Need Confidential Advice

[hanksate]

Need advice! When I was applying to the military I asked advice from some guys in UPT if I should admit that I have smoked marijuana, they said if you havent been in trouble for it, dont admit it, because I might not get selected. I signed my application and meps papers as never smoked marijuana. Although, I was not a fiend I did smoke some when I was 15 or 16, which was 10 years ago. Ever since, my conscience has been killing me. I feel like I have comprimised my integrity. Also, everyone I talk to says they have tried marijuana and they still got accepted, so now I have to lie to even more people. I want to admit it to someone, but I dont want to be kicked out for something that happened so long ago. I also need a TS clearance, will this absolutely be discovered. How do they work exactly? I am in the greatest profession out there and I couldnt imagine doing anything else. What are my options on admiting this lie? Will I get kicked out? Go to jail? Get fined? I need confidential advice before I pursue this any further! Thank you for the help!

 

[MOOSE]

hanksate,

I cannot tell you what to do, your integrity is yours and yours ALONE, no matter what anyone may tell you. I can tell you though, if others; whether they be superiors, peers, or subordinates; ever have a reason to doubt your integrity, your life will be that much harder. Whatever you decide, you must be able to live with it and any repercussions because of it.

However, I can tell you what happened to three individuals in a similar situation. All three were USAF Academy graduates, all in the same pilot training class. While at the academy, they filled out paperwork to obtain a SECRET clearance. At the time they said they had never smoked marijuana. They were about four weeks from finishing pilot training, just after they had been informed of their future aircraft (I think they all were tankers). Because of the mission the tankers did, they had to get TOP SECRET security clearances. When they filled out the paperwork for this clearance, they all put down they had experimented with marijuana before they entered the academy. All three never finished pilot training, and I'm not sure what happened to their clearances.

Not that it makes any difference, but I'm sure people will be curious, all three had found religion between the two security clearance applications. Also, despite what current media might have you believe, the academy does instill integrity in most of its graduates, and may have affected their decision to change their responses.

As a hint to anyone dealing with government security clearances, keep copies of all previous paperwork. It will prevent you from responding slightly differently to questions (raising suspicions). For example, dates of employment (was it June or July of 199x when I left that job?) It also really helps with all those addresses over the years.

Probably not much help to you, best of luck whatever you decide!

 

[hanksate]

So basically there is no way to admit that I have and continue a career in the military. My only option is to SIE?

 

[viperdriver]

Hope your name is not Hank Sate! That would be a tough one to figure out!

 

[MOOSE]

"So basically there is no way to admit that I have and continue a career in the military. My only option is to SIE?"

I MIGHT agree with the caveat "a career in the military as a pilot." The three individuals I wrote of previously all were allowed to stay in the military (to serve out their commitments from the academy), just not as pilots. I really don't know what they did, or if it involved any level of security clearances.

Something that hasn't even been mentioned is the PENALTIES FOR INACCURATE OR FALSE STATEMENTS

"The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsyfying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines of up to $10,000, and/or 5 years imprisonment, or both. In addition, Federal agencies generally fire, do not grant a security clearance, or disqualify individuals who have materially and deliberately falsified these forms, and this remains part of the permanent record for future placements. Because the position for which you are being considered is a sensitive one, your trustworthiness is a very important consideration in deciding your eligibility for a security clearance.

Your prospects of placement or security clearance are better if you answer all questions truthfully and completely. You will have adequate opportunity to explain any information you give us on the form and to make your comments part of the record."

Unfortunately the people, who originally told you not to admit the use of marijuana, probably did you a disservice. However, that is all history, and you must now decide what you are going to do.

You could fill out the security clearance paperwork truthfully now, and try to explain it in the explanation section. Maybe things have changed (i.e. need for pilots--the three cases I mentioned previously all occurred when there was the perceived overage of pilots and more than half of the pilot training grads were banked. Or in other words waited for up to three years after pilot training to get an airplane.) This option gets everything out in the open, and you let the chips fall where they may. In your favor is the fact you admit your mistake yourself. Same kind of thing that is talked about all the time on this board--better to tell them yourself, than let them figure it out on their own. Of course the reason the three I keep writing about got in trouble was for lying on their original clearance paperwork (not for the one they admitted to the marijuana use).

You could fill out the security clearance paperwork just like you did previously. Like I stated before, this option all depends on your ability to justify the lie, and live with any of the repercussions. If they dig up the truth, and "catch" you in a lie on the forms, I think they would be a lot less lenient.

The only thing SIEing would do is prevent the need for another security clearance (assuming you get out without having a job requiring a reinvestigation or upgrade in clearance).

Like I said, best of luck in your decision.

 

[hanksate]

thank you

 

[Kingwood]

Check your PM