MEPS Security and Background Screening 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the typical validity period for a Tier 3 (Secret) background investigation before reinvestigation is required?
- 5 years
- 10 years (Correct answer)
- 15 years
- Indefinitely until a security incident occurs
Correct answer: 10 years
Secret clearances based on a Tier 3 investigation are subject to reinvestigation every 10 years under current DCSA continuous evaluation programs.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT one of the 13 adjudicative guidelines used to evaluate security clearance eligibility?
- Allegiance to the United States
- Sexual behavior
- Physical fitness standards (Correct answer)
- Criminal conduct
Correct answer: Physical fitness standards
Physical fitness is assessed separately during the MEPS medical process; it is not one of the 13 adjudicative guidelines for security clearance evaluation.
Question 3: What is 'continuous evaluation' (CE) in the context of military security clearances?
- Annual psychological evaluations required for all cleared personnel
- Ongoing automated checks of databases and records throughout the clearance period (Correct answer)
- Daily supervisor assessments of cleared employees
- A program requiring cleared personnel to submit monthly self-reports
Correct answer: Ongoing automated checks of databases and records throughout the clearance period
Continuous evaluation uses automated record checks to identify reportable information about cleared personnel between periodic reinvestigations.
Question 4: A polygraph examination at MEPS is used primarily for which clearance level?
- Confidential clearances only
- Secret clearances as a standard requirement
- Top Secret/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) positions (Correct answer)
- All clearance levels equally
Correct answer: Top Secret/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) positions
Polygraph examinations are typically required for Top Secret/SCI access, particularly for positions with certain intelligence agencies, not for standard Secret clearances.
Question 5: If an applicant has been treated for depression in the past, how is this typically handled in the security screening process?
- Any mental health treatment is automatically disqualifying
- Mental health history is never reviewed in security investigations
- It is evaluated in context; seeking treatment is generally viewed positively as responsible self-care (Correct answer)
- Only inpatient psychiatric treatment is relevant to clearance decisions
Correct answer: It is evaluated in context; seeking treatment is generally viewed positively as responsible self-care
The adjudicative guidelines consider psychological conditions in context, and voluntarily seeking mental health treatment is viewed as a positive, responsible behavior.
Question 6: What does 'interim clearance' mean at MEPS and during early military service?
- A permanent clearance that has been downgraded due to a security violation
- A temporary clearance granted while the full background investigation is pending (Correct answer)
- A clearance valid only within CONUS (Continental United States)
- A probationary clearance requiring monthly reviews
Correct answer: A temporary clearance granted while the full background investigation is pending
An interim clearance allows service members to begin working in their position while the full background investigation is still being completed.
Question 7: Under the 'Financial Considerations' adjudicative guideline, which situation is most likely to be mitigated?
- Repeated intentional non-payment of debts over 10 years
- Financial hardship caused by a medical emergency that the applicant is now actively resolving (Correct answer)
- Hiding assets in offshore accounts to avoid creditors
- Writing fraudulent checks to obtain goods
Correct answer: Financial hardship caused by a medical emergency that the applicant is now actively resolving
Financial problems caused by circumstances beyond the applicant's control and being actively addressed are mitigating factors under the financial considerations guideline.
MEPS Security and Background Screening 4
What is the typical validity period for a Tier 3 (Secret) background investigation before reinvestigation is required?