Personnel Security — Foundation, DoD CAF, and Adjudicative Guidelines (Part 1)
Foundation
PS Program Foundation
The Personnel Security Program entails policies and procedures that ensure military, civilian, and contractor personnel who:
- Access classified information
- Or occupy a sensitive position
…are consistent with interests of national security.
Three PS Process Components
3 PS Components
For most personnel, this involves procedures for obtaining proper security clearances required for performing official duties:
- The investigation process
- Adjudication (approval) for eligibility
- Continuous evaluation for maintaining eligibility
Commander/Supervisor Responsibilities
Commander/Supervisor Responsibilities
Commanders and supervisors must continually:
- Observe their subordinates with respect to these criteria
- Evaluate their subordinates with respect to these criteria
- Immediately report any unfavorable conduct or conditions that might bear on the subordinates' trustworthiness and eligibility to occupy a sensitive position or have eligibility to classified information
Adjudicative Guidelines
DoD CAF
The Department of Defense Central Adjudication Facility (DoD CAF) is the designated authority to:
- Grant security clearance eligibility
- Deny security clearance eligibility
- Revoke security clearance eligibility
Adjudicative Process
Adjudicative Process
DoD CAF uses the Department of Defense 13 adjudicative guidelines, while applying:
- The whole person concept
- Mitigating factors
Due Process
Due Process
Individuals are granted due process and may appeal if the security clearance eligibility is denied or revoked.
Reference
DoDM 5200.02 Reference
For additional details, refer to DoDM 5200.02_AFMAN 16-1405, *Air Force Personnel Security Program*.
13 Adjudicative Guidelines
13 Adjudicative Guidelines.
- Allegiance to the United States
- Foreign Influence
- Foreign Preference
- Sexual Behavior
- Personal Conduct
- Financial Considerations
- Alcohol Consumption
- Drug Involvement
- Psychological Conditions
- Criminal Conduct
- Handling Protected Information
- Outside Activities
- Use of Information Technology
Allegiance to the United States
Allegiance
An individual must be of unquestioned allegiance to the United States. The willingness to safeguard classified information is in doubt if there is any reason to suspect an individual's allegiance to the United States.
Foreign Influence
Foreign Influence
Foreign contacts and interests may be a security concern if the individual:
- Has divided loyalties or foreign financial interests
- May be manipulated or induced to help a foreign person, group, organization, or government in a way that is not in U.S. interests
- Is vulnerable to pressure or coercion by any foreign interest
Foreign Preference
Foreign Preference
When an individual acts in such a way as to indicate a preference for a foreign country over the United States, then he or she may be prone to:
- Provide information harmful to the interests of the United States
- Make decisions harmful to the interests of the United States
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Behavior
Sexual behavior that involves a criminal offense, indicates a personality or emotional disorder, reflects lack of judgment or discretion, or which may subject the individual to undue influence or coercion, exploitation, or duress can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified information.
Sexual Orientation
No adverse inference concerning the standards in this Guideline may be raised solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of the individual.
Personal Conduct
Personal Conduct
Conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified information.
Financial Considerations
Financial Considerations Foundation
Failure or inability to:
- Live within one's means
- Satisfy debts
- Meet financial obligations
…may indicate poor self-control, lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide by rules and regulations.
Financial Risk
Financial Risk
An individual who is financially overextended is at risk of having to engage in illegal acts to generate funds.
Compulsive Gambling + Affluence
Compulsive Gambling + Affluence
Compulsive gambling is a concern as it may lead to financial crimes including espionage.
Affluence
Affluence that cannot be explained by known sources of income is also a security concern. It may indicate proceeds from financially profitable criminal acts.