Advanced Personnel Security Adjudication Course

Module 1: Course Introduction & Adjudicator Responsibilities

• Understand the purpose, framework, and legal authorities of the Personnel Security Program (PSP).
• Review the role, responsibilities, and prohibitions for adjudicators.
• Examine the overall adjudicative process, suitability factors, and bias awareness.

Module 2: Guideline A: Allegiance to the United States

• Identify behaviors that raise concerns about an individual’s loyalty to the U.S.
• Review disqualifying and mitigating conditions related to acts against U.S. interests.
• Examine how unlawful or unconstitutional activities impact security determinations.

Module 3: Guideline B: Foreign Influence

• Assess risks created by foreign contacts, interests, and property holdings.
• Review factors that heighten vulnerability to manipulation or coercion by foreign entities.
• Apply mitigating conditions to balance security concerns.

Module 4: Guideline C: Foreign Preference

• Understand how voluntary actions indicating preference for a foreign country affect eligibility.
• Review disqualifying activities such as using foreign citizenship privileges or holding foreign office.
• Apply mitigating conditions when foreign preference poses minimal security risk.

Module 5: Guideline D: Sexual Behavior

• Identify sexual behavior concerns that may affect reliability and trustworthiness.
• Recognize patterns that could make an individual vulnerable to coercion or exploitation.
• Apply mitigating conditions for past or resolved conduct.

Module 6: Guideline E: Personal Conduct

• Evaluate the impact of dishonesty, lack of candor, and refusal to cooperate on clearance eligibility.
• Identify conduct that creates vulnerability to exploitation or duress.
• Apply mitigation when behavior is minor, outdated, or corrected in good faith.

Module 7: Guideline F: Financial Considerations

• Recognize how financial distress or unexplained affluence can impact security decisions.
• Review disqualifying financial behaviors and related risks.
• Apply mitigation when issues are resolved, controlled, or caused by factors beyond control.

Module 8: Guideline G: Alcohol Consumption

• Understand how excessive alcohol use affects judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.
• Review incidents and diagnoses that raise security concerns.
• Apply mitigating factors for resolved or well-managed alcohol-related issues.

Module 9: Guideline H: Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse

• Identify security concerns related to illegal drug use, misuse of prescriptions, and substance abuse.
• Review disqualifying conditions and legal implications.
• Apply mitigating factors when abstinence and rehabilitation are demonstrated.

Module 10: Guideline I: Psychological Conditions

• Evaluate how emotional, mental, and personality conditions may impact eligibility.
• Recognize behaviors and diagnoses that could impair judgment or reliability.
• Apply mitigation when conditions are controlled, resolved, or in remission.

Module 11: Guideline J: Criminal Conduct

• Understand how criminal activity reflects on judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.
• Review patterns and offenses that trigger security concerns.
• Apply mitigating conditions for rehabilitated or coerced conduct.

Module 12: Guideline K: Handling Protected Information

• Identify violations in handling classified, sensitive, or proprietary information.
• Review negligent and deliberate actions that compromise security.
• Apply mitigating conditions for inadvertent or corrected violations.

Module 13: Guideline L: Outside Activities

• Evaluate the impact of outside employment or activities on security responsibilities.
• Identify disqualifying conditions involving foreign or sensitive engagements.
• Apply mitigation when conflicts are resolved or activities terminated.

Module 14: Guideline M: Use of Information Technology Systems

• Recognize improper or unauthorized IT system use that raises security concerns.
• Review disqualifying behaviors involving data handling and system access.
• Apply mitigating conditions for minor, unintentional, or corrected misuse.