Summary
An 82-year-old former Marine Corps member was denied a security clearance due to financial considerations under Guideline F. The applicant had multiple delinquent debts totaling approximately $21,641, which included several debts reported for collection, two cable bills, two medical accounts, and four judgments filed in 2012. Additionally, there were two $52 debts to the same phone company and multiple charged-off consumer debts.
While some debts were resolved, the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence of a responsible plan to address his overall financial issues. Disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guideline (AG) ¶ 19(a) and AG ¶ 19(c) were raised. Mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(a), AG ¶ 20(b), and AG ¶ 20(d) were applied.
Ultimately, the denial was based on the applicant's failure to provide sufficient evidence to mitigate the security concerns under Guideline F. The applicant did not demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or resolve debts, and insufficient recent documentation was provided to establish financial stability or a plan for addressing the outstanding obligations.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant did not provide sufficient evidence to mitigate the security concerns under Guideline F.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or resolve debts.
- Insufficient recent documentation was provided to establish financial stability or a plan for addressing debts.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)appliedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)appliedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlWhile the applicant's illness and caregiving responsibilities were considered, they did not sufficiently explain the ongoing financial issues.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay DebtsThe applicant did not provide enough information about how he planned to address his debts.
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedBehavior Unlikely to RecurInsufficient evidence was presented to conclude that financial issues would not recur.
Key Rule Quoted
“An applicant is responsible for presenting witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by applicant or proven by Department Counsel, and has the ultimate burden of persuasion as to obtaining a favorable security decision.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedOct 16, 2015
- Answer filedMay 31, 2016Initial answer was incomplete, completed later.
- Hearing held—Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
- Decision dateOct 3, 2017
Cite For
- Insufficient Evidence to Mitigate Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
- Failure to Demonstrate a Good-faith Effort to Resolve Debts
- Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions