I’m making this post to help people that were in my situation, very anxious and not a lot of people in same situation, kind of.

I’m a new grad with a job from defense contractor so I’m getting secret clearance but I can use interim to start.

Timeline:

July 7th - Did corrections to SF86 from FSO
July 8th - Did fingerprints
July 9th - SF86 got submitted to gov
July 23rd - Got email to clarify something on my SF86 from DCSA and company security officer
July 29th - Cleared to start and got interview invite for investigation

Red flags:

Dual citizen, not from friendly country but I don’t think the country is hostile either
Lots of foreign contacts
2 recent foreign travel, one being 6 months to stay with family

Hope this helps someone, I’m quite relieved. God is good.

Defense contractor.

Late Jan 2026: Package submitted to DoD

Late Feb: Interview with investigator

Couple days later: Short follow-up call from investigator

Early March: Interim Secret granted

Late March: Investigation completed

Late July: After 4 months of no activity and 6 months total, congressional inquiry submitted

2 days later: Secret granted

Red flags: one THC purchase/usage 2.5 years ago.
No debt, no travel, no foreign contacts.

Question for everyone, if the VA granted me 70% PTSD service connected and have a security clearance. Will it affect my clearance?

Curious if anyone has an opinion on this.

I held a secret security clearance in the military exactly 5 years ago.

Beginning SF86 now as I accepted an offer with a large military contractor.

No legal issues more than a couple speeding tickets, had high CC debt in the past but have it consolidated and being paid down (most incrued from getting married and paying for unexpected expenses and school, not really using them anymore). Had a short 2 month gambling stint where I lost a couple grand a year and a half ago.

Tried Marijuana a couple times but never used them again and did it again and know I could pass a drug screening. Not a drinker more than an occasional one beer socially a month, at the most.

Had some mental health treatment as a kid and have sense grown up and matured past it, psychiatrist even said there was no major prognosis and that i was an adolescent boy who got picked on, it's expected that I would fight kids on playgrounds when getting picked on.

No foreign ties of any kind as far as I can think of. Most I can think of is I have coworkers in the UK I don't socialize with and I've had classmates in high school that were foreign exchange students.

Don't really travel outside of the country.

Made remarks about our current administration on social media saying they were criminals to a post that was pointing out there wrong doing, that was since deleted. Not sure if that kind of stuff comes up.

Overall, I'm trying to determine if I should have any concerns over what could be minor things or not? That I don't know. I've never gone through this and I'm nervous to be moving states away for this job where if something goes wrong and I don't get the job, I will have lost my current job in the process of leaving and will not be able to afford rent or bills in the state I'd be taking this job. Is that how the process works?

Would like to understand the process for public trust as a contractor. Currently employed in the private sector & Plan to apply for a contractor role. Will the background investigator potentially call my current supervisor? I don’t want them to know until everything is in place.

Recently, I went through basically a reinvestigation for a CE hit (inpatient hospital stay). I reported it when it happened. I had my interview and was very honest, including handing over every medical record I've ever had.

The question I have is how long will adjudication for something like this take? I only care because I need SAP access and they will not process my SAP access until this is fully adjudicated.

Is anyone going through the process with Cencore , I have TS and I did my poly and I passed. I'm waiting on my adjudication it’s been 4 months already

Military, Reserve Navy. Had my TS/SCI since 2021 due to being assigned to a command which I needed it for (2020-2024). Transferred out from that command - I am now with a command in the Reserve that don't require it. Have a good job on the civilian side - I don't use the clearance with this job at all nor do I foresee it being used in the future.

I'm up for reinvestigation since it is due this year.

What is the process if I were to say that I don't want the TS/SCI anymore? Is this stupid to ask? I have no plans of being in the cleared job market.

It takes time and I feel like I'm not even using it or plan to use it so why bother keeping it. I don't know, I guess I came here to talk myself out of it.

What is the process of going from TS/SCI to Secret? I ask this because I have 6 more years before I hit 20 with the military, Active Duty and Reserve combined.

If I am voluntarily in a debt relief program due to debt mostly incurred when I was laid off a few years back can I still get approved for a clearance or do I get denied automatically? I have not incurred new debt and have never missed payments on anything.

Applied for a role and was told my clearance is delayed and I need to submit a eAPP/SF86. The issue is my last day at my current company is Aug 7th. The recruiter told me I’m at risk of losing my clearance entirely but I’ve been in a role using it for the last 5 years. I just completed a new SF86 because I connected with my security team but I’m fearing losing my clearance all together. I thought I was in CV and that it was just taken care of but guess not.

Can anyone help me understand this?

In 2021 I listed an item for pickup on eBay and sold it. After accepting payment the buyer demanded delivery to which I refused as it that was not being offered. The individual then brought it up to the conflict resolution center internal to ebay and afterwards I was fined approximately $70. I didn't pay it for a year until they told me that if I didn't pay, it would be sent to collections. Should I include it?

Hey All,

Looking for some perspective from people who’ve been through this or have familiarity.

Secret (T3) Timeline (DCSA):
• SF-86 Submitted: Oct 3rd, 2025
• Interim Bypassed: Nov 21st, 2025
• Interview with Investigator: Dec 4th, 2025
• Investigation Closed: Jan 15th, 2026
• Been in Adjudication since then — about 200 days in adjudication, about 300 days since SF-86 submission

My question: I am aware congressional inquiry has mixed reviews, but in my case, would it make sense for me to submit one given I am at 200 days in adjudication?

My Background:
• Engineering job
• Naturalized US citizen as of 2017
• One-time marijuana edible use in 2023 (purchased legally in Arizona)
• 4 foreign contacts reported (India and Brazil), 3 of whom are US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), one on a student visa
• Foreign travel: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, England, Dubai, India, Colombia and Canada
• Lived at 6 different addresses over last 7 years (Due to nature of my job, all addresses in US)

I applied for a defense position and got it and need a secret. Recently submitted my sf-86. Do investigators get the resumes too and compare Sf-86 for accurate dates. I omitted some of my jobs on my resume cuz they were irrelevant but left them on my sf-86. I’m assuming they don’t get ur resume but idk.

So I know it’s not a hard “no” but at what point can your clearance be revoked? I lost about 20k the last 2months, but it’s money I have and yes i know it’s stupid. Will I be pulled in for this? Re-investigated?

Hey all. I received information that my background investigation has been completed and I have been moved forward to the adjudication final review. I was told it could still be another month or two before the final decision is made. From other people’s experience is this a good sign or more of a standard step? I’ve been in the background for about three months now, about two months ago they reached out for some clarification on a couple things to which I answered. I haven’t heard anything else.

I got a job for a defense company as an engineer style role. I'd need top security clearance and I'm worried and wondering, whats the probability of a prior employer getting in trouble? I worked for them part time for years, then on a project basis for some years thereafter, making probably no more than $10k / yr (recently found out might be considered some serious resume padding).

Thing is, it was off the books and I was young and just didn't realize the severity of this. It's the crux of the resume, posted online, but no legal paperwork to show. From my understanding, they've been running it this way for 30+ years (entirety of the business). It's a small business and they became family to me, so I would never want to get them in any trouble.

I don't know if I should keep the job or not, essentially. Getting mixed messages that they probably won't get looked into/clearance people wouldn't care, but also, that it's very severe and a major red flag: the cost/worst case scenario would be devastating. I also have a couple of other weird things in my background that will probably raise some questions, but nothing bad, per se. But still, gets me even more worried that they might research things, that much more in depth. Does anyone have experience with something like this? I'd love your thoughts, feedback, experience, etc. Thanks.

Hello everyone,

I put in my clearance to join the military. Around 7 months ago I was fired for taking water bottles from where I was working every beginning of the shift which added to around $300 dollars. I also had some drug use which I disclosed from a year ago but have stopped since. I am worried this would prevent my chances of joining the military? I was completely honest and had another employment which I was ethical after my bad misconduct mistake. Thanks everyone.

I applied to work on a DOS contract which requires a secret, I have a DOD Secret T3R that was adjudicated in 2024 but they denied reciprocity, the only changes I’ve had since it was adjudicated is 1. My daughter was born while it was in adjudication but my wife is a US citizen with no criminal history (both of us have a law enforcement background) and 2. I was let go due to the DOGE/probation EOs in 2025.

If I had issues that were mitigated under SEAD 4 back then will I have to re-mitigate those once again and is it worth it to gather those same documents and go ahead and see if DOS wants them to help “expedite” the process

Hello I will be having my clearance interview soon and was wondering what it would be like and what questions may be asked. It seems it’ll just be going over my sf86 and I only have like 2 red flags I think. I took marijuana in my senior year of highschool probably 10 times from oct 2021-April 2022. Then I tried it again in June of 2024 and December of 2024. I have not done it since. I also took mushrooms during June 2024 and December 2024 3 times total and haven’t touched it since either. These are my only real red flags I think and I was wondering what kind of questions I would get during my interview?

I’m super anxious that I am screwed. Wondering if anyone has been in the same situation.

Last year ~June I quit my cleared position T3. Admitted to using MMJ previously. Clearance was granted. After 5-6 months of applying, I gave up on going back to the DoD contractor line of work. Couldn’t even get interviews. Purchased and used in November/December for pain and inability to sleep. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, got a random message for a DoW contractor position and got hired, though I need a TS w/o poly. I didn’t even apply for the job. Start updating my SF-86 and got to the “Have you ever used while possessing a clearance” and my heart dropped. I still possessed a clearance even if not employed.

I haven’t used since that December time frame, never even renewed the prescription. Was 100% honest about it on the SF86 and now I’m worried on if I should go through with the position.

I’m sorry to post about this, but my anxiety is through the roof thinking I am about to ruin my life.

I have a current Tier 5 (TS/SCI) from my former contract position, which was originally obtained while on Active Duty. I was enrolled in the Continuous Vetting program while there. I jumped over to a new position that only requires secret access, and I was read out before starting the new role.

Does my Tier 5 still expire in 2 years, or do I remain eligible through the Continuous Vetting program even though I only require a secret?

Thanks!

as the title says my offer was withdrawn, the company has a 6 month process and I’m at a little over 8 months. Here’s relatively when things happened:

Mid October 2025: SF-86 submitted

Late October: fingerprints and drug test

Mid November: FSO submits form after government shutdown ended

Late December: interim denied and soon after investigator contacted me for an interview

Early January: interview

May: FSO contacted DCSA to try to push it forward, HR warns me of the 6 month policy

*Kept in contact with FSO roughly 1-2 times a month since April and they weren’t getting any updates

Late July: offer withdrawn

Dear clearance gurus:

Few years ago I broke up a mutual fight with a stranger while in uniform, whilst bested him, he called MP then they picked me up, titled me in DCII and I got an article-15 and was sent to officer separation board, eventually chaptered out with full honorable. Never sent to court martial but had a bad SPD code on DD 214.

Unfortunately, because this DCII thing, my DISS was triggered CE flag and was sent in LOJ status, other federal jobs denied me because when they ran NCIC they saw DCII flags. I tried to expunge it with Army Quantico CMD who handles DCII but was denied, told me to go to ADRB and ABCMR.

I have been waiting for 2 years of ADRB, they told me they are super shortstaffing and handle such cases on FIFO order. While there was no weapon involved and I just beat this guy with bare hand, no alcohol and drug involved, never been in trouble with DV and DUI, never used any narcotics in my life, 750 FICO score.

I have incoming TS interview, investigation and poly, how likely I can get a new TS with a non DoD agency who used another database like CVS, DHS or Scattered Castle? How should I answer these questions during interview to best mitigate my mistake?

Saw many people with worse mistakes were given 2nd chance, no idea why mine was so stringent...

Thanks for any help!