Here are four common examples of situations that occur: Each of these individuals wanted to know if they could somehow have their discharges upgraded. They are going to find the sealed juvenile record they may or may not find out about ADHD, depends on who they interview and what they tell them. No you're security clearance interview would have been with a DOD investigator. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its essential to understand that military branches dont expect all recruits to have perfectly clean backgrounds. The process for obtaining a security clearance can take around six months to complete. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Expansion of Investigation. Do I care if you smoked weed then tried to cover it up? Is domestic violence against men Recognised in India? You, on the other hand, fucked up a little, and it might cost you your enlistment. If you mess up and try to sweep it under the rug, then you do not look like someone who deserves to be trusted with sensitive information. Now a year later it has taken a dark turn because I got an email today that wed all need to get secret clearance. If you're an honest person with integrity who can say "I made a mistake" that's not the end of the world, everyone screws up. But if you are investigated and found to have falsified information, the penalties will be harsh. The answer is that plenty of people can find out, namely your security clearance investigator, whose job it is to root out the truth about your character and background before clearance can be granted. Afterwards, about a week later, I got a call for my security clearance interview. It's strange that you were willing to be honest about the shoplifting, but not the marijuana. The sooner you report the required information, the less likely you will be held accountable for fraudulent enlistment. So as you can see, Ive dug myself quite the hole. Call one of our attorneysat theSecurity Clearance Law Groupto discuss your case, now serving clients nationwide. The surgery was such that it would have required a waiver to join. Dude, it was dumb, but just answer everything from here on out truthfully. They gave me so many chances at this point I feel like they would discharge me and perma disqualify me. I'm not sure if I agree with Intel Vet's advice. Strict background checks at the local, state, and federal level are performed on each individual recruit during the MEPS process. You're dumb. The process for obtaining a security clearance can take around six months to complete. Or will they just worry about denying or approving my clearance and not worry about ruining my military career. A recruiter who encourages you to lie has violated his/her own service regulations and can be prosecuted for violation of a regulation under Article 92 of the UCMJ. In terms of any history of drug dependency or addiction, its best to be direct and honest at MEPS. . Be prepared for the possibility of not being able to enlist. Based on the advice of the recruiter and the lawyer, the recruit did not disclose the arrest on his enlistment documents. A week before graduating boot camp, he falls ill with a breathing problem. Also The paper/application you fill out for a clearance position (SF86(google it)) doesn't ask anything medical related, only about mental health shit like schizophrenia etc. If you slide through on this one, never do it again. If you can be mislead by a recruiter, how can you be trusted with secerts? The Enlistment Contract (DD Form 4/1) can't make this any more plain. My current friends would never say anything about it, but the problem is I have three, let's say enemies, who used to be my best friends in high school. My job, IT, requires a top secret security clearance. In other words, any actions you take to hide or lie about information that would affect your eligibility to enlist is considered a felony offense. All Rights Reserved. Why would you think it was a prudent idea to lie to the government about something so easily verifiable? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". On the flip side, fraudulent enlistment is not normally pressed if a recruit volunteers the information early. I lied about 2 suicide attempts and prescribed anti depressants. Recruits will be subject to a mandatory, observed urinalysis to test for any illicit substances. Press J to jump to the feed. During this process, the investigator will set up interviews with the references you provided on the form. The criminal background check and security clearance investigations can and do find sealed records. Carlsbad, CA 92008. However, when you get caught in your lies, if you think that dishonest recruiter (the one who told you to lie) is going to stand up and say, "Yes, I told him to lie, it's all my fault," then you'd better get your head examined. Cookie Notice If, for example, you say to your recruiter "I might have had asthma as a kid, but no doctor ever diagnosed it as asthma," then the recruiter is perfectly correct to instruct you that the correct answer to the question "Have you ever been diagnosed with asthma?" In some cases, a discharge from the service. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Its better when you can explain it now, while you are young, and its a candor situation that you realize must be dealt with, then to lie about it, continue the situation, and it come out years later where you dont have youth on your side and additional situations where you could have fessed up to it and it hurts you further. Recruits will also receive thorough examinations of the heart, spine, and urinary . . As a rule the in-person interview is at the beginning of the process. Testing positive or refusing to comply can lead to disqualification in terms of a military career and other potential consequences. When applying for a security clearance , you want the best outcome. Registered users can exchange private messages with other registered users and receive notifications. Ive been wanting to come clean and have tried Googling in the past as to how but kind of gave up on it because it seemed very tricky. Honestly I feel like a regular functioning person except a little hyper and thats it. Pharmacy record screening under the Prescription Medication Reporting System (PMRS) is also performed for all civilian recruits at MEPS. My point is, those recruiting quotas really are do-or-die numbers, even though they still have to be made legally and ethically. Needless to say, most punishments are career-ending. It's a shame, really. I felt bad about it at the time but wanted to get away from my current situation asap (breakup, contract, and shipping out to basic all in the same month). You are the one who is going to suffer the consequences of your choice to commit a felony. Suite 140 Recruiters don't know what the f*** they're talking about most of the time, and will also say whatever they think will make you sign the dotted line. Okay, clearly you guys have wrapped up your cases one way or another now. Yet lying about any history of drug use can leave you open to serious consequences in addition to being disqualified as an enlistee. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They check a lot of shit. Any advice on coming clean and mitigating the damage? Using a federally mandated rubric, government officials classify documents in one of those levels. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Welcome to the Northern Ireland Assembly web site, which was set up to inform interested viewers of the day-to-day business and historical background of devolved Government in Northern Ireland. Past ten (10) years or to age 18, whichever is less. These people would tell them that I was a huge pothead just to screw me over. So you can answer no MJ use past 7 years (10 years for TS SCI). You can listen to the recruiter and take your chances. They told us that they can provide a waiver for almost anything as long as you come clean. What happens if you lie on your security clearance? When a position in the military or with a federal agency requires asecurity clearance, the process for obtaining clearance begins by filling out Standard Form 86, also referred to as SF-86 or E-QIP. So, I was stupid and lied at MEPS per my recruiters advice. Many security clearance applicants become tempted to hide former drug use, such as the fact that they smoked marijuana or abused prescription pills, perhaps back in college. Learn more about the consequences here. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The recruit does so and is accepted. The second intent they drug tested me and came back positive for cocaine I used it once and it happened to be within a couple days of the suicidal intent happened. Or, you can help stop this unlawful practice by making an official complaint. And really want my security job. How long is MOT certificate normally valid? My shipping date is already a long wait but if I have to wait longer I'll do it just to clear this up. What is the best compliment to give to a girl? Lying about paperwork is, and I am 99% certain that will come up on a polygraph. I was a pot head from about 2010 to probably 2015 (would be 21-26 years old) Some minor use that eventually became rare use after that but definitely not almost daily use like before. This will hold true with you your entire life. What if the original poster here progresses on up and is eventually asked to take a polygraph? Recruiter told me to lie . If you're getting a top secret, it might be best to tell the truth. You also committed enlist fraud. Ive been there, and was extremely misguided let's say. Fat chance. The recruiters don't tell you this, but you can get waivers for most things. If you completed your last SF-86 less than five years ago, you are still within the statute of limitations for a federal false statements prosecution. You need to come clean, explain that you were misled, act contrite and show that you are older and more mature so that it wont happen again. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. US Military Enlistment Contracts and Enlistment Incentives, An applicant claims his recruiter told him to lie about his childhood asthma. Recruits for each branch of the Armed Forces will undergo drug tests at their respective MEPS. . The investigation focuses on your character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, criminal activity, emotional stability, and other pertinent areas. The applicant stated that he smoked marijuana three times per week while attending college. You can enhance your privacy when browsing and posting to this forum by using the free and open source Tor Browser and posting as a guest (using a fake e-mail address such as nobody@nowhere.com) or registering with a free, anonymous ProtonMail e-mail account. Such cases are rare, but they do happen especially when the lie was particularly egregious and would have resulted in a clearance not being granted. We frequently warn of the importance of security clearance applicants being honest on government forms, including the SF-86 security clearance application. You may be denied the clearance. I had PRK laser eyes surgery around 2010 (would be 21 years old). Whether you are in the military or with a 1525 Faraday Avenue Falsifying information on the SF-86 is a felony that can result in fines or five years in prison. I'm supposed to go to the Military Entrance Processing Center (MEPS) for a medical and mental health evaluation and to get sworn in this week. The issues you discussed are not unusual and would probably be cleared (mitigated ) as part of the normal process except if you lie on the SCA and especially to the investigator. As for the ADHD, stick to what you've told them, why? Both cases were dismissed. If you lie to get into the military, you are committing a felony. Updated on 07/31/19. If you hold a TS/SCI Clearance with the Department of Defense, it will not transfer to Departement of Justice; DOJ will redo an entire investigation. Ordered by The Committee of the Ce Your branch has nothing to do with it. 3 What happens if you lie on your security clearance? Could you give us an update on what happened? PENALTIES for lying on the SF86 The SF-86 explains: The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines and/or up to five (5) years imprisonment. Lets unpack that a little. what ever you did at meps, recruiting station, where ever, forget it. So she asked me why I listed them as living in a foreign country. For both, it's to ensure that only qualified candidates enlist. In addition, being truthful regarding your past indicates strength in terms of your conduct and character. The procedure is as follows: FBI performs record checks with various Federal . The arrest itself wasn't over anything serious but it is the fact that I actually got fingerprinted and arrested that worries me. I can't, for the life of me, imagine why he would tell you to lie about that. However, you are now at the mercy of the investigator. Inquiry into the Approach of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Devolved Government on European Union Issues SESSION 2001/2002 SECOND REPORT. If I tell the truth on sf86 would they tell my service branch? However, if you make it, be honest with everything. Can you get a security clearance if you lied at MEPS? Consequently, some tend to "coach" their applicants on how to answer the medical questions. Its also common for recruits with a history of drug use, whether recreational or addictive, to lie about their experiences. This means that all drug use, even marijuana, needs to be reported in full. I just finished taking the ASVAB and I qualified for my dream job in the army that requires a Top Secret Security Clearance (TSSC). Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces utilizes their own MEPS to evaluate recruits for military readiness, including their standards of conduct and character. It's so dumb and wasteful. (Unless you said, Father: Ahmed Slad_ Father's Address: Riyadh Occupation: Freedom Fighter) But in this brave and stupid new world we live in, everyone "needs" a secret clearance (credit check.) If you get away with it long enough to actually enlistand are caught later, it's also a "military offense." Honestly acknowledging negative elements in your history will allow MEPS personnel to work with you. There needs to be far more discipline in that area but it will help to mitigate your issue. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. These are usually face-to-face meetings, during which time the investigators will ask those references for two other people that know you, whereby those interviews will also be held in an in-person environment. All I know is that this is what I've wanted since I started high school and now that I'm finally good to go, I may have fucked up big time. Below are approximate timelines for the clearance process: 1-2 months for a new Secret (interim) clearance. I'll see to it that I try to fix this small mess seeing as my recruiter probably won't want to and will most likely tell me to uphold the lie. Did you receive a SOR or LOI and need help from a qualified Security Clearance Attorney? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They tend to give secret clearances away like candy as long as you don't have anything criminal or otherwise questionable in your record. the time to be honest is when youre talking to the investigator. Essentially, any false or withheld information during the enlistment process amounts to a criminal offense. Since the applicant eventually decided to be honest, the judge was lenient. The truth will come out then and it will be much worse if you've continued to lie throughout the years. Like many other situations, its the cover up that will get you into trouble. (The military requires that you report *ALL* arrests, regardless of the final outcome). Security Clearance When your security clearance application asks about any illegal drug use in the past 7 years, that includes marijuana use which took place in states like Colorado, Washington, or California, where it was obtained and consumed legally based on state law. During that conversation, the applicant pledged to tell the truth no matter the consequences. Do I care if you smoked weed in high school? Answer (1 of 13): Before you go to meps your recruiter should go over everything with you. I'm struggling to understand why your recruiter had you lie about something as trivial as your parents being foreigners. Enjoy being a cook. The list is comparable to the other branches of the military. Privacy Policy. Haha this is so true, always stick with the same story until the end! Your recruiter is dumb. However, once you have made any dishonest claims, the consequences are typically definitive and clear. Instead, you A security clearance revocation can hit hard, both personally and professionally. This may help you understand more about the overall military recruiting situation and hopefully prevent you from over-generalizing based on your own bad experience. Many recruiters view the MEPS as the enemy, as an obstacle to recruiting. Just a note, this is not necessarily a true statement about the transferability. Show that you are trustworthy. 4,250. If they fall too far below that number because they miss their annual recruiting goals, Congress could reduce the size of the Service and the dollars that go with it. hello. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. is "no." Your recruiter may or may not get into trouble. 1001, which says that whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Additionally, if the recruiter knows you are not qualified for military service, under the regulations, and processes your enlistment anyway, that recruiter can be charged with a violation of Article 84 of the UCMJ. If the background check reveals a considerable amount of debt, missed payments, tax evasion, collection judgments, check. Will my recruiter get into deep shit? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I heard that recruits get sent back home then and there if they came clean with omitted information. I'm in Navy DEP and lied about something. Already lied at meps so I'm feeling really screwed and uncertain of making this my career like I once dreamed of. What should I do? This testimonial reflects the burden of fear and worry that telling lies at MEPS will eventually be discovered. How do people make money on survival on Mars? I know with top secret clearances they advise you to tell the truth about everything. It's a felony offense, punishable by a $10,000 fine and three years in prison. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. DOHA Security Clearance Denials & Appeals, Pre-Clearance Counseling & SF-86 Assistance, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests. End of sentence. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Why Do Some Recruiters Encourage You to Lie? Does it say anything about your having been suspended and the cause? Top-secret clearance takes four to eight months to complete (sometimes closer to a year depending on the applicant). And yet another case,DOHA Case Number 15-00234, the applicant admitted to smoking marijuana in college. I had adhd as a kid but I stopped taking meds for it almost 5 years ago. The fact of the matter is that there really is no legal impediment to using an applicants admissions of unreported criminal conduct against the applicant in a subsequent criminal prosecution. Your email address will not be published. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Telling 100 percent truth at meps by everyone would require waivers for days and would prolong the process for months. He/she didn't tell me a thing about it!" im 19, and i recently enlisted in the national guard. EDIT: Wow thank you for all the responses! Lack of it can land you in trouble, both now and in the fleet. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I went to MEPS a while ago and my recruiter had me lie about my parents' location. The reason quotas are such a big deal, besides the fact that the military needs so many bodies to do the work, Congress mandates that each Service be at a certain number (end strength) at the end of the year. The applicant appealed the decision to the DOE Office of Hearings and Appeals. It does make things more difficult. While the applicant did tell the truth about his marijuana usage in college, he wasnt quite as forthright about the frequency. Some of the best military members get kicked out years after being in, because of the skeletons that are found in the closet after they go for a clearance upgrade. Many security clearance applicants become tempted to hide former drug use, such as the fact that they smoked marijuana or abused prescription pills, perhaps back in college. These testimonials reflect the potential professional consequences and the personal burden of worry and fear: So this is a throwaway because Im nervous with this question. How does the moment of truth work? Should I just clear this up next time (the day I ship) at MEPS or wait until the moment of truth? However, service members are subject to random reinvestigations at any time. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. While in A-School (job training school), the recruit was tentatively selected for an assignment that would have required a TOP SECRET Clearance. When you are being investigated for security clearance, the investigators on your case will learn about your juvenile record because you will tell them about it. MEPS stands for military entrance processing station. To everybody who gave detailed answers, thank you. Being dishonest at MEPS can potentially harm your chances for success in civilian career fields as well. Recruiter told me to lie . Everyone I asked told me not to say anything about it so I didn't. The job I want requires a top secret clearance. Your parents being in a foreign country isn't bad, unless it's Syria, Afghanistan, Columbia, etc. Here are some aspects of medical history that may cause a recruit to lie at MEPS: All potential enlistees go through comprehensive medical examinations at MEPS. lied. Medical screening is a vital part of the recruitment process, including completing official forms to establish your previous and current medical history. Integrity is a big deal in the Marine Corps. Lastly, if you make it to boot camp before they start processing you, you'll get an uncharacterized discharge. While drug involvement can raise questions about loyalty, reliability, and ability to protect classified information for initial security clearance assessments, currently there are no requirements to conduct recurring or random drug testing as a part of the security clearance process. I hate lying about big shit like this as its hard to feel good about it without being guilty. SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A. Helpplease November 9, 2019, 8:35pm #1. Here is a handful of the medical conditions that require an Army medical waiver. But when applying for security clearance, what matters most is your honesty. I've also gone to court but it was cleared off of my record and I wasnt charged with anything it was a type of 'teen court' where it was all teenagers doing the 'attorney' and 'judging' and whatnot kind've for first time offenders. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Recruits must keep in mind that everyone at MEPS is thoroughly investigated at the local, state, and federal levels for any illegal records or criminal activity. Any substantiated abuse of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and/or many prescription drugs will likely disqualify you from military service. Potential enlistees undergo a medical exam at MEPS as well. Here are some helpful responses to frequently asked questions regarding this topic: The military will absolutely check your medical history. Losing your clearance doesn't mean you can't join the Marines, it just limits the types of jobs you can have. Yes, you need to be caught in the lie, but that isnt as difficult as you might think. Now, on top of that, being fired from recruiting duty because you didn't make your quotas, is also usually career ending. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Along with me admitted to the physc hospital I smoked weed and it affected me very poorly. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What should I do tell the whole truth and not worry about them kicking me out or switch jobs now and not even try for a ts clearance. I really doubt that they'll go that deep into it, one of the other students who was involved in the same issue and had to go to court with me is now working at an army hospital under federal clearance. The first step is filling out the SF-86 form (with all truthful answers) before it goes through an investigative process initiated by the OPM or an outside agency that is contracted by the OPM. Lets say even if I come clean I am still in the military wont they report that to the marine Corps and kick me out? The sad answer is, probably not. If you lie about your previous drug use (even if there is no criminal record), and your military job/assignment (either now or a future assignment) requires a Top Secret clearance, the military CAN find out about it (see Security Clearance Secrets). Again, if someone tells you that the military never checks into these matters, then they are not telling you the truth. Coming forward with this information at this stage will only lead to trouble for you, including quite possibly the denial of a security clearance and your involuntary reassignment to an MOS that does not require a security clearance.