Oct 2013 IDC/SWO-IDC Options Board

[LFCFan]

They don't even let Americans who served in the Peace Corps get clearances because they spent too much time (2 years usually) with people who could potentially be considered enemies at some point.

What do you have to back that up? This smells very funny to me. Especially since Eric Grietens spent a ton of time in the Balkans and China doing teaching and humanitarian work (with the Peace Corps, IIRC), and still ended up going specwar. That was pre-9/11. I've heard so much crap about security clearances that isn't true or is grossly exaggerated that I feel the need to say something here. Just because something might be an issue on a clearance doesn't mean it will be a dealbreaker at all. Example: foreign family members are not a dealbreaker, I've heard that one so many times and I've been point blank told by IDC officers that it just isn't true.

In the case of the specific poster here, he might have trouble just because he was born outside the US and didn't come here as a kid. I saw a guy at OCS lose his IW slot because the Navy suddenly remembered that he had prior service in an eastern European military.

 

[azguy]

LFCFan is right, lots of bag gouge out there. DONCAF actually puts out figures on this, if you're curious.

 

[egiv]

What do you have to back that up? This smells very funny to me. Especially since Eric Grietens spent a ton of time in the Balkans and China doing teaching and humanitarian work (with the Peace Corps, IIRC), and still ended up going specwar. That was pre-9/11. I've heard so much crap about security clearances that isn't true or is grossly exaggerated that I feel the need to say something here. Just because something might be an issue on a clearance doesn't mean it will be a dealbreaker at all. Example: foreign family members are not a dealbreaker, I've heard that one so many times and I've been point blank told by IDC officers that it just isn't true.

In the case of the specific poster here, he might have trouble just because he was born outside the US and didn't come here as a kid. I saw a guy at OCS lose his IW slot because the Navy suddenly remembered that he had prior service in an eastern European military.

I was told directly by a recruiter that serving in the Peace Corps was an automatic dq, and personally had to go through the ringer when getting my secret clearance because of my foreign wife. I'm not saying I know with certainty that he wouldn't get one and am not claiming to be an authority on clearances, but the investment they'd have to make verifying his connections in Africa could put him out of the running. For his sake, I hope that's not the case.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

What do you have to back that up? This smells very funny to me. Especially since Eric Grietens spent a ton of time in the Balkans and China doing teaching and humanitarian work (with the Peace Corps, IIRC), and still ended up going specwar. That was pre-9/11. I've heard so much crap about security clearances that isn't true or is grossly exaggerated that I feel the need to say something here. Just because something might be an issue on a clearance doesn't mean it will be a dealbreaker at all. Example: foreign family members are not a dealbreaker, I've heard that one so many times and I've been point blank told by IDC officers that it just isn't true.

In the case of the specific poster here, he might have trouble just because he was born outside the US and didn't come here as a kid. I saw a guy at OCS lose his IW slot because the Navy suddenly remembered that he had prior service in an eastern European military.

I can't say if this wording is currently in the CRUITMAN, but in the CRUITMAN it used to specifically say that serving in the Peace Corps disqualified a person for any job that required a security clearance.

It also used to say that a person was not allowed to apply for any job that required a top secret clearance if that person has ANY immediate family members that were non US citizens.

 

[LFCFan]

I can't say if this wording is currently in the CRUITMAN, but in the CRUITMAN it used to specifically say that serving in the Peace Corps disqualified a person for any job that required a security clearance.

Then I probably stand corrected. Interesting that this is a DQ, and it seemed like half of the Mormon kids at USAFA were allowed to take time off to do their mission trips without any repercussions, according to folks I know that went there.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Then I probably stand corrected. Interesting that this is a DQ, and it seemed like half of the Mormon kids at USAFA were allowed to take time off to do their mission trips without any repercussions, according to folks I know that went there.

Oddly enough it had nothing to do with time overseas, it just mentioned Peace Corps as I as well know many that spent significant time overseas prior to joining and none had any problems getting a clearance.

All info mentioning peace corps and immediate family being US citizens is no longer in the most up to date CRUITMAN

 

[jg54170]

Oddly enough it had nothing to do with time overseas, it just mentioned Peace Corps as I as well know many that spent significant time overseas prior to joining and none had any problems getting a clearance.

All info mentioning peace corps and immediate family being US citizens is no longer in the most up to date CRUITMAN

I also could find nothing in the officer manuals just the enlisted. Not sure if the same

***THIS IS TAKEN FROM ENLISTED MANUAL***
"
When interviewing CT, IS, IT, SECF, PRP (MT), and YNS applicants, scrutinize responses regarding financial responsibility, drug use history, and criminal record since these past activities could be targeted for potential blackmail. Applicants who are former members of the Peace Corps shall not be given school guarantees for the above ratings.

l. Former Peace Corps. Applicants who are former Peace Corps members shall not be given a CTI/CTN/CTT/IS/IT school guarantee. The term “former member” includes former Peace Corps volunteers, volunteer leaders, and staff members. This term does not include persons who attended Peace Corps training but were not employed overseas with the Peace Corps except that no such person will be assigned duties in an intelligence capacity in any foreign country for which the member was trained to serve."

Someone with some hook ups in intel community may want to look into this for future reference and see what applies to officers.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I also could find nothing in the officer manuals just the enlisted. Not sure if the same

***THIS IS TAKEN FROM ENLISTED MANUAL***
"
When interviewing CT, IS, IT, SECF, PRP (MT), and YNS applicants, scrutinize responses regarding financial responsibility, drug use history, and criminal record since these past activities could be targeted for potential blackmail. Applicants who are former members of the Peace Corps shall not be given school guarantees for the above ratings.

l. Former Peace Corps. Applicants who are former Peace Corps members shall not be given a CTI/CTN/CTT/IS/IT school guarantee. The term “former member” includes former Peace Corps volunteers, volunteer leaders, and staff members. This term does not include persons who attended Peace Corps training but were not employed overseas with the Peace Corps except that no such person will be assigned duties in an intelligence capacity in any foreign country for which the member was trained to serve."

Someone with some hook ups in intel community may want to look into this for future reference and see what applies to officers.

Officer manual is different, and all references I mentioned were also in the PA and those are gone.

 

[jg54170]

Officer manual is different, and all references I mentioned were also in the PA and those are gone.

Yeah, I scoured the officer manual pretty well and found nothing about peace corps or the like. Did learn a bit about officer recruiting however

 

[azguy]

The Peace Corps Corps is its own beast, very sensitive to this for obvious reasons. They even automatically DQ spouses of IC employees...

This has nothing to do with the foreign contacts piece in general.

 

[Scaevola]

My dad is in the civilian IC world and I always remember operating with an understanding that I was DQ from the peace corps because of that family connection. Not that I ever had any real interest, but still.

 

[zdexter]

There are 2 main reasons that there are so many regulations on Peace Corps volunteers going into the IC.

One is for the volunteers own protection. There can't be any doubt that these young Americans are not intelligence officers, as they operate in the open, often in remote locations far away from embassies.

Second, is that the point of the Peace Corps is Public Diplomacy, to build good will and show people in remote areas around the world that Americans wish them well, and are willing to help them better their lives. This often goes against what their governments tell them about Americans. If there was suspicion that the volunteers were spooks, then their credibility and the credibility of the program would be greatly hindered.

just an FYI.

Scaev, ou still waiting to hear from your OR?

 

[Scaevola]

Scaev, ou still waiting to hear from your OR?

YES, still waiting and my patience is really starting to wear thin! Don't know of anyone else active on this thread who has yet to hear. I've tried the email route with no success, so maybe my OR is out of the office? Going to give the NOSC station a call tomorrow. Starting to think the long delay might be a bad sign though...

 

[Brittanica]

It's not just you, Scaevola. I haven't heard anything either. I was sure it was going to be today, but apparently not. I'm in NRD Minneapolis btw

 

[Scaevola]

It's not just you, Scaevola. I haven't heard anything either. I was sure it was going to be today, but apparently not. I'm in NRD Minneapolis btw

Thought today would be the day too, a couple folks on the other Navy OCS forum got theirs today too (both negative). There's another guy on there in NRD Richmond still waiting for his too, I think. Sure I've said it before but I'm in NRD Philly.