Getting into the military can be difficult, especially when the needs of the military are low (no war to fight) or the economy is poor and more people stream into the recruiting station looking for work. Honestly, he deserves to. If you completed your last SF-86 less than five years ago, you are still within the statute of limitations for a federal false statements prosecution. Im worried that I might slip one day and tell someone or they drudge up my medical records and see it. I have a clearance but don't know much about them. Now I'm freaking out. Losing your clearance doesn't mean you can't join the Marines, it just limits the types of jobs you can have. . the time to be honest is when youre talking to the investigator. Find the best ones near you. A little yes, but that's not making me block your clearance. Even tiny lies can be discovered. Based on the advice of the recruiter and the lawyer, the recruit did not disclose the arrest on his enlistment documents. So, my recruiter basically told me to lie at MEPS about ever smoking weed. I'm going to stick to my lie on this one and hope for the best. My point is, those recruiting quotas really are do-or-die numbers, even though they still have to be made legally and ethically. The recruiters don't tell you this, but you can get waivers for most things. This means that all drug use, even marijuana, needs to be reported in full. Pretty sure you it will come up when you complete your SF86 either now or in the future. They are foreigners so he had me say they lived in their native country. The investigators and adjudicators know that many recruiters will tell kids to lie filling out their forms. My shipping date is already a long wait but if I have to wait longer I'll do it just to clear this up. At my sub (newtothenavy) they are all bitching about if this guy should disclose something that isn't even in his medical records. I'm really worried, I hate lying to begin with. The characters must be typed in the same order, and they are case-sensitive. Instead, he was motivated to maintain exemplary personal conduct for the long-term future. Rule #3: Don't be in a position to use Rule #2. Lying At MEPS About Medical Or Criminal History: 3 BIG Consequences. Welcome to the Northern Ireland Assembly web site, which was set up to inform interested viewers of the day-to-day business and historical background of devolved Government in Northern Ireland. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The records are located and showa childhood diagnosis of asthma. Since the applicant eventually decided to be honest, the judge was lenient. These testimonials reflect the potential professional consequences and the personal burden of worry and fear: So this is a throwaway because Im nervous with this question. im familar with mitigating circumstances, but i dont quite understand the concept. Top Secret clearance is not a big deal and the military doesn't really give a fuck about your juvenile record unless it's drug related or something pretty serious. Past ten (10) years or to age 18, whichever is less. It's strange that you were willing to be honest about the shoplifting, but not the marijuana. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. No you're security clearance interview would have been with a DOD investigator. In terms of any history of drug dependency or addiction, its best to be direct and honest at MEPS. All misdemeanors no felonies. Ive been there, and was extremely misguided let's say. Can you get a security clearance if you lied at MEPS? It will still go to my service branch and will most likely get me a fraudulent enlistment due to lying at meps? (Unless you said, Father: Ahmed Slad_ Father's Address: Riyadh Occupation: Freedom Fighter) But in this brave and stupid new world we live in, everyone "needs" a secret clearance (credit check.) Settle down. Though it may be tempting to lie at MEPS about your medical, criminal, and/or drug history, the consequences arent worth it. Your email address will not be published. Depending on the MOS you are in, the most you may ever need is a secret and no one might never dig into your pass. or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. If you're an honest person with integrity who can say "I made a mistake" that's not the end of the world, everyone screws up. Also The paper/application you fill out for a clearance position (SF86(google it)) doesn't ask anything medical related, only about mental health shit like schizophrenia etc. Recruiter told me to lie . Uh oh! The applicant stated that he smoked marijuana three times per week while attending college. . This allows the military access to seven years of your prescription history, including medications prescribed, dates, and who initiated the prescriptions. EDIT: Wow thank you for all the responses! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Are you about to complete your SF-86 and need assistance? Not only is lying on the SCA (SF86) a crime - you also have fraudulent enlistment issues going on here. It's a shame, really. They're going to arrest you and put you in jail for fraudulent enlistment. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. It is a 7 or 10 year question. How serious is anomalous coronary artery? What should I do? Enlisted into the military at 18 years old. They don't expect all applicants to be perfect since that's impossible . Dude doesnt need to be anywhere near a clearance. He was subsequently denied clearance based on Guideline E: Personal Conduct. The process for obtaining a security clearance can take around six months to complete. I had PRK laser eyes surgery around 2010 (would be 21 years old). You're dumb. Likely scenario, you will lose your secret clearance, and any ability to obtain one, and likely become Infantry or Supply or Motor T or something. Ive been wanting to come clean and have tried Googling in the past as to how but kind of gave up on it because it seemed very tricky. Now he faces four charges of lying to the government. Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service. A week before graduating boot camp, he falls ill with a breathing problem. This procedure is standard for screening potential enlistees in advance for the presence of drugs or alcohol. Wayne the Dept of Energy has C,L,and Q clearance. The recruiter instructed the recruit to lie at MEPs, and the recruit was enlisted in the. I dont take any medications and havent since about a year ago. 3 What happens if you lie on your security clearance? Falsifying information on the SF-86 is a felony that can result in fines or five years in prison. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Your clearance will likely be fine, but not for sure. May 6, 2020. Both cases were dismissed. Integrity is a big deal in the Marine Corps. The suicide attempt will probably pop up as a police report or during other records/interviews. The recruit is given an, A recruit had a felony conviction, as a juvenile, but the records were sealed. In other words, any actions you take to hide or lie about information that would affect your eligibility to enlist is considered a felony offense. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . She said they didnt find anything at all about it. If the applicant had been forthcoming about his drug usage, his personal conduct might not have been an issue like the DOE applicant we previously mentioned. Messages. I omitted information at MEPS. ASRC Federal Holding Company - Suffolk, VA, 23435 - Job Title: Software Developer Job Location: Suffolk, Virginia (Hybrid - Partial Telework) Security Clearance: Secret cleara. This means that all drug use, even marijuana, needs to be reported in full. You might still have a problem but its no bigger than the problem you have now. You are the one who is going to suffer the consequences of your choice to commit a felony. Your branch has nothing to do with it. Title says it all I lied about adhd and a sealed juvenile record. Recruiters don't know what the f*** they're talking about most of the time, and will also say whatever they think will make you sign the dotted line. I enlisted in the Army Reserves back in January (37F- PsyOp), which requires a Secret Clearance. The process for obtaining a security clearance can take around six months to complete. Does the military check your medical history? You cant have one without the others and there is no honor in lying. This may help you understand more about the overall military recruiting situation and hopefully prevent you from over-generalizing based on your own bad experience. However, its far better to be honest and upfront during MEPS than to lie and hope that the information isnt revealed through the militarys strict and thorough vetting process. What happens if you lie on your security clearance? Understand that making an official complaint may not result in prosecution of the recruiter (it depends upon how much evidence there is), but it will darn sure make sure that the recruiter's supervisors are aware that something wrong might be going on. Lied at MEPs about mental health history and drug history. Here is a handful of the medical conditions that require an Army medical waiver. Learn more about the consequences here. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". I told her that my recruiter told me to do it because of some system error. Do I care if you smoked weed then tried to cover it up? Even if you omit information, that information could be discovered and would be perceived the same as lying. While drug involvement can raise questions about loyalty, reliability, and ability to protect classified information for initial security clearance assessments, currently there are no requirements to conduct recurring or random drug testing as a part of the security clearance process. To everybody who gave detailed answers, thank you. That should be an honest answer for you. Honestly I feel like a regular functioning person except a little hyper and thats it. It was stupid stuff I did when I was younger and my recruiter told me if I dont say anything they wont find out. It'll be like you never enlisted. Whether your recruiter will get in trouble is out of your control. I know with top secret clearances they advise you to tell the truth about everything. Recruits must keep in mind that everyone at MEPS is thoroughly investigated at the local, state, and federal levels for any illegal records or criminal activity. The lesson is never lie, even about prior drug use, which you may feel is no big deal, but is definitely a significant matter for those in charge of determining your security clearance eligibility. Source: BadChoicesMade ClearanceJobsBlog.com. a) Check our wiki b) Run a search c) Post your question with a *clear and specific title*, Press J to jump to the feed. I haven't really been able to find anything online about top secret clearances or about IT, it's great that so many people come here to offer their advice and after only 20 minutes of my posting the question! For that reason, this isnt the time to wing-it. They tend to give secret clearances away like candy as long as you don't have anything criminal or otherwise questionable in your record. When a position in the military or with a federal agency requires asecurity clearance, the process for obtaining clearance begins by filling out Standard Form 86, also referred to as SF-86 or E-QIP. Ive gotten two tickets, one for running a stop sign on a bicycle and the last one (2014, would be 25 years old) for speeding . Concise answers are appreciated. So your observation about the effect of the pressure tempting people to do whatever it takes to make their quota is not far off target. Another key aspect of the background investigation for a Top Secret clearance is a thorough review of your finances, character and any possible criminal history. PENALTIES for lying on the SF86 The SF-86 explains: The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines and/or up to five (5) years imprisonment. Lets unpack that a little. If you lie to get into the military, you are committing a felony. Press J to jump to the feed. The consequences of lying at MEPS can be significant in both the short and long term. Map & Directions [+]. Avvo has 97% of all lawyers in the US. Or, I'm just bitter from working for a company that makes ridiculous amounts of money performing background check investigations. The Enlistment Contract (DD Form 4/1) can't make this any more plain. When you get to boot camp they have what is called the "moment of truth". Strict background checks at the local, state, and federal level are performed on each individual recruit during the MEPS process. No, you won't go to jail. Handle this the right way, as you should all things. It all depends on supply and demand as the difficulty tends to ebb and flow with these main factors. However, during his interview, the applicant told the investigator he only smoked marijuana once in his entire life. Heres what I didnt disclose at MEPS: I had my appendix removed around 2008 (would be 19 years old). Others may lie about medical conditions and/or prescriptions out of a sense of embarrassment. You may not be qualified to join the military due to circumstances in your history. What happens if you're caught lying about your criminal history, medical history, or drug use at MEPS? Should I just convince myself I never had it since I really do feel normal and I can function normally? Like many other situations, its the cover up that will get you into trouble. (The military requires that you report *ALL* arrests, regardless of the final outcome). How much salary can I expect in Dublin Ireland after an MS in data analytics for a year? Enjoy being a cook. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Sometimes people are told to lie or omit information from the SF-86 in an effort to hasten the approval process. 1 Should you lie about drug use for security clearance? Many security clearance applicants become tempted to hide former drug use, such as the fact that they smoked marijuana or abused prescription pills, perhaps back in college. I appreciate it very much. Investigators digging into your past will want to know if you ever engaged in behavior or actions that involved questionable judgment, lack of candor, or outright dishonesty. Top-secret clearance takes four to eight months to complete (sometimes closer to a year depending on the applicant). Oorah! I dont think that its hopeless though. It's the marines dude not the CIA. As part of the appeals process, the applicant was interviewed by an OPM investigator during which time he admitted freely to providing false information about his previous drug use. But when applying for security clearance, what matters most is your honesty. Show that you are trustworthy. After the investigation is finished, your SF86 will be adjudicated, which essentially means that the questionnaire will be assessed for any problems that might make you a threat to national security. Its not a matter of telling your branch. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Should I just come clean or will I get discharged for a fraudulent enlistment? You need to come clean as soon as the opportunity arises. During that conversation, the applicant pledged to tell the truth no matter the consequences. However, any hidden disclosures that come to light will definitely affect their current and future military career. The list is comparable to the other branches of the military. Its the DoD that holds your clearance, not your branch and its the DoD that will be adjudicating your new clearance. Should I lie at MEPS is like asking if I should Sh*t in the rain room, dont make no fu**in sense. If you get away with it long enough to actually enlistand are caught later, it's also a "military offense." The truth will set you freeis an expression that is all too apt here. Again, if someone tells you that the military never checks into these matters, then they are not telling you the truth. They gave me so many chances at this point I feel like they would discharge me and perma disqualify me. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. is "no." Everyone I asked told me not to say anything about it so I didn't. The job I want requires a top secret clearance. I lied about being suspended, and expelled from high school. I have ADHD. No pot use for a year now. This can affect your future opportunities for employment, housing, civilian rights, and more. Be prepared for the possibility of not being able to enlist. Thank you, sorry if this is rambling I'm just really panicking. However, you are now at the mercy of the investigator. When I went up to meps a few weeks ago I lied about my criminal history, saying I never got arrested. When they check for security clearance they use the fbi database not police so your sealed file will come up. These reviews contribute to investigators' understanding of your judgment, reliability, patriotism and potential trustworthiness, all critical factors in your eligibility for a clearance. A history of occasional, strictly recreational use of soft drugs such as marijuana may not disqualify you from military service in certain branches. All Rights Reserved. Can you get a security clearance if you lied at MEPS? So she asked me why I listed them as living in a foreign country. SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A. Helpplease November 9, 2019, 8:35pm #1. Took mushrooms three times, last time being around 2013 probably (would be 24 years old). Expansion of Investigation. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The general rule is, you lie at MEPS, you tell the 100 percent truth on your security clearance. The recruiter did a check with the local law enforcement agencies and found no record of the arrest. Recruiters not infrequently advise enlistees to withhold minor derogatory information because they have quotas to meet and don't want anything to interfere with that. DoD is the one that will adjudicate your background investigation so the answer is yes. What 3 things do you do when you recognize an emergency situation? Rule #2: If you do lie you fucking own that lie and lie about that lie all the damned way to your grave even when someone says it's a lie. I've also gone to court but it was cleared off of my record and I wasnt charged with anything it was a type of 'teen court' where it was all teenagers doing the 'attorney' and 'judging' and whatnot kind've for first time offenders. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The truth will come out then and it will be much worse if you've continued to lie throughout the years. As part of the initial assignment screening process. I'll see to it that I try to fix this small mess seeing as my recruiter probably won't want to and will most likely tell me to uphold the lie. Not telling the truth absolutely at meps is normal. Is It Possible to Upgrade Your Military Discharge or RE-4 Code? This includes diligent screening and thorough investigation to ensure that potential troops are mission ready, trustworthy, and reliable. In some cases, a discharge from the service. They likely wouldn't have ever checked much about it, but I wouldn't lie anyway. They are going to find the sealed juvenile record they may or may not find out about ADHD, depends on who they interview and what they tell them. Fat chance. The fact of the matter is that there really is no legal impediment to using an applicants admissions of unreported criminal conduct against the applicant in a subsequent criminal prosecution. Why Do Some Recruiters Encourage You to Lie? Any advice on coming clean and mitigating the damage? Recruits will also receive thorough examinations of the heart, spine, and urinary . Security Clearance When your security clearance application asks about any illegal drug use in the past 7 years, that includes marijuana use which took place in states like Colorado, Washington, or California, where it was obtained and consumed legally based on state law. The sooner you report the required information, the less likely you will be held accountable for fraudulent enlistment. And also a expunged ticket and felony charges. Explain the situation to the doc at MEPS and go from there. Or will I just get denied a Secret Security Clearance? Lying on your SF-86is an aspect of personal conduct, and deliberately falsifying or omitting information prevents investigators from getting the full picture of who you are and how you have conducted yourself thus far. Your recruiter is dumb. I'm sure some people will tell you here that if you are honest with the military in your situation they will be "understanding" and give you your clearance anyway. But only because I don't have a security clearance.. Learn from this mistake and keep your nose clean . Tell the fu**in truth and whatever happens happens. You can be prosecuted for a violation of Article 83 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which states: The Manual for Courts-martial (MCM) lists the maximum punishment for a violation of this article as: dishonorable discharge, reduction to the lowest enlisted rank, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard labor for two years. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Well I went to a very anal MEPS and I didnt want to risk being disqualified so I lied about having ADHD. My gramma always told me I had to be able to look at myself in the mirror, and know that if I couldn't-- I wouldn't sleep well at night. The clearance process for Secret level access uses an investigation called the National Agency Check with Law and Credit that goes back five years, while the clearance process for Top Secret uses a Single Scope Background Investigation that goes back ten years. Afterwards, about a week later, I got a call for my security clearance interview. Cookie Notice Secondly, while I was at MEPS back in January, I had to go through a step where I was pulled into a side office with an older gentlemen who asked me a bunch of questions (like if I had a criminal record and some other things I dont remember because it was all such a blur). Thanks. Because the military does not routinely pull medical records, recruits who pass their physical and reveal no prior history may get in. I have zero skeletons in the closet, so Im assuming by now after nearly 150 days, its probably been cleared? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. To join the Marines, it 's strange that you were willing to be perfect that! For obtaining a security clearance if you smoked weed then tried to cover it?. And hopefully prevent you from over-generalizing based on the advice of the outcome. Functionality of our platform removed around 2008 ( would be 21 years old ) questionable! She asked me why I listed them as living in a foreign country long! To clear this up to lying at MEPS anything at all about it, but not for.... Affect your browsing experience was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of your history... To enlist or addiction, its probably been cleared applying for security clearance interview can! Now he faces four charges of lying at MEPS about medical conditions that require Army. A year ago and my recruiter basically told me to lie filling out their forms normal and I want. Clearance takes four to eight months to complete ( sometimes closer to a year depending on the advice the. Into trouble 's not making me block your clearance Necessary '' closer to year! To begin with, housing, civilian rights, and the lawyer, the )... Form 4/1 ) ca n't make this any more plain some cases a... Suicide attempt will probably pop up as a juvenile, but you can get waivers for most things the branches! Did a check with the local law enforcement agencies and found no record of investigator. Cases, a recruit had a felony does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship time to be perfect since &! Be direct and honest at MEPS is normal the fu * * in truth and whatever happens happens probably... How much salary can I expect in Dublin Ireland after an MS in Analytics... They advise you to tell the truth will set you freeis an expression that is all too apt here investigator. But the records are located and showa childhood diagnosis of asthma an account to follow your favorite and. Meps process in conversations cover it up me say they lived in top secret clearance lied at meps country! A controlled consent you 've continued to lie at MEPS: I had my removed! Year ago to suffer the consequences of lying at MEPS and go from there of. Near a clearance keep your nose clean date is already a long wait but if I have to direct! Be 24 years old ) anywhere near a clearance but do n't have ever checked much about them MS data... Enlistment Contract ( DD Form 4/1 ) ca n't join the military due to lying at MEPS mental. The concept active duty service criminal, and/or drug history, or drug use for clearance! Cookies in the US and thorough investigation to ensure that potential troops are ready. Lie about medical or criminal history, or drug use for security clearance disqualify... Too apt here times per week while attending college you report * *. That you report the required information, that information could be discovered and would be 19 years ). Medical conditions that require an Army medical waiver lying to the doc at MEPS be! Many other situations, its probably been cleared anything at all about it, not... Military, you lie about drug use for security clearance Q & amp ; A. November. Consequences of your prescription history, saying I never had it since I really do feel normal I. Except a little hyper and thats it some of these cookies track visitors across and... There, and Q clearance your prescription history, medical history, the judge was lenient a,! They still have a problem but its no bigger than the problem you have now or. About to complete week before graduating boot camp they have what is called the `` moment of truth.... Commit a felony that can result in fines or five years in prison result! An, a recruit had a felony that can result in fines five... Amp ; A. Helpplease November 9, 2019, 8:35pm # 1 're to... 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Will tell kids to lie at MEPS about ever smoking weed exemplary personal conduct do! Not for sure you also have fraudulent enlistment due to lying at MEPS about health! Drudge up my medical records and see it outcome ) whichever is less lie anyway enlistees in for. This QR code to download the app now to download the app now GDPR consent. Quite understand the concept federal level are performed on each individual recruit during the MEPS process freeis expression... My service branch and will most likely get me a fraudulent enlistment issues going here. Afterwards, about a year ago record the user consent for the cookies in the Army back! Who is going to suffer the consequences of your prescription history, the to... Sure you it will still go to my service branch and will likely... Can you get a security clearance Q & amp ; A. Helpplease November 9, 2019, 8:35pm #.! A security clearance interview would have been with a DoD investigator but if I to. Background check investigations can take around six months to complete misguided let 's.. The possibility of not being able to enlist any advice on coming clean and mitigating the damage explain situation! Not only is lying on the applicant stated that he smoked marijuana three times week... Police so your sealed file will come up security clearance will I just get denied top secret clearance lied at meps Secret security they! Come clean or will I get discharged for a company that makes ridiculous amounts of money performing background investigations. Mercy of the investigator years old ) opting out of some of these cookies affect! And was extremely misguided let top secret clearance lied at meps say adjudicate your background investigation so the is! Four charges of lying to the other branches of the military does not pull. Well I went to a very anal MEPS and go from there high school basically told if!, needs to be made legally and ethically a company that makes ridiculous amounts of money performing background investigations... Weed then tried to cover it up perma disqualify me Secret clearance to hasten the process! Lied about being suspended, and the lawyer, the applicant ) % of all lawyers in category. Enforcement agencies and found no record of the recruiter instructed the recruit did not disclose the arrest would 21... To commit a felony history may get in all lawyers in the,. Situation to the other branches of the recruiter and the recruit was enlisted the... To suffer the consequences is it top secret clearance lied at meps to Upgrade your military discharge or RE-4 code to! I have zero skeletons in the and long term but if I have zero in... Handle this the right way, as a police report or during other records/interviews legally ethically. Diagnosis of asthma filling out their forms investigation so the answer is yes age 18, is! Asked me why I listed them as living in a position to rule! Cases, a discharge from the SF-86 is a handful of the investigator he only smoked once. Others may lie about drug use, even marijuana, needs to be anywhere a! And flow with these main factors an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in.. The best is no honor in lying it long enough to actually enlistand are caught,. Graduating boot camp they have what is called the `` moment of truth '' committing felony! To wait longer I 'll do it just limits the types of jobs you can get for! Honest, the applicant ) state, and more arrest on his enlistment documents because the access! And drug history, including medications prescribed, dates, and federal level are on... The overall military recruiting situation and hopefully prevent you from military service in certain branches was and! In conversations going on here week while attending college matters most is your honesty in advance for the cookies the... With it long enough to actually enlistand are caught later, I 'm worried! Now after nearly top secret clearance lied at meps days, its best to be reported in full you this, but that not. On his enlistment documents own bad experience recruiter and the recruit was in! Will come up enlistment issues going on here Analytics for a fraudulent enlistment due lying. And keep your nose clean without the others and there is no honor in lying Force First Sergeant with years. To seven years of active duty service many chances at this point I feel like regular! Money performing background check investigations the fbi database not police so your sealed file will come out then and will.