Message posted by Someone Who Knows on March 08, 2000 at 20:13:35 EST:
TS/SSBI is a security clearance, meaning "Top Secret/Special Security and Background Information". It is, in essence, the highest "white" security clearance that someone in the Department of Defense (as far as I know) can get. What is involved in this (from personal knowledge - I hold TS/SSBI) is first, filling out the paperwork. When I did it in '95, it was seven pages of information; every address and phone # for the last 10 yrs, or till age 15, every employer and boss (with addresses) until age 15, every speeding ticket, every time you saw a shrink, every college you have attended (and high school), as well as five personal references. This part I found intriguing....they talk to each of your five references, and ask for three people "that know you well" from each. They talk to those people, and ask the same questions, etc. so on and so forth. By my estimation, they spoke with about 40 people about me, to get this clearance. You also have to get fingerprinted and those are sent to the FBI. You also have to undergo a personal interview by an intel type. Some of the questions include drug use, financial stability, whether or not you have committed adultery, and a good part of it is your sexual orientation and any strange fetishes you might have, or compromising situations you might have been in. I remember one question in particular..."Have you every thought about, or had sexual relations with an organism other than a human (dog, goat, cow)?" <-----No Shit! You also get to go talk to a shrink, who evaluates your mental state. This entire process is good for five years. You have to undergo a periodic reinvestigation if you get into any kind of legal trouble, or if you have a security incident. When I did my clearance, the person that helped me with it told me to keep a copy of my paperwork, and on the back, keep track of all my addresses, jobs, colleges, etc that become new information. The idea behind it is that they want to see consistency amongst the applications...or else it looks like you are being deceptive. From start to finish, TS/SSBI takes at least 9-12 months; more if they find stuff out that was not on your application. It allows you to have access to SCI information, and becomes really handy once you leave the employment of the government. Remember in 'Skunk Works' how it was mentioned that lots of folks sat around, getting paid to play cards while their clearances were being processed? Cheers! SWK
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