I know that ESIs are a regular part of some clearance investigations.
But what do ESIs cover? Are they just meant for SF86-related questions? Would an ESI ever span your entire life?
Just curious, as there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot out there about ESIs…
Depends. If it’s with a three letter/IC, you might have a lot of additional stuff in addition to the SF-86 questions.
Not familiar with the acronym or term ESI. Can you explain that one? Extra…significant…information? Sensitive information? Double secret probation?
sorry about that! Enhanced Subject Interview… im aware of the typical SF86 review, but I know that some people get ESIs, so I was wondering how in-depth that could go
Oh. That sounds like a focused…second interview to cover grounds the first BI SHOULD have scoped but did not. It happens.
10 years back for most items or 18th birthday, back to 16 for residence if establishing 2 years at a location, and a few questions are “have you ever” type questions. If you are 26, that pretty much means your entire adult life, and you add in juvenile records even if sealed or expunged. So essentially it can be the entire conscious life where you were making decisions, good and bad. The further in the rear view mirror the bad decisions are, the better it is. Particularly if it was one and done type stuff. It isn’t unusual on a Poly to be asked if you EVER stole anything, or EVER lied. Only way to answer that is “yes.”
@Anon1 They can ask whatever they want/need information about. There is no set formula. At a minimum, they go over your SF-86.
Yes I’m aware. I was just curious about what is usually the norm with most people… that’s all. 
I have conducted ESIs that lasted from 45 minutes to 8 1/2 hours — and everything else in between.
I really have no idea how long an individual’s ESI will last until I am actually in the ESI with the Subject.
I still can’t fathom, how does an ESI go to 8 hours? Did they just turn in a blank form?
Spent a lot of time dealing with his issues and his constant lying.
I have had numerous ESIs go to 6 to 6 1/2 hours.
My longest one was about 6.5 hours and developed a lot of information. I’ve also had a lot that lasted less than an hour. I’d say my average is probably around an hour and a half for cases with a few typical issues.
Sometimes you get lucky and get to interview someone who has lived in the same house since 1985 and worked at the same place for the last 20 years, they have perfect credit and no arrests or admitted drug use. Needless to say those are a nice relief from discussing peoples debts and past drug use.
SF86 issues? The form isn’t thaaaaaaaaaaat long since I last filled it out but hey, I don’t do this for a living. My respect to you guys for putting up with this kind of stuff.
I really like DOE clearance upgrades and re-investigations. DOE has a firm grasp on the security program.
The 8 1/2 hour ESI was an SSBI where the Subject just wanted to argue every point (he was not getting a clearance… the Army put him in for a TS just 6 months after he was denied a Secret) and, of course, everything was a conspiracy against him.
The 6 to 6 1/2 hour ESIs almost always involve finances with developed foreign issues (citizenship).
My current average ESI is probably 60 to 75 minutes. Sixty or less on “clean” cases.
Do you know why the army thought it’d be a good idea to do that? How would he ever pass
May have been an attempt to get rid of him. Find some misconduct and use it to discharge.
Uh, no… I really don’t know why they would even process him for an upgrade let alone another chance within a year…