The Army is low on counterintelligence agents and having a tough time getting new ones to training because it takes so long to run their background checks.
To move things along, Human Resources Command is temporarily letting 35L hopefuls start training while they wait for their clearances to come through.
Until Oct. 12, 2019, according to the November MILPER message, some of the requirements have been eased.
“The persistent security investigation backlog is negatively affecting MOS 35L and the Army’s ability to train and field a sufficient number of CI Agents,” the message said.
Soldiers serving in 35L still have to meet all the mandated MOS requirements, but they can now get orders to the Counterintelligence Special Agent Course before their security clearances are approved.
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The new requirements are:
- At least an interim secret clearance eligibility.
- An open tier 5 background investigation by the end of the first week of CISAC.
- At least an interim Top Secret with Sensitive Compartmented Information eligibility before graduation.
They won’t get their badge and credentials until a TS/SCI clearance is approved, the message said.
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.
