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TrackerFF 2 hours ago

The fact is that even for (NATO) top secret security clearances, there are lots of people that lie through their teeth, and receive the clearance. Obviously on things that aren't in any records. The big ones being alcohol use, drug use, personal finances, foreign partners. Some are more forgiving than others, though.

The military is unfortunately chock full of functional alcoholics. As long as they don't get caught drunk on the job, seen partying too much, DIU, or admit anything to their doctor, they keep getting renewed their clearance.

Interestingly enough, if there's even the smallest suspicious that you smoke weed, they'll put you through the wringer. I've seen more people lose their clearance for pissing hot, than those with six figure debts or drinking 5 days a week.

lesuorac an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> The military is unfortunately chock full of functional alcoholics. As long as they don't get caught drunk on the job, seen partying too much, DIU, or admit anything to their doctor, they keep getting renewed their clearance.

Well yeah. If it's not affecting your job then what's it matter? If your a closet alcoholic then sure that's something the Russians could hold over you.

There's millions of people with clearances; that's impossible to staff at below market wages and also above average moral(?) standards.

Aurornis 34 minutes ago | parent [-]

> If it's not affecting your job then what's it matter? If your a closet alcoholic then sure that's something the Russians could hold over you

Alcohol lowers inhibitions and alters decision making. Drinking a lot of alcohol more so than casual drinking. Frequently drinking a lot of alcohol has a very high area under the curve of poor decision making.

Functional alcoholism can come with delusions of sobriety where the person believes they’re not too drunk despite being heavily impaired.

So they’ll do things like have a few (or ten) drinks before checking their email. It makes them a better target for everything like fishing attacks, as one example.

It’s not just about enemies holding it against you.

vscode-rest 14 minutes ago | parent [-]

Gross misunderstanding of the threat model.

Phishing is not the problem here. Your laptop isn’t getting SIPR emails with links to fake login screens.

moron4hire an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> I've seen more people lose their clearance for pissing hot

When? In the 90s? Biggest pothead I know has had a clearance since '05. For my own form, I straight up admitted I had done it and did not regret it.

albedoa 18 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Interestingly enough, if there's even the smallest suspicious that you smoke weed, they'll put you through the wringer. I've seen more people lose their clearance for pissing hot, than those with six figure debts or drinking 5 days a week.

I have to defer to you here since it sounds like my experience is more limited, but this is not my understanding at all. The agencies care a lot about financial indiscretions, as those applicants are most susceptible to compromise. And indeed, if you look at the lists of denials and appeals, you might think that money issues are the only reason anyone is ever denied.

Lying about having smoked weed is another story.

heraldgeezer an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Are you saying weed should be punished less, or the others should be punished like weed?

c22 21 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

I'm not sure security clearance is really about punishing people.

heraldgeezer 20 minutes ago | parent [-]

You know exactly what I mean. Chased after, investigated?

b112 11 minutes ago | parent [-]

Who are you replying to? When I click 'parent' on your post, the poster said nothing about his opinion on what should be done, only what he's seen.

drdaeman 42 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

I think they’re saying that there is an inconsistency, but they don’t suggest anything, leaving any conclusions to the reader.

It’s just “things aren’t right”, and not “here’s what we need to do…”

heraldgeezer 18 minutes ago | parent [-]

Yes and I am saying I am tired of those boring cop-out "analysis". Yes, having a social science degree, it was full of those. Make solutions instead. Anyone can """analyze""".

cindyllm 6 minutes ago | parent [-]

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