Security Clearance/SAHM

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I currently possess a government security clearance and am planning on quitting work at the end of the year to SAH with my daughter. We are also trying for baby #2. Ideally, I would be home until our second child reached school age. My biggest reservation is that I currently hold a high level clearance and work as a federal contractor. From what I've read, clearances are only good for two years when you leave the workforce. I initially got my clearance out of sheer luck and realize that most contractors require an active clearance as a part of the job description. Has anyone left the workforce, had your clearance expire and then successfully got back into the IC? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Your clearance is deactivated as soon as your job ends. It is usually easier to re-activate an already cleared person.

[Anonymous]

It would also depending on the time since your last background investigation. Within the five year window is normally not that big an issue, but beyond that, it normally requires a full investigation. The one benefit/advantage for you would be that you have been the process before. Would you be able to go part-time to at least keep your accesses active?

[Anonymous]

I don't think so- my job is pretty much all or nothing. I was originally cleared in the fall of 2008, so I am due for a 5 year any time now... maybe I will hang on until that's adjudicated and then call it quits.

[Anonymous]

I would also talk to your company if you are thinking about coming back in a few years. They might be able to give you a few hours of work on an ad-hoc basis -- just enough to keep your clearance active while you are staying home, and/or sponsor your clearance while you do a little bit of work as an independent contractor. Your job today might be all or nothing, but they might be able to find something else that is more flexible. If they value you and want you to come back in the future, they might be able to find a way to do this, assuming it is allowed by security rules (and I don't know either way if it is).

I have also heard that your clearance can be easily reactivated within the two year period after you leave the company, but after that, you have to start from square one. I would lean toward doing whatever you can to keep it active. There's too potential difficulty to get back into that lucky spot where someone is willing to submit you for a clearance. Good luck.