I have a few questions, and am hoping to get some answers. Here is some quick background information before I state my specific questions: I recently applied (May 2014) for a GS, HR Spec position with the US Dept of the Army. I’m also a Marine Corps Reserve veteran about to retire into the Retired Reserve (20+ years). My primary MOS in the Corps was Infantry, so I’ve only ever had a SECRET clearance which is still current in JPAS. I’m also a permanent/career tenured, former federal employee, GS, different series, in the DoD defense acquisition community. The GS, HR Spec position I applied for with the Army is also located at an installation in the defense acquisition community; however, unlike my former position, this HR Spec position requires a TS/SCI clearance instead of just a SECRET clearance. I have been offered a tentative offer of employment pending completion of a background investigation, and a few days ago, I recently submitted my fingerprints digitally to initiate the process.
Q#1. Can someone please explain to me how this TS/SCI process will work? (i.e. What are the steps? Who will conduct the investigation? What documents will they require? Will I have to take a polygraph test?, etc.)
Q#2. I have both a copy of an old SF-86 (Rev. July 2008) that I submitted in 2010 when I accepted my first federal GS civilian position that only required a SECRET clearance, and an older copy (2007) of a Personnel Security Questionnaire (PSQ) via E-QIP. My second question is this - what’s on file now? What can the Dept of the Army currently see? Is it a scanned copy of the pen/ink SF-86 that I submitted, or the electronic PSQ in E-QIP?
Q#3. Reason I ask is because I went to OPM’s website and downloaded an SF-86 to start to prepare for what I think I’ll have to submit; however, I see that the SF-86 has now been Revised to a 2010 version (different from I submitted in Q#2). And I want to ensure that I submit the exact same answers for my 10-year history on this SF-86. So, is it just what’s in E-QIP.
Q#4. Will the investigation look at my USAJOBS resume? Or, will the investigation only look at what I submit in this new PSQ/E-QIP or SF-86? And who will do it? A security officer at this Army installation? FBI? Or, who?
Just really wanting someone to walk me through this TS/SCI process. I want this job, and I want this investigation to go smoothly. And from what I understand, whatever old SF-86 or PSQ via E-QIP is on file, my answers for the same time period must match minus the new info for the last few years. Is that correct?
Thanks.