Re: security clearances?

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert]

Hi Robert,

I went through the security clearance process twice, one for Los Alamos 
and once for Alphatech.  Both experiences make me feel that it would not 
be something you would want to do.

For Los Alamos (a higher-level clearance), they fixated on the fact that 
I'd admitted to smoking pot at some point in my life.  The wanted the 
names of the people I'd smoked it with, which I refused to give.  This 
bothered them.  They interviewed a female friend of mine, and asked her 
whether I'd slept with her.  For Alphatech, they also had to come out 
for a special interview because I'd admitted to smoking pot.  These are 
not people in touch with everyday American reality.

In general, you can expect to have to answer questions about your 
personal habits, and to be asked for information on your friends and 
their personal habits, as well as having your friends be bothered with 
these sorts of questions. Unless you really want the job, I'd say to 
avoid anything requiring a security clearance.  It just isn't worth the 
annoyance.