Hello All,
I got hired for one of the big contractors in a unclassified capacity roughly three years ago and was offered an option to get cleared for work in the TS/SCI areas after I was hired out of my contract early. As for my current position the management would tell you I’m the best thing since sliced bread but it’s coming up on a year since filling out my SF86 and being interviewed. I’m starting to get nervous because of the many stupid mistakes I made when I was underage.
From about age fifteen to eighteen I had several theft & marijuana related felonies. As well as one misdemeanor when I was twenty for marijuana possession. Most of the charges were all smaller charges that got lumped into big ones. I also was diagnosed as bipolar around age sixteen and took medication for it until I stopped at my physicians recommendation when I was about twenty-six. On top of all of that I used marijuana frequently until I was about twenty-five then voluntarily quit. I’m currently thirty years old so most of this has fallen out of scope except the felonies. When filling out my SF86 and doing the security interview I was completely honest and forthcoming about my past mistakes. I even was the one who brought the misdemeanor from when I was twenty to their attention, I guess they missed that one. All of this has been expunged/sealed for some time. During the interview I specifically explained that I was an idiot during those years will not repeat the mistakes going forward. My interviewer told me that due to the time delta I have an okay shot at being cleared but I can’t help but feel really nervous about the whole thing.
Due to the nature of already being employed in an entirely unclassified environment I doubt I would get fired for failing to obtain the clearance but it would be really embarrassing and there would likely be some rough conversations I’d really rather not have if possible.
Below are some mitigating factors that I think will work in my favor.
-Finishes my AS in Computer Science during my mid twenties. Currently finishing my BS at a local university.
-All previous employers are almost certainly told the investigator that I was a near perfect employee. Worked hard, knowledgeable and dependable.
-Master Freemason and have held an officer position in the local lodge I attend. (Not sure that they care at all but just throwing it in.)
-No drug use in the last three-four years.
-No foreign contacts or travel at all.
-Perfect credit and payment history.
-No issues with gambling, alcohol, or other addictions.
-Clean driving record.
-No criminal charges for ~ten years. All previous charges expunged or sealed.
And the solid record since then is also a strong mitigating factor.