what happened to owe so much money, how much you owe now, what your plans are for paying it off etc.

If you HAVE credit problems now than I would do as much as possible to get those paid off now or get letters stating that you are working on getting them paid off like thegunny said.

Trust me I can understand what you are all saying. But we are talking about $8,000 in debt....NOT $10,000's of thousands or $100,000+.

I will deal with it at meps. But straight up paying it off before I go wont happen. The bills might not be a ton but they are NOT willing to work with me. When you also make about 1/2 of what you did and make enough to pay current bills...well that what I do...I am good to go on everything in the last 2 or so years. Just before that was a rough patch. Again..Tks Gunny,..

rrpearso. I am a first line leader on a 9 billion dollar govt contract. I am a manager on the largest Intranet in the world.

Last week I had a meeting with a PE of a company seeking to work for us. I didn't hire him or use his company. Lack of security clearances was the reason.

No, I don't go off of those that don't have a clearance. I simply can't use them no matter what other qualifications they have. Without the clearance, they are of no use to me.

As far as Los Alamos, you should get the discharge first, then check.

why couldent he get a clearance was he a past felon or something.

Not my concern. You need to realise that there is a cost to be absorbed as a company to obtain a government security clearance. My company pays $10,000.00 for each employee it sponsers for clearance. Companies wanting to perform work for us must provide cleared employees. That particular company had no cleared employees, hence my turning them down. Here's the kicker, it would have been very profitable (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars) for that company had I been able to bring them onboard.

The easiest route for an individual getting a clearance is via military service. The govt foots the cost and is transferable upon end of active service for limited time. This is one of the things that makes a veteran attractive to civilian companies. All it takes is submission for reactivation of existing security clearance with no cost involved to the company making the request.

I can see that happening for a sub contractor which is what his company would have been. But if your company wont hire someone direct based upon a security clearance then that means they dont need people of a particular skill set or disipline very badly, a security clearance I would think would be of a secondary nature to that individuals ability to actually perform the job so to subject yourself to 8 years of military service for a secondary resume line item seems like a waste. Now if you can get the PE/PhD and the security clearance thats great but I would focus more on the PE/PhD part first and by that time most companies will pony up the money for the civilian clearance to hire you (if your your own subcontractor its a different story). In my opinion the rewards of military service are not worth the costs. If you go military and like it and happen to walk away with a clearance thats great but to join just for that is dumb or anything else reward wise the military has to offer, you should join if you like pain and sacrifice with little reward becasue thats what the military is.

Ronald, some places require a security clearance because it is a statutory requirement for the type of work that they do.

Also, the gunny only said that it was easier being priror military -- not a requirement.

I understand, I just think there is alot of hype around security clearances and its more important to actually be able to do the job. And right now there is high demand and very low supply for engineers (particullary off brand disiplins with PE's) and scientists. You can also get security clearances work as a DOE/DOD civilian.

I wanted to thank you all for what help/support I have gotten. While I am going to check into the clearance issse further while at MEPS...I do have a "2nd" choice if I am told at MEPS there is a "better then average" chance I could have an issue. If worse comes to worse I will pick an MOS I can get. Clear up my credit issues and pay off my debts with the bonus I get...THEN when I reup in 4 to 6 years may change MOS's. Again Thanks... I head off to MEPS this comming wednesday night..

Good luck, you must be in a very desperate situation to forgo the MOS you want, why dont you just hold off on joining until you pass your security clearance.

Thank you. Nope I am not. I reread what I posted and I can see where you would think that. But not the case. There is a few jobs I wanted more then a few actually. But was limited to what was around me first off. So I DIDNT get my first choice as it was. I guess I let the kid come out of me in a sense on this one my. My skills are in computers/networking to a degree but no formal education. But due to being limited to a point on the jobs in the area for the Guard I am going with 88M (Motor Transport Operator). AIT is the shortest and same bonus. Will pay off the bills and get the degree for when I reup in 4/6. Thanks Again..