Your phone rings. The number is one you do not know. The voice says they are a background investigator with DCSA, or a contractor working for them. They want to set up a time to talk. Your stomach drops a little.

Take a breath. This call is good news. It means your security clearance case is moving. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency runs background investigations for most cleared jobs in the country. When an investigator reaches out, your paperwork made it to a real person. That person now has to verify what you wrote.

I went through this years ago when I left the Navy. The clearance side of federal work felt like a black box. You fill out a long form, you wait, and then a stranger calls. I did not know what they wanted or how to act. Now I help veterans through cleared transitions every week, and the same fear shows up. So let me walk you through it. Why DCSA is calling, what the investigator actually wants, and how to be ready.

Why Is DCSA Calling Me?

DCSA calls you because you applied for something that needs a clearance. That could be a federal job. It could be a defense contractor role. It could be a renewal of a clearance you already hold.

Somewhere in that process you filled out a form called the SF-86. That form is long. It asks about where you lived, who you worked for, your finances, your travel, and your foreign contacts. DCSA uses that form to decide if you are reliable and trustworthy. They want people of good conduct and character, loyal to the United States.

The form is only the start. An investigator has to confirm it is true. They do that by talking to you and to people who know you. So the call is step two. You wrote the story. Now they check the story.

One more thing. The investigator who calls may not be a federal employee. DCSA uses both government investigators and trained contractors. Both are legitimate. If you want to be sure the person is real, DCSA has a Verify Your Investigator page where you can confirm their identity. Use it if anything feels off.

What Happens During the Subject Interview?

The main event is called the subject interview. The subject is you. The investigator sits down with you, often in person, sometimes by phone or video. They go through your SF-86 line by line.

This is not a trick. It is a check. They want to make sure the form is accurate and complete. They will ask you to confirm dates, addresses, jobs, and names. They may ask you to explain things that need more detail.

Expect questions like these:

• Where did you live during each time period, and who can confirm it?
• Who were your supervisors at past jobs?
• Do you have any foreign contacts or foreign travel you did not fully list?
• Are there any debts, legal issues, or drug or alcohol matters you need to discuss?
• Has anything changed since you signed the form?

The tone is usually calm and professional. The investigator is not there to catch you in a lie. They are there to build a complete and honest picture. The more clear and direct you are, the faster it goes.

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What Does a Background Investigator Verify?

The investigator does not just talk to you. They reach out to other people and records. Their job is to confirm your SF-86 matches reality. Here is what they tend to check.

Where You Lived

They verify your past addresses. The best people to confirm where you lived are neighbors, roommates, and landlords. A spouse does not count for this. So when you list residences, think about who nearby could vouch that you lived there.

Where You Worked

They confirm your job history. That means talking to old supervisors and human resources offices. Gaps in your work history get attention. So do dates that do not line up. Make sure your employment dates on the SF-86 match what those offices have on file.

Your References

You list people who know you well. The investigator may contact them. They ask how long they have known you and whether you are reliable and honest. Pick references who can actually speak to your character. Our guide on how to choose SF-86 references that will not slow your case walks through this.

Your Finances

The investigation includes a credit search of the national bureaus. They look at financial responsibility. If you have any financial issues from the last seven years, bring the paperwork. That covers bankruptcy, liens, foreclosures, eviction, federal debt, alimony, or gambling debts. Documents help you explain instead of guess.

Your Foreign Contacts

If you listed foreign contacts or travel, expect questions. They want to understand the nature of each contact. This is normal, not a red flag by itself. Our breakdown of the SF-86 foreign contacts section shows how to list them clearly.

How Should I Answer? The One Rule That Matters

Tell the truth. Every time. The whole way through.

This is the rule that decides cases. A clearance is built on trust. The investigation is testing whether you are honest. If you lie or leave something out on purpose, that becomes the problem. Not the original issue. The lie.

I have watched veterans worry themselves sick over a small thing in their past. A bad debt. A youthful arrest. A failed drug test from years ago. They think it will sink them. So they hide it. That is the trap.

The system already expects people to have history. Real lives have rough spots. What the government cannot accept is someone they cannot trust to be straight. A small problem you disclose is manageable. A small problem you hide is a security concern.

So answer plainly. Do not volunteer a novel, but do not dodge. If you do not remember an exact date, say so. Guessing and getting it wrong looks worse than admitting you are not sure. Honesty and clarity are your two best tools.

What Are the Adjudicative Guidelines?

After the investigation, your case goes to an adjudicator. That person decides if you are eligible. They do not flip a coin. They follow a published set of rules called the adjudicative guidelines.

These come from a directive called Security Executive Agent Directive 4, or SEAD 4. It lists 13 areas the adjudicator looks at. Knowing them helps you understand what the interview is really about.

The 13 guidelines cover:

• Allegiance to the United States
• Foreign influence
• Foreign preference
• Sexual behavior
• Personal conduct
• Financial considerations
• Alcohol consumption
• Drug involvement and substance misuse
• Psychological conditions
• Criminal conduct
• Handling protected information
• Outside activities
• Use of information technology

The adjudicator uses what they call the whole-person concept. They weigh all of it together. Past and present. Good and bad. One issue does not automatically end your chances. They look at the full picture of who you are.

Can a Problem Be Fixed? Understanding Mitigation

Yes. This is the part most people do not know. The guidelines build in a process called mitigation.

Mitigation means you can reduce a concern with context and action. The guideline lists the concern. Then it lists conditions that can lessen it. The adjudicator looks at both sides.

Say you had money trouble after a job loss. That falls under financial considerations. But if you set up a payment plan and stuck to it, that mitigates the concern. The issue is real. The way you handled it shows responsibility. That matters.

The same logic runs through the guidelines. An old issue that is over and not repeated carries less weight. A problem you took ownership of and fixed shows good judgment. Time, honesty, and action are how you mitigate.

How Do I Prepare for the Investigator Call?

You do not need to over-prepare. But a little readiness makes the whole thing smoother. Here is what I tell veterans before their interview.

First, reread your SF-86. Know what you wrote. The interview follows that form, so refresh your memory on the dates, addresses, and names you listed.

Second, line up your documents. Pull the financial paperwork mentioned above. Have your ID ready. Note anything that changed since you submitted the form.

Third, think through the rough spots in advance. If there is a debt, an arrest, or a foreign contact, plan how you will explain it. Short, honest, factual. You are not writing a defense. You are giving context.

Fourth, give your references a heads-up. Let the people you listed know they might get a call. A reference who is surprised and confused does not help your case. One who is expecting it gives a clear, confident answer.

This whole process sits inside a longer timeline. If you want to know how long the wait runs, read our guide on the security clearance investigation timeline. And if you are not sure which level of investigation you are even in, our breakdown of Tier 3 versus Tier 5 investigations sorts that out.

What If I Already Had a Clearance in the Military?

A lot of veterans hit this call during their transition. You held a clearance on active duty. Now you are applying for a cleared civilian job, and the investigator is calling again.

Your past clearance helps. But it does not skip the process. You may face a new investigation or a renewal, depending on timing and the job. The investigator still has to confirm your current picture. List every prior clearance on your form, including any that were denied, suspended, or revoked.

If you are unsure where your old clearance stands, that is worth checking before the interview. Our guide on your DoD clearance status after separation explains how to find out. You can also learn how to check your clearance status after leaving the military.

An active or recent clearance is a strong asset on the civilian side. It can shorten your hiring timeline and raise your value to defense employers. Make sure your resume shows it the right way. BMR's Resume Builder handles the clearance language and the military-to-civilian translation for you. It was built by veterans who have been on both sides of cleared hiring.

The Bottom Line on Your DCSA Call

That unknown number is not something to fear. It is a sign your cleared career is moving forward. DCSA is calling because a real investigator now has your file and needs to confirm the truth of it.

Walk into the subject interview ready. Know your form. Bring your documents. Answer every question with the plain truth, even the parts that make you nervous. The investigation expects people with real histories. What it rewards is honesty.

If something in your past worries you, remember mitigation. Disclose it, show how you handled it, and let the whole-person review weigh the full you. That is how a good person with an imperfect past still earns a clearance. Pick up the phone. You have got this.