bad credit?

[Anonymous]

i'm just wondering if i have bad credit through no fault of my own(i didn't have a job and my husband was overloaded with bills), will this affect my MOS, which is psyops?. How extensive a background check will they do? If i can't get into this particular MOS because of credit, which MOS's should i go for? I also have an interest in mental health. Do they do a background on that one too? thank you, marie

marienunez@excite.com

[Anonymous]

Depending on what area you work in will dictate what clearance you will get. If it's at the Secret level, then yes, be up front and let them know. It's not a real extensive check, but it's pretty complete. If you have to get one of the Top Secret's then they are going to dig into every corner of your life, to include going back and checking with neighbors and such from when you were a kid. They will completely disect your life.

It won't be so much bad credit, as it will be patterns they are looking for. Many people get themselves into a crunch, it's how you're digging out that they look at. But the bottom line is, beat them to the punch and tell them. Don't let them discover it, that where you can run into problems.

When you apply for clearances, again depending on the level, you will go through an interview. Answer all questions truthfully and if they ask you is there something else they should know, give it to them full guns, even if it seems ridiculous. You're going into a very secure area and they are testing your trustworthiness, not so much looking for mistakes you've made throughout your life, just can you be trusted. They realize people (especially when they are young) make mistakes, but it's how you recovered and how honest you are about it that they are looking at.

I know people who are able to get Secret clearances, but not Top Secret. It happens. This was because they were in very sensitive areas. My ex had a Top Secret NAC and he had very bad credit, so you see it is possible to get the clearance. But be aware, they will be watching.

If the clearance keeps you out of psyops, then by all means go mental health. It's an expanding field and soldiers have many and quite a variety of problems. Someone has to help them. The Army is a high stress job that tries on relationships and the mind. Mental Health is a good field and a useful one to get into should you decide to leave the service when your time is up. Psyops is a little harder to translate into the civilian world with.

As for background checks everyone entering the service must go through an initial one. The main thing to remember is to answer all questions truthfully. The consequences for lieing are not pleasant depending on when they find out the truth. If it's right away, it's a slap on the hand and denial of service, if it's during your enlistment, you are charged with fraudulent enlistment and discharged for the service with anything from a General to a Bad Conduct Discharge. Something that will follow you throughout your civilian working life.

[Anonymous]

Paula, I have 91Quebec as my MOS, which is a pharmacy technician. Does this require secret or top secret codes, since it deals with prescription drugs? I have bad credit... I wonder if my credit will hurt this? Also, I already signed and swore in even though I have not left yet for basic, and my contract has this job on it... does this mean they have already done my credit check and approved me? Maggie

maggie00@hotmail.com