AJ - Administrative Judge will review the final determination of CAF and make a recommendation to the WHS Clearance Appeal Board, which makes the final decision iaw all appropriate DOD regulations and procedures; procedures are set forth in DOD Personnel Security Program, Appendix 13, Conduct of A Personal Appearance Before an Administrative Judge

CAF - Consolidated Adjudications Facility, e.g., WHSCAF, AFCAF-does adjudicative analysis, issues SOR, receives Response to SOR, then makes its final determination; Applicant can then appeal the CAF final determination by either a written appeal to the Clearance Appeal Board, or in personal Appearance before a DOHA AJ

CAB - Clearance Appeal Board - will review final determination of CAF via written appeal, or review of recommendation of the AJ

DC - Disqualifying Condition

DCMA - Defense Contract Management Agency- DCMA Security Office issues the tentative determination letter

DISCO - Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office, the processing center for individuals within the DSS.

DOHA - Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals

DSS - Defense Security Services

FSO - Facility Security Officer

MC - Mitigating Condition

NAC - National Agency Check

OPM - Office of Personnel Management- does background investigations.

POC - Point of Contact- person [Security Specialist] in the command security office - Applicant must send all communications through him/her.

SAP - Special Access Program

SCI - Special Compartmentalized Information

SF 86 - Questionnaire for National Security Positions

SOR - Statement of Reasons

WHS - Washington Headquarters Services [DOD],

WHSCAF - adjudicates information leading to security clearance determinations for civilian employees and applicants to DCMA, does adjudicative analysis based on report from OPM/DSS., makes tentative determination with SOR, and upon receipt of Response to SOR, makes its final determination

What is e-QIP?

The Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) has replaced the Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire (EPSQ) as the automated request for personnel security investigations and clearances within the Department of Defense (DoD).

e-QIP is a secure website which will eventually contain all PSI forms, including the SF-86, SF-85P, and the SF 85. DoD security professionals can now initiate the request through the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) which permits applicants to access the site and complete their personnel security questionnaires (PSQ) online.