Security Clearance Denial » Blog Articles

Most Common Reasons for Security Clearance Denial

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:49:37 +0000

The most common causes of rejection include submission of application packages with incomplete information. Applicants can help expedite their clearance application and approval process by having an experienced professional review and ensure all forms are completed accurately.

Some of the most common reasons security clearance is denied include:

Missing employment information
Missing information on relatives who were born outside of the U.S.
Incomplete information on debt
Missing information on current spouse
Missing educational reference
Missing employment reference
Missing employment record
Fingerprint cards not submitted by due date
Illegible information on forms
Erroneous place or date of birth information
Certification forms not submitted
Incorrect Social Security number

National Security Clearance Attorney

If you have been denied security clearance, contact the national security clearance attorneys at the Edmunds Law Firm. They have represented more clients in national security clearance than any other law firm in the country. Contact us today to get started on appealing your national security clearance denial. We look forward to serving you!

Attorney Alan Edmunds Latest Book on Security Clearance Now Available on Kindle

heather@theedesign.com — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:55:28 +0000

Security Clearance Attorney Alan Edmund’s new book, “Security Clearance Applications: SF86/85 Avoiding Mistakes” is now available on Kindle, allowing people to easily transport and reference this critical primer on security clearance law, even when their jobs require extensive travel.

“Security Clearance Applications: SF86/85 Avoiding Mistakes” is an easy-to-read, 112-page book is designed for laymen who wish to apply for security clearance, but don’t necessarily have formal legal experience. The book not only explains how to avoid common application errors, but also how to successfully meet the national security concerns of governmental agencies charged with determining who should get access to sensitive government information.

Attorney Alan Edmunds a licensed California Attorney, has been representing clients throughout the United States on military and national security matters for more than 31 years. Edmunds has appeared on national television and has been featured in dozens of newspapers and radio programs. In addition to being an attorney, Edmunds is a college instructor, author and lecturer. He has represented clients from throughout the globe, and is one of the few lawyers in the nation who travels around the country each week helping professionals fight government allegations that threaten their careers.

This is Edmunds second book on national security law. His first publication “National Security Clearance: How to Get Clearance and How to Keep It,” was published in November 2009, and is available in a Kindle version.

Find National Security Clearance Help

The Edmunds Law Firm has national security clearance attorneys on staff that have represented more clients in national security clearance than any other law firm in the country. Contact us today to get started on appealing your national security clearance denial. We look forward to serving you!

Does your job depend on you having a National Security Clearance?

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:48:02 +0000

Does your job depend on you having a National Security Clearance? Was your clearance revoked due to information that you did or did not disclose on Government forms?

The Edmunds Law Firm has over twenty five years of experience in advising Client’s through the Application process.

Don’t make a mistake that could potentially cost you your eligibility for a Security Clearance and ultimately your career.

Call us today for your free consultation (800) 481-2526!

Bales’ Incident Raises Questions about National Security System Clearance Process

heather@theedesign.com — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:54:52 +0000

How could a soldier with pre-existing legal and financial problems, as well as medical evidence of severe combat strain, be given National Security Clearance?

That question is on the minds of national security officials after U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, 38, left his post in Afghanistan, walked to a nearby village and shot 17 unarmed men, women and children.

This case comes just two years after another soldier with security clearance, U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, allegedly passed secret U.S. State Department materials to Wikileaks.com in May 2010. No trial date has yet been set.

While alarming on their own, security clearance experts nationwide are now asking: Do these cases reflect larger problems with the U.S. security clearance approval system?

Strains on the Security Clearance System

Following the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the U.S. intensified the number of government employees and contractors used to combat terrorist attacks.

There are three levels of security clearance: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Those with Confidential clearance have the least access to sensitive information and those with Top Secret the most.

According to a report from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, as of October 2010, more than 2 million government workers – including military personnel – held Confidential or Secret security clearance. More than 510,000 government employees and contractors were approved for Confidential or Secret security clearances in fiscal year 2010 alone.

The vast majority of annual security clearances are granted by the U.S. Department of Defense. Currently, about 90 percent of active-duty personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq hold some level of security clearance.

It is clear that Bales held at least Secret clearance; it is not clear whether he held Top Secret level clearance as well. No charges have been filed accusing him of misusing his clearance in the attacks.

Ironically, the problem of burgeoning requests for security clearance is being exacerbated as regular combat troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan. To enable the withdrawal, increasing numbers of Special Operations Forces have been added to the mix. Such forces use more highly classified weapons and technology than other military personnel – but often work closely with mainstream military personnel. Bales was working with members of the Army’s Special Forces in Afghanistan, which may have given him access to sophisticated equipment such as night vision gear.

Red Flags in Bales History

Bales enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov. 8, 2001, and had served three combat tours in Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan. In a report aired on CBS Sunday Morning, Bales’ Attorney John Henry Brown Bales argued that his client was involved in a total of nine roadside bombings and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). His family was told that he would not be sent on a fourth tour just weeks before his latest deployment.

However, questions about Bales’ security clearance go back farther than that. In granting security clearance, the federal government is supposed to examine the “whole person” – weighing an individual’s past and present behavior, including the close examination of issues which might leave them vulnerable to bribery and blackmail. This includes an examination of both an applicant’s legal and financial history.

Bales had several legal squabbles in both 2002 and 2008, including charges of assault on a woman (charges were dropped after he underwent 20-hours of anger-management counseling) and a drunken altercation with a woman and her boyfriend in which no charges were filed.
His financial problems are also troubling. Prior to joining the Army, Bales was found guilty of swindling an Ohio couple of more than $600,000 when he served as their stockbroker. In 2003, he was ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in damages to the couple.

In 2009, Bales and his wife, Karilyn, defaulted on a mortgage on one of their two properties in Washington State, and recently put their other house on the market for less than the amount left on their mortgage.

Financial troubles don’t automatically disqualify someone from national security clearance, but are examined for signs of irresponsibility, risky decision-making and/or opportunities for bribery.

Find National Security Clearance Help

New Defense Operation Expected to Create Security Clearance Jobs

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:04:50 +0000

A Virginia defense contractor’s decision to establish operations in Hampton Roads, Va., is expected to result in more than 31 jobs for those residents who have security clearance and have undergone a lifestyle polygraph exam. Lifestyle polygraph exams ask questions about about the applicant’s conduct and personal life. The jobs are projected to be created over the next three years.

Fulcrum Concepts, a veteran-owned firm, will invest $4.6 million to establish an operation in King and Queen County at the Middle Peninsula Regional Airport. The company supplies aviation and specialized weaponry training to both military and civilian special operations personnel.

Michael S. Zinanni, managing member of Fulcrum Concepts, sited Virginia’s strong military presence as a key factor in the firm’s decision to establish an operation there.

“Virginia provides an excellent environment for many of the core interests of Fulcrum Concepts, and the Hampton Roads area is one of the largest concentrations of military in the country,” Zinanni said in a press release.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell granted his approval for at minimum $100,000 to aid the county’s recruitment effort from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will also provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities. The company may also qualify for additional funds through the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Denied Security Clearance?

New Security Clearance Jobs from $31M Military Contract

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:50:53 +0000

Though the US Army is pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, its commitment to investment in military technology remains strong. Case in point, AEgis Technologies Group of Huntsville, Ala. was recently issued a $31 million contract by the US Army to enhance the performance of two MH-47/MH-60 helicopter simulators at Fort Campbell, which straddles Tennessee and Kentucky.

This contractual investment is expected to translate into defense and intelligence jobs for local residents who have security clearance and have undergone a lifestyle polygraph exam, which asks questions about the applicant’s conduct and personal life.

“Our goal is to completely modernize these simulators and return them to flight training as quickly as possible,” said Del Beilstein, director of business development at AEgis, in an interview with The Huntsville Times. “We’re very excited to support the warfighter on this important project.”

The simulators will be used to train pilots on such tasks as emergency procedures, instrument flight training, advanced mission training and multi-ship exercises.

Denied Security Clearance?

Sending Valentines to Loved Ones Overseas

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:32:06 +0000

Valentines Day can be hard for deployed military and their families. But it’s not the store-bought candy, gifts and cards they miss most; it is the joy of being with their loved ones. You can lessen this ache by sending personalized cards and valentines to soldiers abroad.

Some valentine gift ideas to send to your loved one overseas include:

Homemade Cards
The delight of a homemade card is that even very young children can make them using finger paints and glue. Older children can send pictures, poems or thoughts that can be treasured for years to come. It is a great way for an entire family to create something together for their loved ones abroad.
Family Picture Books
Family members can easily make picture books to send to soldiers abroad. Books for individual soldiers can include photos of spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, siblings, children and other relatives, as well as pets, their favorite hangouts, etc. You can write a caption of each page, or have relatives write a note about what’s been going on since the soldier has been deployed. The book can be handmade with glue, scissors and construction paper, or professional companies can print and bind the books for you.
Love Songs Mix CD
If you seek something more romantic, how about making a custom CD with songs that are meaningful to your relationship. What could be more romantic than listening to the same songs halfway around the world while thinking about where you’ll be the next time you get to listen to them together?
Virtual Gifts from AOL
This year, AOL is allowing people to send “virtual gifts” by e-mail anywhere around the globe. These gifts include virtual flowers, boxes of candy, hugs, rings, Teddy bears and more. For each gift sent, AOL will donate to the USO, which will use the funds to provide free talk time between soldiers and their families and friends. Check out Share the Love: AOL Virtual Gifts

Military Valentine Ideas Around the Country

Shoebox “Mailboxes”
Even if you don’t personally know a soldier fighting abroad, you can still work with your community to support fighting men and women abroad. Simply decorate a shoebox, and have your church, school or civic group work with children to create personalized Valentines cards to send to a particular soldier – or even whole troops. In addition to Valentine cards, thank you notes, photos of children holding the cards, even photos of the soldiers’ families can be included to make truly personalized gifts. Shoebox mailboxes are simple but meaningful gifts that are sure to delight those far from home.
Banners of Love
Another gift that can involve the efforts of an entire community is creating a “Banner of Love.” Simply get a huge piece of paper or fabric and have children cover them with words, drawing and pictures using markers or fabric paint.

On this annual day of love, take a moment to show a solider – or troop of soldiers –just how much you love them and appreciate their sacrifice.

Do You Need Security Clearance for an Overseas Government Job?

The Edmunds Law Firm has national security clearance attorneys on staff that have represented more military security clearance cases than any other law firm in the country. Contact us today to get started on appealing your national security clearance denial. We look forward to serving you!

Basic Security Clearance Requirements

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:30:02 +0000

A security clearance is a determination by the federal government that a person or company can be trusted with classified information. Any company or individual seeking to do business with federal agencies that deal with sensitive national information, such as the Department of Defense (DoD), Central Intelligence Agency or State Department, requires national security clearance.

A person can’t simply apply for security clearance. Rather a cleared contractor or government agency must sponsor an individual, and that person must (1) currently work for them, or (b) has received and accepted a written offer of employment to begin within 30-days of receiving clearance.

In determining whether a person should receive security clearance, a number of factors are taken into account including indications of a person’s:

Allegiance to the United States
Allegiance to a foreign country
Sexual behavior
Emotional, Mental, and Personality Disorders
Personal conduct
Financial conduct (e.g., financial impropriety, financial distress)
Excessive Alcohol consumption
Involvement with illegal drugs or other criminal conduct
Previous security violations
Outside activities
Misuse of information technology systems

It is rare that one factor will be the cause of a denial. Rather the adjudicator will look at all of the variables to get an idea of whether the person can be trusted with classified information. This is called the “whole person approach.” In addition to the criteria written above, the adjudicator will consider such personal issues as the nature, extent and seriousness of any questionable conduct; the age of the individual when the conduct occurred; the circumstances surrounding the event; the voluntariness of the actions, among other things.

In general, it is difficult to say which factors will result in denial. However, the Bond Amendment, which replaced 10 USC, Section 996 (The Smith Amendment), precludes granting or renewal of security clearance to any individual who:

Has been convicted of a crime and served more than one year of incarceration.
Has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.
Has been determined to be mentally incompetent by a court of administrative agency.
Currently is an unlawful user of a controlled substance or is an “addict.”

If a person’s security clearance is denied, that person can appeal the decision to the US Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA).

Denied Security Clearance?

National Security Attorney Releases Second Security Clearance Book

heather@theedesign.com — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:31:26 +0000

San Diego, CA. (Jan. 5, 2012) – Alan Edmunds, a nationally-recognized authority in US National Security Clearance Law, has recently released a new book titled “Security Clearance Applications: SF86/85 Avoiding Mistakes.”

This easy-to-read 112-page book is designed for the average American wishing to apply for security clearance, but don’t necessarily have formal legal experience. The book not only explains how to avoid common application errors, but also how to successfully meet the national security concerns of governmental agencies charged with determining who should get access to sensitive government information.

Attorney Alan Edmunds, a licensed California Attorney, has been representing clients throughout the United States on military and national security matters for more than 31 years. He has appeared on national television and has been featured in dozens of newspapers and radio programs. In addition to being a security clearance attorney, Edmunds is a college instructor, author and lecturer. He has represented clients from throughout the globe, and is one of the few lawyers in the nation who travels around the country each week helping professionals fight government allegations that threaten their careers.

This is Edmunds second book on national security law. His first publication “National Security Clearance: How to Get Clearance and How to Keep It” was published in November 2009.

Denied Security Clearance?

National Security Clearance Help

heather@theedesign.com — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Obtaining and maintaining national security clearance is a purposely difficult and lengthy process, especially if your security clearance has been denied. The good news however, is that you can get help from legal representation. The following is a quick overview of the steps involved in getting help with your national security clearance.

The first step is to challenge the denial of your security clearance is to request a formal hearing through the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals. You can handle this hearing on your own, though many people choose to have a lawyer present.

It is possible to circumvent the formal hearing however, by successfully making one’s case through a written response to the Statement of Reasons. This involves responding to a document explaining why the applicant was turned down for security clearance. Though chances of winning the case this way are rare, it does happen on occasion, especially when a legal team is involved to assist with the wording and format.

Getting Help on Day of Formal Hearing

When it is time for your formal hearing, the hearing is held before an administrative law judge. The hearings require the applicant’s testimony and sometimes ask for character witnesses. This can take a lot of preparation and work because both the government and the applicant exchange supporting documents for their cases that they plan to present at the hearing. Again a legal team can help with this process and represent you.