Background investigations: Who needs them Published Jan. 28, 2008 By Capt. Kevin McMahon 14th Security Forces Squadron COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. -- Anyone who works on a military installation has probably had one or more conducted on them. Background checks are conducted to determine whether a person is eligible for access to classified information or is assigned to sensitive duties. It is important to the military to conduct these checks to determine a person's loyalty, reliability and trustworthiness is consistent with the interest of national security. Background investigations are conducted on all personnel working on a military installation and are determined based on what position the personnel holds within their unit. Each position is matched with a Security Access Requirement code, which is found on the unit's manning document. A civilian's clearance requirement is based on their position and is matched against the Defense Personnel Data System. There are multiple types of investigations. The Office of Personnel Management conducts a National Agency Check on all civilian contractors; NAC's are primarily used for positions of trust. For example, if someone works on the flight line at CAFB, they had a NAC conducted. OPM also conducts Access National Agency Check with Written Inquiries and Credit Check clearance on all Civilian employees in non-critical sensitive positions. The ANACI is basically a secret clearance but for civilians. Those in a critical sensitive position have a Single Scope Background Investigation completed. Military Personnel only qualify for Entrance National Agency Checks, National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check, and SSBIs. NACLC's are required for all military personnel and are used to grant personnel access to secret information. ENTNAC's are for all military personnel when they first enlist at MEPS. An SSBI is conducted on military if they hold a Top Secret position within their unit, according to that position's SAR code on the unit manning document. If someone believes they need to obtain a clearance, or initiate a periodic reinvestigation, they should contact their security manager and they will assist in determining their need. If a need is established, the security manager will contact the 14th Security Forces Squadron Administration office. The 14th SFS will then initiate the clearance through the Joint Personnel Adjudication System. The administration office will e-mail the applicant the E-Qip software link and guide to submit the questionnaire electronically. Once the information is submitted to SFS, an appointment is set up for to come in and sign the signature pages and be fingerprinted. The office is located at Building 208 and hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call Danny Adams at 434-2595, Staff Sgt. Ramiro Castro at 434-7126 or Senior Airman Matthias Aufiero at 434-2413.