Security Classification Primer

Much is heard these days of government secrets being uncovered, national security being compromised, and of sensitive information getting into the wrong hands. Most countries have a classification system to formalize state secrets and protect information from being used to endanger citizens. This article will familiarize you with the security classification system.

Although the exact number varies from country to country, there are generally five levels of security classification:

Top Secret: Information which, in the hands of the enemy would put the security of America at exceptionally grave risk. Individuals undergo meticulous investigation to receive the level of clearance necessary to view this information. Clearance must be renewed every five years.

Secret: Information which could cause serious damage if publicly available. Intense investigation is required for individuals with this clearance, which must be renewed every ten years.

Confidential: Information which could compromise the safety of Americans. Clearance must be renewed every fifteen years for individuals on this level.

Restricted: Information which could have undesirable effects if publicly available. Some countries (the US included) do not use this security level.

Unclassified: Not technically a classification. This includes all information that does not pose a security risk, which is available to the public.

All classified information, regardless of the level, is available only on a "need to know" basis. Therefore, an individual having Top Secret clearance may not be privileged to view all Top Secret documents, only those documents which are pertinent to his or her work.

When two or more countries agree to share information with each other they must agree upon a uniform classification system. The United Nations, NATO, and the European Defense Organization all have their own security classification systems.

One example of a country without a formal classification system is China. The Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China makes it a crime to release a state secret. However, there is only a vague definition of what constitutes a state secret; therefore the government has used this law to imprison journalists.

Private corporations make use of a similar type of security classification system when working with new product development teams, mergers, and the company's financial reports. This type of information is protected under trade secret laws. Employers can require their employees to sign confidentiality agreements and undergo extensive background checks. While corporate classification lacks the harsh criminal sanctions of the government classification, individuals who leak company secrets can be tried and punished in courts of law.

Many citizens live out their lives without a thought for the secrets their government keeps from them. The military is the largest employer of people with such clearances. It might surprise you to know that one out of every thirty Americans, or 3-5 million individuals are authorized to some extent to know state secrets. Of all individuals with such clearances, it is estimated that one in a thousand can be expected to compromise the secrets they are entrusted with, either out of blackmail, greed, or sloppiness.

Only those individuals in positions where it is anticipated they will be dealing with classified information may apply for security clearance. Once the candidate has completed the application phase a detailed investigation ensues. The applicant's background will be thoroughly examined by the Defense Security Service, and depending on the level of clearance needed, family members and relatives may also be scrutinized. The investigation phase can last up to a year or more. Candidates who pass this phase will then enter the adjudication phase. In this phase all information gathered in the previous two phases is reviewed and analyzed, based on thirteen factors determined by the Department of Defense. Allegiance to the United States and personal conduct are examples of areas that are considered. Four factors that are certain to lead to rejection of an applicant are:

1. Candidate was convicted of a crime and imprisoned for more than one year.
2. Candidate uses controlled substances.
3. Candidate has been deemed mentally incompetent by a health professional approved by the Department of Defense.
4. Candidate was discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions.

Having a security clearance is nothing to sneeze at, and some experts say that having such a clearance can increase one's salary between $10 and $15K. It is evident that the ability to keep a secret is a valued commodity in this increasingly precarious society.

About the Author:
Francesca Black develops educational material for http://www.security-port.com and http://www.security-protection.net a top resource for locating security related RSS feeds.

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How a Security Clearance Lawyer Helps With Rejected Security Applications

Whether you are undergoing your first security clearance check, or this is your first of many, when a problem comes about, a skilled security clearance lawyer can fix the problem.

Most of the issues that stop a security clearance application dead in its tracks are sometimes small misunderstood situations or discrepancies. Others could be a bit larger, but an adept security clearance lawyer has not only seen them before, but knows how to resolve the issues. In some cases there is a mistaken identity with a person that goes by the same name or an address that is not current. These minor errors can be easily and quickly resolved.

One of the most thoroughly conducted security check procedures is for the Department of Defense Security. When the clearance level is higher, the more thorough the check will be. Some checks will include the level of "Top Secret". This type of check will involve your complete history including your childhood and your family. A reason why clearance may be denied is of a relative that might have a tainted background. In most cases this can be explained away and the clearance will be granted.

Unfortunately, not every denial can be overturned though. There are some cases when that is just not possible. To know the situation for sure, a knowledgeable security clearance lawyer will be able to give you the best chance of success and provide you with the details. By specializing in this very serious area of law, these security attorneys make a living at how to properly proceed on numerous matters pertaining to a security clearance application. This has become an exact process where the little details have a significant impact on the outcome.

If a problem in your past exists that may cause you difficulty in obtaining a clearance, then checking with a security clearance lawyer could prevent a denial. This first step could make your application clear on the first try, without any trouble.

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About Security Clearances for Counterterrorism Professionals

Federal Counterterrorism Jobs and Security Clearances:

Because of the high security threat posed by terrorists, many federal counterterrorism jobs require a security clearance. For example, if you want to work for a national intelligence agency like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), then you must undergo an extensive background investigation and security processing to receive a Top Secret security clearance.

All levels of security clearances for counterterrorism professionals, ranging from Confidential to Top Secret in the Department of Defense and other national agencies to 'L' and 'Q' clearances in the Department of Energy, are designed to protect and restrict access to information that if compromised, would pose a threat to national security.

Different Types of Security Clearances:

While each type of clearance level (Secret, Top Secret, etc.) has different requirements, eligibility for all security clearances requires US citizenship. Applicants for a security clearance must fill out a National Security Questionnaire (SF-86) and undergo a background investigation (BI). The SF-86 questionnaire is available in PDF format through the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM): http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF86.pdf, which anyone can download for free and review the types of questions that are asked. In some cases, candidates for certain positions may be required to submit to a counterintelligence polygraph (CI Poly).

Cleared Personnel in the Private Sector:

All security clearances are granted and approved by the US Government. The process for obtaining a security clearance is lengthy and expensive, so in job positions where a clearance is required, employers favor those applicants that already have an active clearance. Counterterrorism professionals are typically able to retain their security clearances once they leave government and go to work for a "cleared" contractor.

Many employers in the private sector that do federal government contracting, especially those engaged in providing services and products to the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DOD) require that counterterrorism analysts and specialists possess a security clearance.

Regardless of where you work, if your employer requires that you have a security clearance to do your job, it is because you will be working with sensitive information that, if discovered or disclosed, could do harm or serious damage to national security. A security clearance, therefore, helps to verify and establish your trustworthiness to access classified information.

Other Qualifications for Counterterrorism:

Professionals across all counterterrorism jobs are common requirements for individuals that possess a minimum of a four-year degree with extensive, direct counterterrorism experience or an advanced degree in a highly-related field (like terrorism or intelligence studies). In all cases, a master's degree is desirable and for many counterterrorism jobs, is a minimum qualification.

Regardless of which pay grade you are hired into, it is essential that you understand the minimum career qualifications per position as they can differ slightly according to particular needs and requirements. For example, a Counterterrorism Analyst position at the CIA pays between $46K and $90K and requires a minimum of a bachelor's or master's degree in a field related to national security (like Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and Protection, for example) as well as foreign language proficiency.

Daniel Sommer is Director of Marketing at Henley-Putnam University. Henley-Putnam offers accredited online Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Intelligence Management, Terrorism & Counterterrorism Studies, and Management of Protection Management, and a Doctoral Degree Program in Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, Counter Terrorism Training or Counter Intelligence Training, visit http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu.

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