All posts by Ashley Jones
Joining a Contract Before Final Access: Contingencies You Should Ask About
If your security clearance eligibility is pending, that status alone does not authorize classified access. Before joining a contract, get written answers about the work you can perform, when pay begins and what happens if access is unavailable. An offer can establish an employmen… more
COSMIC Top Secret: A US Candidate’s Introduction to NATO Access
What is COSMIC Top Secret? It is NATO's highest security classification, abbreviated CTS, for information whose unauthorized disclosure would cause exceptionally grave damage to NATO. For a US candidate, the practical issue is whether the assignment requires NATO access and wheth… more
Employment Verification During a DCSA Investigation: What Records Must Match
DCSA employment verification can reach personnel, supervisory and security records, beyond a hotline confirming dates. Your questionnaire should give an accurate account of who employed you, where you worked and why you left. When records use different labels or dates, prepare a … more
Starting Work While Interim Eligibility Is Pending: Questions to Ask HR
While interim security clearance eligibility is pending, ask whether the employer has an approved, paid assignment you can perform without classified access. A job offer does not authorize that access. An early start depends on the employer's available work and confirmed terms, s… more
Financial Disclosure Under SEAD 3: Events to Report and Records to Save
Security clearance financial disclosure continues after you submit a questionnaire. For covered contractor personnel, DCSA's industry guidance identifies bankruptcy and debt over 120 days delinquent as reportable financial events, with additional categories for Top Secret and Q e… more