NUKE questions.

[jdteegardin1]

okay, i jsut signed my nuke contract and i have a few questions.
1: how long does it take to get a security clearance?
2: what is the process for getting a security clearance?
3: will i know when my clearance came in?
4: my ship date is 20141029. will it be cold when i go?
5: can i get an earlier ship date?
6: when i went to my first DEP meeting, some of the people there had this id card. what is that for and am i required one?

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by jdteegardin1

okay, i jsut signed my nuke contract and i have a few questions.
1: how long does it take to get a security clearance?
2: what is the process for getting a security clearance?
3: will i know when my clearance came in?
4: my ship date is 20141029. will it be cold when i go?
5: can i get an earlier ship date?
6: when i went to my first DEP meeting, some of the people there had this id card. what is that for and am i required one?

I'll save the Nuke-specific questions for the folks in your program... but for clearance questions:

1. A Secret clearance will take about 1-2 months from the date it's started, to when it's granted... it's all basically irrelevant to you though, because everything for a Secret is done without your participation and you'll just get it while in DEP. It's possible you may need to have in in-person interview if your recruiter sucks at filling out the paperwork... but most don't.

2. First, you'll fill out an SF-86... that's the standard government form for all levels of clearance from Secret to SCI. Once MEPS submits your paperwork, someone from the Office of Personnel Management will get assigned your case and will conduct a National Agency check... this is an inquiry of FBI, state, county, and local law enforcement databases for all places you've lived or worked. OPM will also check your credit history and Social Security records to verify all employment data was disclosed. As long as you don't lie on your paperwork, you'll be granted a clearance.

3. Nope... the only way to check your access level is through sites that require a Common Access Card (Military ID). If you don't hear anything by the time you leave for RTC, you have a clearance. At some point during basic, you should have a chance to log into various .mil websites and can check your clearance level then.

4. I was in Great Lakes as a recruit from 18 September to 16 November... we got our first snowfall my last week there. It'll be cold, but not freezing.

5. It's possible, but rare... talk to your recruiter about submitting a DEP Action Request, or DAR.

6. That's a DEP ID, which is kinda sorta technically a military ID... I was able to get access to the local Coast Guard base with it, and you can see if places will offer you a military discount. Other than that, it serves no real purpose.

[jdteegardin1]

so how can i get one of the dep id's? do i just ask my recruiter?

[Atom_breaker]

Originally Posted by jdteegardin1

so how can i get one of the dep id's? do i just ask my recruiter?

Our office doesn't have any. Just said to use our conrtact if we needed proof to do anything military related.

[Atom_breaker]

Originally Posted by jdteegardin1

5: can i get an earlier ship date?

My recruiting station has basically told me NO. and for the most part that's the answers online, I have seen posts from two or three people that got earlier dates, but they were because someone in their district could not ship when they were originally scheduled so that date is passed on to the next person in line. The NUKE pipeline is just super over crowded, and my recruiter said the school in Ballston Spa, is closed for remodeling, which makes the process even tighter of a squeeze.

[drego86]

Originally Posted by Atom_breaker

My recruiting station has basically told me NO. and for the most part that's the answers online, I have seen posts from two or three people that got earlier dates, but they were because someone in their district could not ship when they were originally scheduled so that date is passed on to the next person in line. The NUKE pipeline is just super over crowded, and my recruiter said the school in Ballston Spa, is closed for remodeling, which makes the process even tighter of a squeeze.

The prototype in New York only affects those who are done with power school. I keep hearing rumors that say the prototype is closed but I haven't seen anything to validate that.

[rbmorgan]

Originally Posted by jdteegardin1

okay, i jsut signed my nuke contract and i have a few questions.
1: how long does it take to get a security clearance?
2: what is the process for getting a security clearance?
3: will i know when my clearance came in?
4: my ship date is 20141029. will it be cold when i go?
5: can i get an earlier ship date?
6: when i went to my first DEP meeting, some of the people there had this id card. what is that for and am i required one?

5. I saw a few people comment on this one and thought I would share my personal experience with this question. I signed my nuke contract in January and am due to leave in August. My Chief has offered me 3 separate times to leave in March, May, and June. Spots for nuke open up randomly is what he told me due to various reasons such as security clearance issues. Put the word in to your recruiter that if a spot opens you would be willing to leave early. Then with a little luck one will and you can jump on it, you never know. Hope that helps.

[Atom_breaker]

Originally Posted by rbmorgan

5. I saw a few people comment on this one and thought I would share my personal experience with this question. I signed my nuke contract in January and am due to leave in August. My Chief has offered me 3 separate times to leave in March, May, and June. Spots for nuke open up randomly is what he told me due to various reasons such as security clearance issues. Put the word in to your recruiter that if a spot opens you would be willing to leave early. Then with a little luck one will and you can jump on it, you never know. Hope that helps.

My recruiter made me laugh he said if they call he will tell them "he is ready to ship. His bags are packed and under my desk." I guess that was he way of telling me he will handle it to quit bugging him.

[blange94]

What's the SC for Nuke?

[Atom_breaker]

Originally Posted by blange94

What's the SC for Nuke?

Secret

[blange94]

Originally Posted by Atom_breaker

Secret

Thats what I thought but I was hearing other wise. Thanks!

[Atom_breaker]

Originally Posted by rbmorgan

5. I saw a few people comment on this one and thought I would share my personal experience with this question. I signed my nuke contract in January and am due to leave in August. My Chief has offered me 3 separate times to leave in March, May, and June. Spots for nuke open up randomly is what he told me due to various reasons such as security clearance issues. Put the word in to your recruiter that if a spot opens you would be willing to leave early. Then with a little luck one will and you can jump on it, you never know. Hope that helps.

I was offered one in June, didn't get it, offered one to ship in July, and it went through. So I will leave about a month early..

[rbmorgan]

Originally Posted by Atom_breaker

I was offered one in June, didn't get it, offered one to ship in July, and it went through. So I will leave about a month early..

Congrats, I leave August 12th so I will see you down in Charleston for school I'm sure.

[erik1o2]

I know this may sound weird, and i know there isn't much free time at power school, but would i be allowed to have my guitar at power school to play for recreation on weekends?

[drego86]

Originally Posted by erik1o2

I know this may sound weird, and i know there isn't much free time at power school, but would i be allowed to have my guitar at power school to play for recreation on weekends?

Yes, you can bring it to the smoke pit and join everyone else who was a guitar...

[ashugan]

Originally Posted by Atom_breaker

I was offered one in June, didn't get it, offered one to ship in July, and it went through. So I will leave about a month early..

Did you have to have your clearance before he let you leave early? My recruiter said there are several spots open but that I can't put in the DAR until after I have my SC interview.

[drego86]

I never got a security clearance interview... I mean if it was at MEPS along with all the other stuff then maybe I guess. But we have guys that have to wait extra time after A school because they don't have their clearance yet. Just food for thought. I'm not saying your recruiter is wrong. I just never had to "wait for my clearance interview" ever.

[ashugan]

Originally Posted by drego86

I never got a security clearance interview... I mean if it was at MEPS along with all the other stuff then maybe I guess. But we have guys that have to wait extra time after A school because they don't have their clearance yet. Just food for thought. I'm not saying your recruiter is wrong. I just never had to "wait for my clearance interview" ever.

Hmm, interesting. Well, I have asked him multiple times about it and have been given the same answer, every time. My recruiter has been extremely helpful throughout the process, and I don't see any reason for him to be lying to me. However, I've seen multiple posts on the internet of people getting to leave earlier and nothing about waiting for an interview. Weird