Most veterans leave the military with at least one valuable asset on their resume: a security clearance. While a security clearance doesn’t necessarily guarantee a job, combining it with the right experience would make any veteran a solid candidate for the right job opening.
More than four million Americans hold active security clearances but a clearance means little without understanding what it is and how to use it.
All about security clearances
There are three statuses for clearances: active, current, and expired.
- Active means a current demonstrated need for access to classified information at the appropriate level.
- Current status means an employee retains their eligibility for a clearance, but there is no valid requirement for access. In this status, an active clearance has been debriefed but can be re-briefed when there is a valid requirement.
- Expired clearances occur when an employee has not needed access for more than 24 months or has not gone through a reinvestigation process within their required timeframe. In this status, a new clearance must be adjudicated.
After leaving the military, a security clearance remains current for 24 months. In some cases, it might be less time if your periodic investigation window falls within the 24-month period and a re-investigation is not initiated. A Periodic Reinvestigation (PR) is required every five years for a Top-Secret clearance, 10 years for a Secret clearance, and 15 years for a Confidential clearance.
Some positions may require Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI). It’s important to know that SCI is not a level of clearance, but rather a determination based on the need to access select intelligence information. Most important to remember is that security clearance holders are subject to a random investigation at any time.
Security clearances and veterans
Veterans with a security clearance can have an advantage in the job market when transitioning to civilian life. Many employers, such as government agencies and commercial defense organizations, specifically look for cleared individuals for critical roles.
In many cases, a cleared veteran can be an attractive candidate to fill roles in a timely manner. The necessary skills for these in-demand positions can vary greatly but include programming, engineering, intelligence, accounting and finance, overseas roles, and many more.
How to maintain a security clearance while in school
Employees working in secured facilities or in roles that may handle sensitive information will likely require some level of security clearance. If you have a clearance, but not a skill set that easily transfers into open roles, consider starting in entry roles in admin or custodial work while you attend school. These roles may keep your clearance active or current while you prepare for a future career.
Apply for clearance jobs
If you are interested in a role that requires a clearance but do not have the clearance level listed in the job description, apply anyway! It is still possible to get hired without a clearance, provided that the company is able and willing to sponsor you through the investigation process.
Start your job search with the RecruitMilitary job board, where new roles are added daily by government agencies, defense organizations, and other major partners who can utilize your active clearance and skills.