"Kosmerchock, Steve" wrote:
>
> Friends,
>
> Sorry for these off-topic questions.
>
> I may be changing my area of study (as well as my job) from communications
> to military type work. There is a company called Signal Processing
> Technologies
> ( http://www.sigtech.com/ )that is hiring here in arizona. The job
> descriptions are
> of interest to me. I have no knowledge of how this type of place does it's
> hiring.
> I was wondering how one goes about getting a US Government Security pass? Is
> the place of employment handle that? Do you have to get some type of
> qualification?
> Also, does anybody know of anybooks that deal with electronic warfare?
> Why do I feel I'm being watched because of this topic???? ;-)
>
> Again,....... sorry for such off topic questions, but with the resources
> here, I'm sure
> somebody has some experience with this!!!!!

A secret security clearance is usually pretty easy to get.  The company
that hires you has to initiate the clearance.  They will give you a
standard program that the government uses (EPSQ) that you can fill out
and then send a diskette in with all the vital information.  What you
*must* have are all the addresses of everywhere you have lived for the
past 7 years (I think), and people who can verify that (like family or
landlords).  Same goes for where you have worked and gone to school.
You also want to have a list of personal, non-family references.  Make
sure that these people know you well and aren't going to joke with the
investigator.  A comment made in jest can really extend the length of
time for your clearance.  If the first pass works out well, they can
issue an interim clearance (so you can get to work) while the full
clearance goes through.  My interim clearance took 1 month, my full
secret took 6 months, and my top secret (I got about 8 years later) took
6 months.  You need to know your history back for 10 years for a top
secret clearance.  You also must detail any criminal record that you may
have.

A lot of people get concerned about some possibly "illegal" stuff they
may have done in their past.  Don't worry about it.  As long as you tell
the truth and can swear that you don't do it anymore, you'll be fine.
Don't lie about anything!  They want to make sure it will be difficult
to blackmail you.  As long as you are honest and open about your past in
the form and with the interview with the investigator, it should sail
through.  If there is anything in your past you don't want to tell
*anyone* don't get a clearance, and work in the private sector.  You'll
probably make more money.  On the other hand, there is some really cool
work that goes on in the military/DOE.

Matt Bennett

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