Hi, Thanks in advance!
I am enlisting in the military and the MOS I want requires a SECRET Clearance. I have/had a juvenile record from when I was 17. I am currently 28. My case was dismissed, I was not found to be an adjudicate of the court, and the record is "sealed," expunged," "destroyed," "hidden." And every other word my lawyer could think of to indicate it is unavailable. My question is, do I disclose this to my recruiter? I know most will say "Yes! Of course! The Military will find EVERYTHING!"
However, I am a Nationally Registered Paramedic in Los Angeles. As part of my licensing and certification I had to be fingerprinted to undergo 3 to 4 background checks from Local Agency level to FBI and DOJ (Department of Justice). All of which came back with "NO ARREST" status. If the FBI and DOJ do not have information on my expunged record how will, (or can), the DoD get it? From my understanding they can’t, specifically because a SECRET clearance only does computer based background checks?
I was told by the judge and lawyer to answer "NO," to any questions asking if I was ever arrested or charged. I answered NO on my National Registry DOJ and FBI forms. I have renewed my License 2x since then.
What do you guys think on the matter? Are my records indeed expunged, or does the FBI and DOJ conduct very poor background checks? I do not want a waiver limiting my enlistment for a gross misunderstanding over a decade old. I would rather not enlist than enlist with a waiver and under certain conditions.
Does anyone have, or know someone who has, a Secret Clearance who omitted any juvenile info (As instructed by the Judge) on their SF-86 that was "sealed?"
****** Please keep in mind, I am a NATIONALLY REGISTERED Paramedic and as such have undergone background checks by the FBI and DOJ. I am also State, County, and City Licensed and Registered and have also undergone background checks on State, County, and Local levels. I have even submitted fingerprints and background information to the DOT (Dept of Transportation.) On all background forms I stayed consistent with what the judge told me as a juvenile. Which is that I have never been arrested or charged. I waited roughly 6 weeks to get my background cleared by FBI and DOJ and a little bit less time for my County and Local Agency check.
How do these background checks by FBI, DOJ, State, County, and Local Agency check differ from the background check for SECRET Clearance?
****If I now mention my juvenile record to the military, that can then lead to a slippery slope into my civilian career in which I have always contested that I have never been arrested or charged. Correct?
Technorati Tags: background checks, decade, department of justice, doj, fbi, gross misunderstanding, juvenile record, lawyer, local agency, national registry, paramedic, poor background, recruiter, secret clearance, sf 86, thanks in advance