Want to work at the National Security Agency (NSA) or any other intelligence agency within the U.S. government? The NSA’s mission is to protect America, with focus on terrorism, proliferation, chemical/biological warfare, information infrastructure attacks, narcotics trafficking and counterintelligence. Yes, the NSA, wears many hats as the premier Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) arm of the U.S. intelligence community.
Working with the NSA is a noble undertaking and one which will require a national security clearance, most likely at the Top Secret level. What does this mean for you ,the applicant? Prepare yourself to have your life splayed out on the table and fully dissected by those whom are processing and ultimately adjudicating your security clearance request.
Is NSA’s security clearance process different than other members of the intelligence community? Not really. All applicants for employment will fill out the SF-86 completely and submit the finished paperwork through NSA’s office of personnel and security. The various information releases which you the applicant will have signed will allow the background check investigators and analysts to make queries of financial institutions, insurance companies, employers and the like. Regional investigators will be tasked with conducting face-to-face interviews with your provided references and those individuals which they identify as possibly being able to comment on your trustworthiness.
They are also trying to determine if you can successfully execute against the NSA mission and if your lifestyle/persona will fit the core values of the NSA. Neither the mission or the core value statement are secret, with the core values touching on commitment to service, respect for the law, integrity, transparency, respect for people, and accountability. Until recently, the core values consisted of only honesty, respect for the law, integrity and transparency.
The NSA does want to trust you, but they will verify everything first before they do so.
Job Contingent Upon Successful Polygraph
Should you be fortunate enough to move through the process to where the NSA is offering you a position, it will be contingent upon a successful polygraph. The polygraph will be administered at either NSA headquarters or one of the many satellite locations both local to Fort Meade or in various regions of the US.
The polygraph will be a full-scope polygraph. The applicant can be expected to be asked questions pertaining to both lifestyle and counterintelligence. For example, questions concerning relatives or friends who are foreign nationals will be created to determine foreign influence and control.
The polygraph is an effective screening tool. Many applicants reveal their continued illegal drug use (marijuana may be legal in many states, but it is still illegal under federal law), theft and embezzlement, and foreign intelligence service control. Taking the polygraph is non-negotiable for employment at the NSA and other IC entities. If you don’t want to sit, get wired up and answer yes or no truthfully, then perhaps the NSA isn’t a good match.
For those still interested, work at the NSA offers a challenging career truly at the cutting edge. In addition to working directly for the agency, hundreds of defense contractors support the NSA mission in the Fort Meade area, and are always looking to hire talented applicants.
Christopher Burgess (@burgessct) is an author and speaker on the topic of security strategy. Christopher, served 30+ years within the Central Intelligence Agency. He lived and worked in South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Europe, and Latin America. Upon his retirement, the CIA awarded him the Career Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the highest level of career recognition. Christopher co-authored the book, “Secrets Stolen, Fortunes Lost, Preventing Intellectual Property Theft and Economic Espionage in the 21st Century” (Syngress, March 2008). He is the founder of securelytravel.com
FAQs
Because we protect some of our nation's most coveted information while exploiting that of our adversaries, each NSA employee must be a loyal, trustworthy U.S. citizen and must qualify for a TOP SECRET clearance.
Does Intel require a security clearance? ›
Security clearance process information
If you receive a conditional job offer, you must go through our suitability and security clearance process. All potential employees must complete this process to obtain a final job offer from an agency in the Intelligence Community.
What is Intel agency clearance? ›
The purpose of a security clearance is to determine whether a person is able and willing to safeguard classified national security information, based on his or her loyalty character, trustworthiness and reliability.
How long does NSA security clearance take? ›
The security clearance process takes an average of three to four months to complete but can take up to a full year to complete depending on your background.
What is the hardest security clearance to get? ›
Top secret clearance: This type of security clearance is the most restrictive and provides access to information that can cause grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. Must be reinvestigated for continued eligibility every five years.
Who does NSA background checks? ›
DCSA's background investigations gather information on the applicant through various methods to provide a holistic picture of the applicant and provide the information needed for an adjudicator to make a determination whether to grant or deny an individual's eligibility to occupy national security sensitive positions, ...
What are disqualifiers for security clearance? ›
What can disqualify you?
- You are not a U.S. citizen.
- You were dishonorably discharged from the military.
- You are currently involved in illegal drug use.
- You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional.
- You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
Top secret clearance is the highest security clearance level anyone can get. A candidate's responsibilities determine the level of clearance granted. State and local law enforcement officers, for example, usually need confidential or secret clearance.
What fails a security clearance? ›
During the background check process, certain factors may lead to a person's clearance being denied—such as having a criminal record, financial issues such as bankruptcy or delinquent debts, having affiliations with groups or organizations connected with espionage, and/or drug use or addiction.
Do all NSA jobs require a polygraph? ›
Many applicants reveal their continued illegal drug use (marijuana may be legal in many states, but it is still illegal under federal law), theft and embezzlement, and foreign intelligence service control. Taking the polygraph is non-negotiable for employment at the NSA and other IC entities.
The U.S. Intelligence Community is a coalition of 18 agencies and organizations, including the ODNI.
How hard is it to get a security clearance? ›
SCI classifications are only cleared for a few people and the background investigation process as well as the continual monitoring is extremely intensive. The amount of time it takes to receive a security clearance is usually between six months to one year, if all goes well.
Is it hard to get a job with the NSA? ›
Competition is fierce for jobs with the NSA. Increase your odds of being hired down the road by completing an internship with the agency. The NSA offers competitive three-year programs for those who are interested in pursuing life-long careers with the organization.
What are the levels of clearance in the NSA? ›
The four main types of security clearances for national security positions are: confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information. This type of security clearance provides access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.
Can you say you work for the NSA? ›
Certainly, you may tell your family and friends that you are employed at or assigned to the National Security Agency. There is no valid reason to deny them this information. However, you may not disclose to them any information concerning specific aspects of the Agency's mission, activities, and organization.
What type of clearance does security forces have? ›
Applicants must also have a clean criminal history, be able to speak distinctly, be eligible to receive a Secret security clearance and earn a general score of 33 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery entrance exam.
Is the NSA part of the DoD? ›
Founded in 1952, NSA is part of the Department of Defense and a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The Agency supports military customers, national policymakers, and the counterterrorism and counterintelligence communities, as well as key international allies.
What security clearance does Secret Service have? ›
All Secret Service positions require completion of a full background investigation before appointment. Applicants must pass an extensive pre-employment background investigation. Applicants must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
What federal agency handles security clearances? ›
The security clearance process involves an applicant submitting forms via the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's e-QIP website, followed by investigations conducted by either the OPM, Department of Defense, Office of Director of National Intelligence, or an Investigation Service Provider (ISP).
