Author Archive

Marko Hakamaa

Marko Hakamaa served in various military police positions with the United States Army worldwide for 22 years before retiring in 2006 as a Master Sergeant. Afterwards, he transitioned into the civilian workforce as a contractor background investigator for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before entering civil service as a Security Specialist in 2009.

Security Clearance Process

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Can individuals access classified national security information without having undergone the background investigation process and been granted a security clearance?  Normally the answer is no, but there are certain instances where the requirement is waived.  Here are some of the exceptions: The President and members of the U.S. Senate and

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Career Advice

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As a security professional I do a lot of reading and research to keep up with the constant changes in my chosen career field.  During the course of my reading I have come to the conclusion that many people who apply for federal contractor or civil servant positions seem confused

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Obtaining Security Clearance

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Despite the fact that in today’s high tech society nearly everyone has instant access to a sea of information via the internet, an important requirement for males living in the U.S. is quite often overlooked or discounted.  The Selective Training and Service Act  instituted in 1940, temporarily suspended in 1975,

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Background InvestigationsSecurity Clearance Process

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Most security clearance applications that are rejected by the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are due to missing or incomplete information. Applicants can help expedite the clearance process by ensuring their application is filled out completely and accurately with current phone numbers, addresses, and

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