I'd like to know, what are the topics and questions that BI's can ask of your references.

In other words, is anything game?  Sexual preferences, patriotic behavior, past drug use, etc.  I wonder, because I hear so much negativity about this process, when really I feel it's just a normal interview process.

I don't have jack-squat to worry about.  And I guess I can wait until my BI is finished to ask my references (because I'm curious), but I want to know now!!!  I hate waiting!!!

Also can anyone comment on how many additional references (sources) they develop out of the existing ones that you provide on the form during the SF-86 fill-in?

Thanks all

dimas wrote on Apr 26^th, 2006 at 8:55am:


The reason I asked, is I attached supplemental SF86A's with about 50 names and references in effect making a tree of people they can talk to.  I don't think they'll actually get another person who actually knew me, that is for sure.  But I hope they have fun.  Probably will take a long time.

Another question - an associate who is applying for the same position within a multiple opening has a financial problem (a bankruptcy) in the last several years.  Although it's under control and everything she's really worried that's going to disqualify her.

Any ideas on that?  This is for the eff-bee-eye.

Rope_Tricks,

I am kind of curious as to "why" you would have done that.  To be honest it seems kind of suspect.  While I can imagine you were trying to cover all your bases in this matter, this may throw the investigator off track or even draw unnecessary attention to your packet.  But, it may also expedite the process.

The only problem I see here is you included a definite list of associates, as opposed to a handful.  If during the background investigation, the investigator talks to one of them and asks for other "friends" or "acquaintances" and they should give him/her one not on the list, it would seem that you intentionally tried to hide or omit him since you were so thorough with the initial list.   

Lets face it, at one time or another we have all had a friend or friends that was up to no good.  That is expected, so long as you no longer associate with them.  Heck, I just recently had a friend arrested for domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon.  I had put this guy as a reference on all my past applications since I started in LE.  Did I ever figure he would turn out to be a piece of crap?  Obviously not, because then I would not have listed him as a reference!  But in a full scope background investigation it would be mentioned by one of my friends that he is a friend of mine (or was).   So if I made an all inclusive list of 50 people and he was not on it, and the BI found out then the BI would begin to suspect that perhaps I am hiding something else.

As for your friend every department has its own determining factors as to whether or not they will hire someone with bad credit history or banckruptcy.  So it depends on the department or agency, how she can justifiy it and explain how she has overcome it and ultimately the adjudications officer who stamps yes or no on the paper.