Changes to security clearance questions exclude combat stress counseling

Speaking form the Restoration and Reliance Center at Ft. Bliss Texas, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced changes to the questionnaire that military personnel are required to fill out in order to obtain their security clearance. Question No. 21 on the form asks about the applicant’s mental health history and whether the applicant has sought mental health treatment.

Gates spoke about a review by the Army inspector general which found that soldiers were not seeking help with mental health issues because military member feared that by doing so they put their security clearance and therefore their jobs at risk. Gates said that after he learned about this, the Department of Defense undertook to change the wording of the question to exclude counseling for combat related stress disorders.

After an eight month process to change the government wide form, the questionnaire now makes clear that seeking treatment for mental health problems related to combat stress is not a disqualification for receiving or renewing security clearance.

“There are two aspects it seems to me when dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Gates. “First developing the care and the treatment of these soldiers…the second and in some ways perhaps equally challenging is to remove the stigma that is associated with PTSD to encourage soldiers, sailors, Marines and airman who encounter these problems to seek help.”