Universal Intelligence

Security clearance can seem complicated to those not involved in the intelligence community (IC). However, the process is relatively simple. There are only three security clearances in the United States: confidential, secret, and top secret. These three clearances are evaluated against a historical timeline of information, which, in turn, assigns one of the clearances. Obtaining a clearance is simple, but certain factors can prolong the process and lead to denial or a lower clearance level than initially sought. The most common factors are drug usage, undeclared information on initial security clearance paperwork, foreign travel, and foreign contacts.

It is essential to understand that none of these factors change when assigned confidential, secret, or top-secret clearance levels. It is also necessary to know that these clearances do not grant access to “closely guarded” information but rather to a historical timeline. This means you will have access to information only if the event has already occurred. If an event is happening, going to happen, or is time-sensitive, you will not have access to it. Access to this information is highly selective and requires extensive counter-intelligence background checks, including baseline polygraphs.

These clearances are sensitive compartmented information (SCI) and special access programs (SAP). However, it is essential to note that the need-to-know (NTK) principle overrides these clearances. No known clearance grants you blanket access to everything in the United States. You could obtain every top echelon-based clearance, and the NTK would still limit you from something as simple as a weapons project contracted out to a defense company. NTK is not a clearance; it is a policy that gives access guidance along with your clearance.