Army Secret Security Clearances?

Question

2 years ago my boyfriend was camping with friends in state park, after 730 it was considered trespassing, they were unaware about this at the time. They were arrested, and received misdemeanors.. My boyfriends was dropped down to simply a violation. He has been going back and forth between his recruiters and they keep saying he will not be able to get a clearance because of a Violation that in the eyes of a military is a Misdemeanor He hasn't done anything else wrong in the last 2 years and is a VERY smart kid.He received extremely high asvab scores and perfect 1's through his physical. He wants to do something in the intelligence field. My uncle and grandfather are prior service, and they said that the recruiter is bs'ing him because my uncle had a 10 page rap sheet and HE was able to get a TOP SECRET security clearance. and that it takes more than just one day to hear back on whether or not you can get one. Any help would be great thanks!

Answer 1

Yeah, the recruiters don't even deal with clearances, they just help you fill out the initial paperwork required to get one. They're probably not bs'ing him, they probably just don't know.

I had an arrest on multiple charges when I was 18 and I got a TS clearance and an Intel job.  As long as he is honest about it, and it sounds like he is, it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 2

Like everyone else said the security clearance investigators are more concerned with finding deciet, or finding lies, red flags. They're looking for people vulnerable to outside forces and people who they fill will snap under pressure and pose a risk to information. I think if there is waiver involved he will not be eligible for jobs in the Army requiring Top Secret Clearance at least that is how it is for the Air Force and Marine Corps. However that does not mean he's not qualified for TS clearance just how the Military assigns jobs. If the recruiters enter his info into the computer it will show what jobs he qualifies for and if for some reason he doesn't qualify for the job he wants based on background or waivers or moral qualifications there isn't much he can do.

Answer 3

I'll be going for a secret clearance (with the DoS) myself pretty soon.

My uncle (a US col) said they're mostly concerned about whether you've committed a federal crime, and a prof of mine at school said the clearances are looking to see whether someone could get leverage over you to reveal classified information. It sounds like your boyfriend might have to mention it on SF-86 or whatever the equivalent form is, but that he should have no problem explaining it and getting a clearance regardless.

Answer 4

As long as he doesn't lie, he should be good. They are mostly looking to see if people will tell the truth about their pasts. He will be interviewed about the incident and able to explain his side.

If that's his biggest issue, I would tell him to go ahead and try to get the job he wants. I've seen people with far more and worse incidents than that get approved.  

Answer 5

The recruiters are probably not lying, but they REALLY don't know what they are talking about. Other agencies will investigate his background and determine whether or not he will receive the clearance.

Something that small would even be hard for them to deny a Top Secret, much less a Secret.

One of the big things they look at is people's financial situation. If you owe alot of money to creditors or you don't pay your bills on time can make you lose your clearance really quick.

I had a buddy who lost his secret clearance because he co-signed a vehicle for his brother and his brother stopped making payment and the truck was repo'd. Aslong as his financial situation is ok and he doesn't have any big offenses he will be ok.