Just got an email that I need to interview with an investigator and I’m worried. How bad of a sign is this? I’ve gotten my interim previously with minor drug and alcohol issues from years ago that I’ve left behind me. that The only other issue is after just talking with my security office they told me to fill out SF-86C and include some study partners from college as foreign contacts but they didn’t think was a big deal.
I first submitted my SF-86 in February 2018.
There’ s always an interview with every DOD Secret Investigation. Part of the process.
That’s not true. They’re not routine.
How many years were the drug and alcohol issues? Did they involve any counseling? Elaborate more on the study partners. It should not be an immediate cause for alarm.
The drugs were over 2 years at this point and was the occasional use of marijuana. The alcohol was even further back. I never got any formal counseling, I just stopped doing that stuff and hanging out with people who did.
Study partners were just a few people I took classes with in college and we’d study together and talk online sometimes. Never hung out together outside of school and we haven’t talked to any of them in a month at this point. The FSO I talked to said I should disclose them since we had a common interest in getting a degree and talked regularly.
Those are probably issues that warrant more detail. Not routine, but common. Just be honest and explain it in terms as you have here.
Okay thanks, that’s what I’m planning on doing.
I think they wanted to make all applicants have a subject interview, but quickly realized it would be totally impractical, especially given the backlog.
I don’t think it is that unusual anymore to have a subject interview for a secret clearance. But it probably does indicate that there is some issue they want to explore in more detail.
I just looked it up. For Tier 3 investigations they are common.
They are common, not standard.
They are very common but not standard (required). Investigators see them all the time.
Tier 3 Subject interviews are conducted to gather more information about something you reported or to ask you why you didn’t report required information. This is the Subject’s opportunity to give the adjudicator information, through the Subject interview/investigator’s report.
Well, here’s hoping they just want me to tell them I misinterpreted the scope of the foreign contact question and tell them again that I’m absolutely never ever doing drugs again.
I can’t imagine what else it could possibly be. It would have to be something I’ve completely blocked out. 
If you have foreign associations and drug use, you will probably be discussing those issues in more detail.
I think I should be fine with that. The drugs were infrequent and minor and I’ve turned my life around since then, and the foreign contacts are pretty casual friends, not very close.
I had a DoD Secret clearance for 5 years and never once had an interview.
This is the information the investigator will gather for the adjudicator. The Tier 3 Subject interview is the Subject’s chance to provide information through a skilled interviewer to the adjudicator. The investigator is really neither your friend nor enemy. We are not a “gotcha” organization.
This is normal Gracie.
they seem more and more common the last 3 investigation at my company had an interview.
most of the time it is dates related. You left this house on may 30 but moved in june 1 but they only have month and year on the form. questions was asked “where did you live for that month?”
you had 2 jobs at a college and got a student stipend and worked as an RA/cook ect. when they called the college you where only employed as an RA so the dates do not mash up.
You went over seas. They want to see the stamp on the port of entry and exit.
duel degrees are a problem for them as well. how can you graduate 2 years after your attendance date.
The T3 (for secret) does NOT require a subject interview unless certain conditions are on the SF-86 or are developed. Then, an interview is requested to specifically address the issues. In a T5 (for TS or Secret), a subject interview is mandatory.
In case anyone was wondering, the reason for the interview ended up being that I messed up the dates I attended college.