Secret Security Clearance Inquiry

[IW2SKB]

I have a 24 year old friend who is due to go off to Naval boot camp within the next couple of months. Her rate is of one that requires a SECRET security clearance. When she was 19 years old, she caught her one and only official charge, which was an "MIP", or minor in possession of alcohol. [I say "official charge" because she does have one speeding ticket, which has been waived. She does have a couple of instances during her teenage years that involved police involvement, but was never charged with anything personally.] Herein lies the problem:

Her recruiter ran the standard police background check from the recruiting offices and could find no record of the MIP (because it was expunged.) He advised her not to admit to this at MEPS, stating that "they wouldn't find it", and that it would only cause problems for herself if she admitted to it. He stated that because of her being a high school dropout (she did obtain her GED), it would limit her job selection, and really just cause more hassle.

So here are the following questions I am putting forth for you all today:

1.) What are the chances this omission would be caught during the SECRET security clearance?
2.) What would most likely occur to her, punishment-wise?
3.) Is it possible the recruiter doesn't really care what happens to her, since she is out of his hands after boot camp (and received his quota, bonuses, rewards, etc?) Would he be reprimanded?

Thank you very much for your time.

[Crazed98]

Originally Posted by IW2SKB

1.) What are the chances this omission would be caught during the SECRET security clearance?

SECRET clearances are fairly easy to get even with certain minor charges. Even though she should admit everything and be honest, if it has been expunged then they won't find it.

Originally Posted by IW2SKB

2.) What would most likely occur to her, punishment-wise?

Worst case is she doesn't get the clearance and will have to re class into a different naval job.

Originally Posted by IW2SKB

3.) Is it possible the recruiter doesn't really care what happens to her, since she is out of his hands after boot camp (and received his quota, bonuses, rewards, etc?) Would he be reprimanded?

Most recruiters could careless what happens after everything is signed and the recruit is sworn in.

[publius]

Originally Posted by IW2SKB

1.) What are the chances this omission would be caught during the SECRET security clearance?

I would not recommend assuming that the investigators will not find out about expunged or sealed criminal records.

[ERAUPIKE]

An expunged record will show that exactly that has happened and with a court order the investigating agency can view the record. A secret clearance is not anything to take lightly and retraining is a nightmare that I would not wish on my worst enemy. Your friend should be candid on her application that she will be required to fill out long after she graduates bootcamp, finishes her training, and reports to her first command.

[CGRAY]

I received a secret clearance with 7X more than a simple MIP. No need to conceal since it will not affect ability to gain clearance, however, investigation uncovering it with her concealing it could be grounds. List anything the SF-86 asks for. If the MIP is all she has, then she has nothing to worry about.

[questionia]

Tell the truth. It may take a while longer to get the clearance but if the record is clear otherwise it will not be a problem. They aren't looking for isolated instances - the investigators are looking for patterns of behavior.

One note - there aren't a lot of rates in the Navy which don't require at least a Secret clearance. Of the top of my head I'm thinking CS and SK only. Great rates but it's not exactly GM ; )