Some jobs in the U.S. Army do require security clearance. Finding these jobs isn’t hard as there are several that require clearance and some are even classified.
How to Gain Security Clearance
Before you can work a job in the Army, or any branch of the military, requiring security clearance, you must be eligible. Becoming eligible for an Army job requiring security clearance won’t happen overnight and it’s not an easy process. It starts with the investigative process.
This process includes the following guidelines:
- Guideline A: Allegiance to the United States
- Guideline B: Foreign Influence
- Guideline C: Foreign Preference
- Guideline D: Sexual Behavior
- Guideline E: Personal Conduct
- Guideline F: Financial Considerations
- Guideline G: Alcohol Consumption
- Guideline H: Drug Involvement
- Guideline I: Emotional, Mental and Personality Disorders
- Guideline J: Criminal Conduct
- Guideline K: Security Violations
- Guideline L: Outside Activities
- Guideline M: Misuse of Government Systems
Meeting all of these guidelines is vital if you want to work an Army job requiring security clearance. You can find more details about the guidelines here.
The evaluation process will take some time and the investigator will be tasked with deciding to grant or deny your clearance. You may receive security clearance and a warning that future incidents would revoke the status immediately.
It’s also important to know that social media information can now be considered as a part of the application process. The investigator can and will look at your history on social media sites before making the final decision. However, you cannot be asked to hand over passwords for private accounts.
Types of Security Clearance
There are several levels when it comes to security clearance and some Army jobs require a higher level of clearance than others. In addition, many government agency jobs require security clearance.
The levels start with confidential. This level of security clearance includes information that could cause damage to national security if it ends up in the hands of unauthorized sources. This is a basic level of clearance given to most military personnel and reinvestigated every 15 years.
Secret is the next level up, which includes information that could cause serious damage to the security of the nation if disclosed to the wrong sources. This level requires reinvestigation even 10 years.
The final level is Top Secret. This includes information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to the security of the nation if disclosed to the wrong sources. Reinvestigation happens every 5 years at this level and it includes a Single Scope Background Investigation and Sensitive Compartmentalized Information.
Some of the Army Jobs and Government Jobs Requiring Security Clearance
There are several Army Jobs requiring security clearance, along with jobs in other branches of the military and the government requiring clearance. Some of the most common jobs include:
- Air Force Intelligence
- Army Intelligence
- CIA
- Coast Guard Intelligence
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- FBI
- FEMA
- Marine Corps Intelligence
- NASA
- TSA
- NSA
- Navy Intelligence
- Secret Service
Along with the military and government jobs requiring security clearance, there are several private companies that will hire those with security clearance. These include:
- Accenture
- Aerospace Corporation
- Boeing
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Honeywell International Inc.
- IBM
- Martin Marietta
- Raytheon
- TASC
- United Technologies
- URS
Many jobs in finance, education, IT and healthcare require security clearance, as well.
Here’s a quick look at a few of the Army Jobs requiring security clearance, along with the level they require.
35F Intelligence Analyst
This person will process, analyze and distribute intelligence. They must be highly skilled and it requires a clearance level of Top Secret.
12P Prime Power Production Specialist
This MOS requires a Secret security clearance and high scores on the Skills Technical, General Technical and Electronics sections of the ASVAB.
25E Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager
This is a newer Army Job and requires a Secret security clearance.
29E Electronic Warfare Specialist
You cannot get this Army Job as an entry-level job. It requires you to put in the time and it also requires a Top Secret security clearance.
89D EOD Specialist
This MOS requires you to be willing to deal with unexploded ordnance and it’s very dangerous. The job also requires a Top Secret clearance.
35P Cryptologic Linquist
This can be an entry-level position in the Army, but it will require you to gain Top Secret clearance. You will also need to reach a qualifying score on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery.
13F Fire Support Specialist
With the right ASVAB score, you can become a fire support specialist. You will also need a Confidential security clearance to work this job and a Secret clearance to become a supervisor.
38B Civil Affairs Specialist
You’ll be the go-between for civilians and military operations. This job requires Secret security clearance.
37F Psychological Operations Specialist
You’ll be trained to use messages to achieve a goal with the Army Special Operations. You’ll need a 101 score in Skilled Technical and Secret security clearance.
35L Counterintelligence Agent
This isn’t an easy job to get and requires great knowledge in many areas. You will also need Top Secret security clearance.
If you’re interested in the Army jobs that require security clearance or any government job requiring security clearance, you’ll want to stay out of trouble. Make sure you keep yourself clean or you could struggle to get the clearance you need.
