RE: Obtaining a US Govt Security Clearance

["Ahmed, Balal" <balal.ahmed () capgemini com>]

Slightly irrelevant to this thread but the UK vetting process is somewhat
similar, ie you need a reason to have it and need to be put forward by a
sponsoring organization. There are four tiers of clearance in the UK

Basic Check
Counter terrorist check
Security Check (The most common) 
Defense vetting (The highest level)

The following website gives FAQ's on the process and requirements to meet
the above categories.

> From http://www.mod.uk/dva/faqs.htm

<---snip---->
First, you need a sponsor. Individuals and companies cannot ask for a
security clearance unless they are sponsored, and they will not be sponsored
unless they are contracted (or are in the process of being contracted) to
work on one or more specific MOD classified projects. For large contracts,
an officer in the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) or Defence Logistics
Organisation (DLO) - typically a Project Officer - will be the sponsor. For
staff in sub-contracted organisations, sponsorship will be provided through
the prime contractor.
<---snip--->

HTH

-----Original Message-----
From: firewall-wizards-admin () honor icsalabs com
[mailto:firewall-wizards-admin () honor icsalabs com] On Behalf Of Laura Taylor
Sent: 06 May 2004 00:07
To: firewall-wizards () honor icsalabs com
Subject: RE: [fw-wiz] Obtaining a US Govt Security Clearance

One thing to know is that for all the clearances, you have to have a good
credit history. Laura

-----Original Message-----
From: firewall-wizards-admin () honor icsalabs com
[mailto:firewall-wizards-admin () honor icsalabs com]On Behalf Of Vin
McLellan
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 4:06 PM
To: firewall-wizards () honor icsalabs com
Subject: Re: [fw-wiz] Obtaining a US Govt Security Clearance


At 5/4/2004, Adam Shostack wrote:

> Oh, if you want to work in a clearance required facility, you'll have
> to find one that's willing to pick up the cost of sending you through
> the system.

A year ago, that could take as much as 18 months and could cost the hiring
agency (directly, or as a pass-through from a civilian contractor) as much
as $50k.

Recent reports seem to indicate that the backlog is down to around 12
months.

Adam's flights of fancy aside,  as others have noted, you are only
permitted to obtain a US security clearance if you have a job assignment
that warrants it -- and, by the regs, you only hold that clearance for so
long as you have that assignment.

There are over 20 different US federal agencies or agency departments which
can require a security clearance, and <sigh> apparently all of them have
different criteria and a different vetting process for someone seeking to
obtain their respective clearance.  A clearance issued by one often does
not transfer to another.

The cost, complexity, and time involved in the process are such that
cleared personnel typically earn a significant premium over uncleared
personnel. Industry and government agencies now compete for pre-cleared
staff -- which means agencies and contractors are stealing vetted employees
from one another, since there is no "waiting pool" of cleared but
unemployed employees.

Although there are several new federal initiatives to reform the
process,  it is still a terribly wasteful and flawed bureaucratic
imbroglio.  See an industry white paper on suggested improvements in the
process at: <http://www.itaa.org/es/docs/securityclearancewhitepaper.pdf>

Suerte,
         _Vin


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