Clearance BS

[Gabriele]

I've been getting a lot of replies, "gee you have a good background, but your clearenence is only this level and we require at least that level, etc. Yet companies do bring in people at a lower level and work to get them the higher level and then of course you have the requirements and policy's that say you can only have a clearance at the highest level the project requires, etc.

So, does anyone know exactly what levels are required, how do you get an upgrade, etc.

I have been told with a secret level you can get an interim TS, but all I seem to get is BS answers from these companies.

Then if I get the clearance I will probably get the, well you aren't certified on "our equipment".

I've heard that it is possible to get cleared/certified by OBO and the State Department to start up your own business to do the work.

Maybe that's the answer if these telecom companies want to play their BS games.

[HeadRat]

as I'm sure you know by now, getting your foot in the door is the hardest part.

[Soy Cowboy]

:banghead Hi Gabrielle,
I thought I had a few semi intelligent answers / comments for you this AM when I saw your post but, SInce the I have a tel com sub just arrived I thought I would pump him for a little info for you.
1) Not quite As I was going to say---Most, ( but not all as I thought ----) telecom jobs have an OBO req for a TS, but some don't where I am now it only requires a secret.
2) OBO came up with a requirement for type / brand certification but my sub told me it is not all but a minimum of over half of the people must be brand certified.
3) And BIX is the brand they use, so see what you can do and get certified for Bix ---- one punch block is pretty damn much the same as the other...... Only OBO would OR Could think otherwise!!!! AND THEY DO!!
Best regards,
Soy Cowboy

[Justus]

Here is the exact wording from the Communication Systems specification on a current NEC project.

A. Installer Qualifications: Systems installer must have on staff a registered communication distribution designer (RCDD) certified by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI). Installation contractor field supervisor must be certified by BICSI at the technician level. Fifty percent of the installation crew must be either certified by BICSI at the installer level or have cable manufacturer certification for termination of cable. Submit resume of RCDD, Technicians, and Installers.
1. Certification must be from the same manufacturer for the product to be installed.
2. Cable manufacturer’s certification course must include a minimum of 50 percent of the source hours in hands on training by an instructor approved by the cable manufacturer.

[Gabriele]

Well, I used the BIX, Krone, 110 and 66 blocks at the Phnom Penh location, in fact the guy who oversees all the phone installation systems liked my work and praised my work on the MDF, as it was the first one that was completed as per the drawings we had, just a few minor changes were needed and he gave my resume and email to several companies that worked FOR him, and still I got the BS run a round.

Basicaly what is was is that "you" need to have a TS, but can work with a Interim TS, but they won't pick you up. I know it's because they use a 3 man crew and don't want a 4th or want another crew to take any work.

About the only phone systems they use today is Nortel and Mitel, both Canadian manfactuers as the rule states "North American" made.

I've got the the CompTIA CTP certification, NEC Certification and Avaya ACA, ACS certifications.

BICSI should only be just another minor hurdle.

[Pops]

I worked on 4 embassies with only a interim secret...no problem.

[emerse]

Who is this guys name who runs everything? There are some jobs out there where you can work on just with a Secret and some that you can't.

[toddlampiris]

Just read an article in Stars and Stripes, ALL contractor clearance apps currently in the system are on indefinite hold! DSS and DISCO are out of money!! I have an offer for Beijing with just my full Secret, supposed to be submitted for a TS, 'lotta good that'll do now...:banghead :kib:

[TheJester]

... supposed to be submitted for a TS...BE ABSOLUTELY SURE that you do NOT submit dual TS APPS!!! Only heard this story a 1000 or more times from an "old hand" (old in AGE not years overseas) that submitting more than one at once will cause an automatic cancel of BOTH.

[Expat]

Todd

What was the date of that articale. I would like to read it

[toddlampiris]

I'll look it up and post it this afternoon..

[Gabriele]

I worked on 4 embassies with only a interim secret...no problem.

I have one foot in the door with one company, but----------only if they self perform.

I don't have the info on the guy who came to inspect the cabling layout before the phone techs came in to do their work, but he was pleased with my work, especially after coming from the Kabul site (sorry if whoever did that job is on this board), but the seemed not to know what they were doing. He even showed a picture he had taken of the MDF.

The problem is that, with my clearance I can be bumped upto a interin TS, but the companies so far haven't offered me anything saying I needed or they were looking for Nortel techs. after me years of experience I know there isn't a whole lot of difference, plus the companies have said they would send me to school.

Maybe if the state department goes back to the US standards, Avaya (formally Lucent, AT&T, Western Electric) will get back in.

BE ABSOLUTELY SURE that you do NOT submit dual TS APPS!!! Only heard this story a 1000 or more times from an "old hand" (old in AGE not years overseas) that submitting more than one at once will cause an automatic cancel of BOTH.

Haven't heard that, but the security folks where I am now working have said that for those overseas, backgrund checks have been put on hold because there aren't any people to do those checks while overseas (yet I know mant guys who met with the RSO to update theirs). When the company tried to resubmit for mine, they were told there can only be one app in and it already was, so they could not reapply. I have been in for adjudication since last summer.

Always one finger pointing at another.

[toddlampiris]

Sorry all, couldn't cut and paste the article as we only have PDF viewers on our gov computers. Here is the link and info for the article.

http://www.estripes.osd.mil/index.php?archive=202703761764088209645088238789

Middle East Edition
Sunday April 30, 2006
Page 11
:banghead

[Gabriele]

OK, now they want to restart my investigation. And they want to verify all the illegals in the USA.

[Expat]

Thanks Todd:cheers
Interesting article that goes a long way to explain why it's taking forever to do my periodical review.

[toddlampiris]

My 'lil bro is an IT guy with Titian working for the Gov, it took 2.5 years for him to get his TSSCI investigation done!!!:wtf My full secret took 14Mos. DSS / DISCO really need to get their shiite together. OPM even took over a ton of the secret and below and cleared people on their own!:AR15

[Gabriele]

My 'lil bro is an IT guy with Titian working for the Gov, it took 2.5 years for him to get his TSSCI investigation done!!!:wtf My full secret took 14Mos. DSS / DISCO really need to get their shiite together. OPM even took over a ton of the secret and below and cleared people on their own!:AR15

Answers I have gotten is that due to the cutbacks, etc overseas investigations have been backlogged/halted or whatever, even though guys were getting their updates by the RSO. Mine has been in for adjudication, investigation stopped,because of my being overseas.

I think with Todd having to wait until his was completed was the best thing. I am told that for a TS it takes 2 years, where a S takes about a year, so if it takes nearly 2 years for a S, then imagine what a TS will take now. I was also told by the security manager here is that even the active duty military have been taking a pretty long time.

I have heard that the contract company that does the investigations has been turning over several times which also adds to delays.

I'm not sure if this was covered in Todd's post, but this is what I am being told.