Hi all…
I want to join the Army Reserves (with the intention of going active after college). I’ve taken the ASVAB and I qualified for just about every job available...but I want to work in intelligence analysis. I qualified for the top security clearance, but I’m worried. My recruiter knows I’ve been to Israel a lot, and I’ve got a lot of Israeli friends, but I think it just occurred to him that I’m Jewish. I know that there are numerous reasons that someone can be disqualified for security clearance, and I’m worried that I will be because they think I might have divided loyalties. Obviously, I don’t. Does anyone have any experience with this? Or any advice?
Thanks
Devon

No as long as you notified them

I also had a job with a very high security clearance. I was a nuclear missile launch officer (Missileer). As you can imagine, launch codes and strategic targets require a special clearance. When I had my interview with the security agent I had just come back from a trip to Israel and had made some friends there. As is turned out I never spoke to any of them again, but I didn’t know that would happen at the time. My clearance took a while to be processed, but there was a very big backlog at the time (1999) and I had a lot of friends also waiting for their security clearances. In fact my squadron created an entire flight of nothing but people who couldn’t do their job because of a lack of clearance. Eventually it was granted and there were no other problems.
Now that I’m in the chaplain service I don’t require as high a clearance, but I’ve also spent a bit more time studying in Israel. My current clearance was granted quickly and without any problems. I suspect that has something to do with having previously held a higher clearance, but I haven’t heard any stories of other clearances being held up due to past travel to Israel or friends there. Holding dual citizenship is where you can run into problems.

You should have no problem with this.  You will be asked questions about your travels outside the U.S., just like anyone would, but being Jewish should have little to no affect on the outcome.

Believe it or not, Israel is a high counter-intel country, so interaction with Israelis is examined a little closer than some others, but as long as all you are up front about all your relationships, you’ll be fine.

I’ve been to Israel and a laundry list of other countries and never had a problem.

Awesome, thanks everybody.

Jews make up a huge number of Army Intel folks.  It is a good field that requires you to use your head.  If you like to be more in the field, try going Counter Intelligence.

As for the clearance process, just be honest.  If you do not remember exactly (such as dates) there are places to note that you approximated or estimated the answer.  Foreign travel is not a problem unless you were engaged in drug traffic or crime or such.

Even though Devon brushed it off, I’d like to bring it back up. Might there be an issue of a conflict of interest? I mean, if I’m asked to spy on Israel, I’ll probably do it, but I’d rather not be put into that situation. Does anyone know if that might become a problem?

Chaim Shmuel - 23 April 2008 06:42 PM

Even though Devon brushed it off, I’d like to bring it back up. Might there be an issue of a conflict of interest? I mean, if I’m asked to spy on Israel, I’ll probably do it, but I’d rather not be put into that situation. Does anyone know if that might become a problem?

Your cringe for this morning.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080422/ts_nm/usa_israel_spy_secret_dc_4

Do you realize how hard this makes it for all those who are Jewish and have a clearance? The Intel community is home to a lot of Jews. The research skills, language skills (Os often will have three languages by age 12), and the advanced education make Jews prime recruits for intel analysis.

What I put to young Jews who are thinking of going into the military (with a clearance) or into the IC is that they put the US above Israel. If this is where you have your citizenship and the government pays you salary then you have an obligation of loyalty. If you feel that the US is somehow not working with Israel, be honest and quit. But do not spy.

Why there are those in Israel who push spying on the US is beyond me. What is needed is for the US and Israel to be more honest with each other.

Yeah, I heard about that from military.com. It’s really scary, but it doesn’t surprise me. I think, at the end of the day, all countries spy on each other simply because you never know what’ll happen tomorrow. But you’re really right. I follow the flag in my avatar- the same one that’s pinned to my suit jacket, and that’s the end of that.

Hello,
Based on your initial post, I see that you are intending joining the reserves and then going active after college.  Are you doing ROTC?  If that’s the case, remember that you are able to list branches in order of preference but are not guaranteed anything.  Some of my buddies found that out the hard way after four years of work.  So, just some food for thought.  Best of luck.

Hey,
I am now awaiting clearance for my secret clearence too, and before I came to west point I was in Israel and even trained with IDF units, and was in an IDF uniform for some of that, and they said it would be no probalem at all. Just make sure to note it, and not hide anything.

Also remeber while i personaly value Israel highly and one day plan on moving there permanently, but while I serve in america I will do nothing to have others look down on Jews in a poor manner, as this is a biblical prohibition.