Creditnet News Story
Credit report can affect security clearance
Thursday, November 19, 2009
By Sam Lee
Soldiers in financial trouble may pose greater risk.
Many civilians may have experienced a situation where a potential employer requested a look at their credit report before hiring them. But a credit report could affect people in other ways as well.
A recent report from Georgia's Fort Gordan Signal noted that a member of the military may risk their chances of getting security clearance if they don't have a good credit score. The reasons are similar to those that prompt civilian employers to request a look at a person's credit.
Namely, if a person is in financial trouble, they may be more likely to steal from the company. In the military, this could translate to sensitive data getting into the wrong hands. Diane Sarber, chief of financial, relocation and community service with Fort Gordon's Army Community Service, noted that soldiers in financial difficulty may be more susceptible to being bribed.
"There are people who will make it worth their while to provide information," Sarber told the publication.
Much like their civilian counterparts, however, there are ways for members of the military to improve their situations. For example, they should concentrate on trimming down their debt and making sure they make bill payments on time.
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