SF-86 Bug: Inconsistent Employment History Requirements on the e-QIP Form

If you’re filling out the SF-86 for a Secret security clearance, you’ve likely noticed the form asks for your employment history over the last 5 years, starting from age 18 or later. That part is straightforward.

However, a major inconsistency arises when you answer “Yes” to the question:
“In the last 7 years, have you been fired from a job, quit after being told you’d be fired, or left by mutual agreement following allegations of misconduct or poor performance?”

When you say yes, the e-QIP system prompts you to enter the details of that specific job, even if the employment ended more than 5 years ago.

The problem?

The system will throw an error if you try to submit employment dates outside the 5-year range—even though it’s the system itself that asked you to report it!

Has anyone else faced this issue as well?

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There is more going on here unless I’m misunderstanding you. The SF86 asks for a ten year employment history, not five.

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My SF862020 asks for last 5 years. Also note this is for Secret.

You are misreading the question. The SF86 is the same for a secret or top secret so that makes no difference. The listing requirement is TEN years, NOT five.

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Double check the employment dates you entered. You probably have a typo somewhere.

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I’m looking at it and it says 5. But even for some reason if it didn’t. Why is it giving me an error under the field saying the dates I entered is older than what is required? For my case I put a job that started and ended in 2019, but won’t let me submit. This is the only error in my whole SF86. If I remove it, I get no error in the review section.

Since you are apparently filling out a form that I have never seen in my entire history as an investigator since no form ask for 5 years (even the SF85 asks for 7 years) there is no way for me to determine why you are getting an error message.

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You need to circle back with your CSO. They will give you the correct form and instructions.

Exactly. From my little knowledge as a Security Manager, the guy likely is getting an error because he has already entered a job that covers the dates that he is trying to list elsewhere on the SF-86. e-QIP is pretty straight forward and it’s algo checks to ensure that there are not double-feed of dates, and dates of coverage. I too believe that is likely the reason why he is getting an error code.