Military security clearance determines a person's reliability and suitability for sensitive information and resources. This is a special authorization the government grants to individuals in the military and associated organizations. This allows them to access classified information and perform certain privileged tasks.

In this article, we at Hire G.I. will discuss Military Security Clearance, the advantages of hiring employees with this clearance, and what an employer must know about it.

 What is MilitarySecurity Clearance?

A security clearance is a determination of eligibility granted by the Federal Government for individuals to access information about national security. The Department of Defense manages these clearance investigations. They perform these investigations to evaluate an individual'squalifications based on various factors such as conduct and character.

The assessment focuses on key areas such as emotional stability, criminal activity, credit history, financial responsibility,reliability, trustworthiness, honesty, and many relevant factors. All these are to ensure the person’s ability to handle sensitive information.

Benefits of Hiring Employees With Military Security Clearance

Military service members who hold security clearance can benefit an organization across various industries. Their extensive background checks and evaluations by the Department of Defense bring a unique level of clearance, integrity, and trustworthiness to the organization.

In addition, their diverse range of skills and experiences acquired during their time in the military can be invaluable for any company.Here are some specific advantages of hiring individuals with security clearance:

Safeguarding classified information

Employers can trust employees with security clearance with access to confidential company information. This means they can better maintain organizational confidentiality and safeguard sensitive data more effectively.

Cost-effectiveness

Hiring veterans with security clearance can be cost-effective for employers. This is because they have previously undergone background checks and evaluations by the Department of Defense.

Thus, hiring them can reduce the cost and resources spent on new background checks and investigations.

Strong work ethic and discipline

Military personnel is trained with a strong sense of discipline and work ethics. Later, that becomes a sense of responsibility and commitment in civilian job roles. This can improve their productivity level and performance.

Leadership and teamwork

Military service members have fantastic leadership andt eam-building training and experience. This can enhance collaboration and performance within your organization. In the long run, it can lead to a positive impact on organizational culture and productivity.

Diversity

Veterans with diverse backgrounds bring unique experiences and perspectives that can help foster a more inclusive workplace culture.

This can broaden the organization's perspectives and provide new insights and understanding of their customers' needs.

The Levels of Military Security Clearance

In the military, classified pieces of information are categorized according to their level of secrecy. There are three levels of classification. These are:

●      Top Secret

●      Secret

●      Confidential

Disclosure of Top-Secret information without authorization may result in exceptionally grave damage to national security. Also,unauthorized disclosure of Secret information can possibly cause severe damage to national security. Similarly, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information could cause damage to national security.

In addition to these three classification levels, some secret information is very sensitive. It requires additional protection measures beyond Top Secret information. This type of information is referred to as SAP (Special Access Programs) or Sensitive Compartmented Information. Access to it can only be granted with Special SAPapproval or SCI Access.

Depending upon their specific responsibilities and the info they require access to, military personnel and certain civilian contractors may need different levels of security clearance. The U.S.government is responsible for bearing the cost of security clearances for federal workers and military personnel.

How Long Is a Security Clearance Good For?

A security clearance comes with a duration, after which a PR or Periodic Reinvestigation is needed for its continuation. The duration of the PR varies depending on the level of clearance. For Top Secret Clearances, the PR is necessary every five years; for Secret Clearances, it's ten years; and for Confidential Clearances, it's 15 years.

It's also important to note that clearance holders may undergo random investigations at any time to ensure they comply with security protocols. However, the PR holds more significance than the initial investigation.

This is because those who have had security clearances for a long time may be working with more important information. So, the PR help ensure they have retained their trustworthiness and can still access sensitive data.

When a member leaves their military, contractor, or government civilian work, their security clearance becomes inactive. But, if the person's most recent background check was completed within the previously mentioned 24-month window, the clearance may be reinstated.

After Leaving The Military, How Long Does Security Clearance Last?

Typically, after someone leaves the military, a security clearance is good for 2 years. However, the security clearance might not endure the full 24 months if the periodic investigation window is scheduled to close before those two years.

It's crucial to keep in mind that a Security clearance has a10-year periodic investigation window. The length of the clearance after leaving the military could be affected by this.

Does Every Member of the Military Have a Security Clearance?

Federal jobs across all five branches of the military require the acquisition of a security clearance. This applies to military members, including the Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

Personnel in these branches may require a security clearance at some point during their service to perform their duties.

Conclusion

Military security clearances are critical to protecting our nation’s security interests. Employers need to understand the importance of these clearances. By doing so, employers can ensure that their employees can access the information they need while protecting their organization’s security interests.

After reading this article, we hope you now have a clear idea about Military Security Clearance.If you are an employer who wants to hire veterans with military clearance, contact us today!

‍