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Personal Conduct

The Concern: Conduct involving questionable judgment, untrustworthiness, unreliability, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations could indicate that the person may not properly safeguard classified information. The following will normally result in an unfavorable clearance action or administrative termination of further processing for clearance eligibility:

1. Refusal to undergo or cooperate with required security processing, including medical and psychological testing; or
2. Refusal to complete required security forms, releases, or provide full, frank and truthful answers to lawful questions of investigators, security officials or other official representatives in connection with a personnel security or trustworthiness determination.

Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying also include:
1. Reliable, unfavorable information provided by associates, employers, coworkers, neighbors, and other acquaintances;
2. The deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification of relevant and material facts from any personnel security questionnaire, personal history statement, or similar form used to conduct investigations, determine employment qualifications, award benefits or status, determine security clearance eligibility or trustworthiness, or award fiduciary responsibilities;
3. Deliberately providing false or misleading information concerning relevant and material matters to an investigator, security official, competent medical authority, or other official representative in connection with a personnel security or trustworthiness determination;
4. Personal conduct or concealment of information that may increase an individual's vulnerability to coercion, exploitation or duress, such as engaging in activities which, if known, may affect the person's personal, professional, or community standing or render the person susceptible to blackmail;
5. A pattern of dishonesty or rule violations, including violation of any written or recorded agreement made between the individual and the agency; or
6. Association with persons involved in criminal activity.

Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
1. The information was unsubstantiated or not pertinent to a determination of judgment, trustworthiness, or reliability;
2. The falsification was an isolated incident, was not recent, and the individual has subsequently provided correct information voluntarily;
3. The individual made prompt, good-faith efforts to correct the falsification before being confronted with the facts;
4. Omission of material facts was caused or significantly contributed to by improper or inadequate advice of authorized personnel, and the previously omitted information was promptly and fully provided;
5. The individual has taken positive steps to significantly reduce or eliminate vulnerability to coercion, exploitation, or duress;
6. A refusal to cooperate was based on advice from legal counsel or other officials that the individual was not required to comply with security processing requirements, and upon being made aware of the requirement, fully and truthfully provided the requested information; or
7. Association with persons involved in criminal activities has ceased.