Summary
The applicant, a 34-year-old former Air Force staff sergeant, faced security clearance denial under Guideline F due to unresolved delinquent debts totaling $17,715. Despite some mitigating evidence, including proof of payments on one debt, the applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in addressing the majority of his financial obligations, leading to concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: a charged-off debt for $8,253 (1.a). a debt owed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for $4,626 (1.b). three charged-off debts for $2,272, $853, and one judgment for $892 owed to the same bank (1.c). a charged-off debt for $853 (1.d). a judgment for $892 owed to the same bank (1.e).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(b), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d). The decision turned on the following: The applicant provided insufficient evidence of progress in resolving delinquent debts; The applicant admitted responsibility for all debts listed in the SOR; The applicant failed to provide documentation proving payments or arrangements for most debts.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant provided insufficient evidence of progress in resolving delinquent debts.
- The applicant admitted responsibility for all debts listed in the SOR.
- The applicant failed to provide documentation proving payments or arrangements for most debts.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(b)raisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedThe Individual Has Received or Is Receiving Financial CounselingWhile the applicant received financial counseling, it did not sufficiently mitigate the overall financial concerns.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedThe Individual Initiated and Is Adhering to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant did not provide adequate evidence of good-faith efforts for most debts.
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedFeb 27, 2017
- Answer filedMar 22, 2017
- Hearing heldSep 18, 2017via video teleconference
- Decision dateJan 12, 2018
Cite For
- Insufficient Evidence of Financial Responsibility Under Guideline F
- Impact of Unresolved Debts on Security Clearance Eligibility
- Consideration of Mitigating Circumstances in Financial Issues