SF-86 omitted drug use

SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
1

I am an Army rotc cadet who omitted the fact I smoked weed around 7-10 times throughout high school on my sf-86 because I was terrified I would lose my scholarship . At the time it seemed like no big deal and all of my peers were doing the same but now I believe I permanently ruined my credibility. Flash forward to this week and I just got a secret service internship and would really like to work with the agency in the future. Was really excited until I remembered the sf-86. I want to come clean but don’t know how to do so without ruining my life. How could I come clean and do I even have a chance at working with the agency or did I carelessly throw away what could’ve been a good career?

2

When did you submit the sf86? Do you already have your clearance? Did you already start the internship? You’ve got 2 catches here:

  1. USSS is ultra strict about weed. Even worse than any IC agency. While other agencies are easing up on weed penalties, it doesn’t seem like USSS is. They expect you to be clean as a whistle. If you smoked recently, that will likely be a problem.
  2. Double-edged sword. If you come clean now, USSS will probably deny you straight-away - BUT other agencies may accept you if you can mitigate it. On the other hand, a materially false omission (which is what this sounds like) on sf86 (especially about drugs) is a no-no everywhere so if they catch it, no agency will hire you.

Not sure this is what you want to hear but hope it helps.

3

You should come clean ASAP. If you want to work for them in the future (or other 1811’s), you are looking at a ts/sci with full scope poly. They will definitely find out. Every day that goes by with this dishonesty, the harder it will be for you to get these jobs in the future. Come clean now and rest easy.

4

I do not know how to do that and I am worried I’ll get booted out of the army and lose my scholarship if I do. Idk if that is rational or not.

5

I submitted my sf86 November of 2023 and received my clearance two months later. I have not smoked since high school and am a sophomore in college. I have not started the internship yet.

6

Go to your leadership and email your usss poc saying you need to update your 86. Simple as that

7

I feel if I do that I’ve got a good shot at getting kicked out of the army which seems drastically worse than coming clean when I’m up for a ts, at least by that point I’d have a (hopefully) solid service record to help my case.

8

A solid service record is not a mitigating factor for falsification.

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