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Old December 24th 03, 09:46 PM
Ed Rasimus
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On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 18:23:28 GMT, Mike Marron
wrote:

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


I don't understand why you are posting an article that states an opinion,
then asking for information on security clearances without stating your
reasons for seeking the information and/or your opinion on the posted
article. Not that there's anything sinister about that, but I think I can
tell you up front that most of us who have gone through a security clearance
situation don't really talk about it, even in private.....at least that's
been my personal experience. I think I can tell you with some degree of
authority however that those who WILL discuss these things with you failed
the security investigation :-)))


I've been following this thread with interest and was just curious as
to exactly what constitutes a "security clearance." Can't you even
provide us with a vague, thumbnail sketch of what a top secret
security clearance is?


I don't have a clue what DH is alluding to. I had a TS (NATO Top
Secret ATOMAL) but never went to some of the more esoteric levels. You
need a security clearance to access some information about weapons
systems and targeting. Basically there are three levels of security
classification: confidential, secret and top secret. (There are other
levels, but the three pretty much characterize the system).

You get a secret clearance when you qualify for commissioning. It
requires (maybe this has changed), a NAC or National Agency Check.
This is about the level of qualification for a gun purchase--it
involves an FBI and local state background check for various records.
A BI or Background Investigation, is required for a TS clearance. This
involves a credit check, the basic criminal check, and a series of
interview of business and personal references that you've submitted.
It may include further investigation depending upon what is discovered
in the initial interviews.

Regardless of you security clearance level, access to classified
information requires "need to know"--IOW, you can't get a TS clearance
and then go into the vault and read everything there or walk into any
office and see what's going on.

I don't believe you are going to gender much response here with this type of
post; at least from anyone who has actual experience with these matters.
If all you want are opinions on the article, I would suggest you say so. I'm
sure there are those out here with opinions both pro and con on the armed
pilot issue. If this is the case, I'll submit to you that I'm for arming
pilots and in no way interested in discussing the in's and out's of the
security clearance mechanism.


My point exactly. Security clearance and arming individuals are apples
and oranges.

With family flying down to visit over the holidays, my darling wife is
all worried about their safety due to the raised threat-level from
Arab terrorists. I can certainly understand why guys like you and Ed
aren't interested in discussing the in's and out's of the security
clearance mechanism, but again, since the topic was brought up
can't either of you briefly explain what a security clearance is and
why it's so important? Again, just asking and please pardon my
ignorance.


I've got no problem in discussing clearances and what they relate to.
There is nothing classified or related to national security in the
discussion of what it takes to gain a clearance. The issue is what you
can learn after you have the clearance.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8