Military clearance?

Question

How far back does confidential security clearance dive into your records i have done a little research on it and top secret goes back 10 years, secret goes back 7 years, and confidential 5 years was just wondering if anyone could confirm it. thanks

Answer 1

Generally, you can think back to ten years as being a general guideline, but if your investigating agent decides that something is worth looking into more, they can go back as far as they want.  If you're trying to hide something, don't bother.

Answer 2

i have a question about this too, but dont want to ask it normally, what exactly do they look for? Just criminal record or what?

Answer 3

I've NEVER heard of someone having a CONFIDENTIAL clearance only.  Most systems that transmit anything above UNCLASS are rated as SECRET or better, so to even get CONFIDENTIAL material, it would come from a SECRET machine, making the classification SECRET (material is rated to the highest level of the system it comes from).  So, you'll have to get a SECRET clearance.

EDIT: not yelling, sorry, but all classifications are done in caps... habit.

Answer 4

Top Secret will go back 10 years or more depending on what they find 10 years back or suspect.

Vet-USAF / Had mine (TS) starting 1979

Answer 5

When i was security cleared by CIA and MI5 for Top Secret I needed to remain silent for 10 Years after the fact but to obtain the information for the clearance there is no limit they need to know everything about the Top Secret Candidate  10 20 30 40 50 Years

sorry cannot give any information on others In the military we had Unclassified restricted confidential Medical in confidence staff in confidence secret and top secret and top secret Australian eyes only when i was in Uk they had similar Top secret for British eyes only as i had the Highest at one time that is the only that was required and investigated

Remember the Russians had sleepers in the west that may still be sleeping