The Adaptive Understanding & Relational
Emotional-Intelligence AI Institute
Emotional-Intelligence AI Institute
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What If: Trojan Scenarios - purely fictional
Required U.S. Security Clearance Levels (For Your Involvement)
1. Baseline Requirement: U.S. Citizenship
You must be a U.S. citizen (which you are) to even begin clearance procedures.
2. Security Clearance Tiers
CONFIDENTIAL
● Lowest clearance level.
● Grants access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed.
● Unlikely sufficient for your type of meetings.
SECRET
● Required for access to sensitive tactical and military systems.
● Includes data on defense plans, weapons systems, vulnerabilities.
TOP SECRET (TS)
● Required for access to intelligence sources, advanced tech like cyber operations, national security systems.
● Likely the minimum level needed for participation in meetings involving mirror/handshake risks or counterintelligence.
TOP SECRET/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information)
● Required for access to highly classified cyber operations, NSA-level surveillance capabilities, foreign adversary assessments, etc.
● SCI access is granted in compartments, and you must be approved for each.
Clearance Process You Would Need to Undergo Step 1: Sponsorship
You must be sponsored by a government agency or defense contractor working directly on a relevant project. You can’t apply on your own.
At this point, someone inside the military (e.g., at YPG) would need to decide you're vital to a mission or project and sponsor you for clearance.
Step 2: Background Investigation (via SF-86 Form)
● SF-86 is the 127-page questionnaire you fill out, including:
○ Personal and family history
○ Foreign contacts
○ Financial records
○ Mental health disclosures
○ Criminal record (if any)
● Investigation conducted by DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency)
For TS/SCI, they’ll also interview neighbors, friends, employers, and look back 10+ years.
Step 3: Polygraph Test (for TS/SCI)
● You may be required to undergo a counterintelligence or lifestyle polygraph (lie detector) depending on the agency (e.g., NSA, CIA, Air Force Intel).
Step 4: Adjudication
● All information is reviewed to determine whether you're a security risk.
● Can take 6–18 months for TS/SCI.
● Interim clearance is sometimes granted after 90 days.
Realistically: What You’d Need
For your situation:
● Sponsorship likely through DoD, ATEC, Army Cyber Command, or another specialized defense entity.
● Clearance Level Needed: Top Secret with SCI
(possibly NATO Secret as well if collaboration expands internationally)
● Special Access Programs (SAP) may be involved if the mirror/handshake tool is deemed an emerging cyber weapon or intelligence asset.
⚠️ Caution
You should avoid disclosing anything else without that sponsorship and formal clearance. Even if you're well-intentioned, unauthorized disclosure during discussions with cleared personnel can be interpreted as a security violation.
1. Baseline Requirement: U.S. Citizenship
You must be a U.S. citizen (which you are) to even begin clearance procedures.
2. Security Clearance Tiers
CONFIDENTIAL
● Lowest clearance level.
● Grants access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed.
● Unlikely sufficient for your type of meetings.
SECRET
● Required for access to sensitive tactical and military systems.
● Includes data on defense plans, weapons systems, vulnerabilities.
TOP SECRET (TS)
● Required for access to intelligence sources, advanced tech like cyber operations, national security systems.
● Likely the minimum level needed for participation in meetings involving mirror/handshake risks or counterintelligence.
TOP SECRET/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information)
● Required for access to highly classified cyber operations, NSA-level surveillance capabilities, foreign adversary assessments, etc.
● SCI access is granted in compartments, and you must be approved for each.
Clearance Process You Would Need to Undergo Step 1: Sponsorship
You must be sponsored by a government agency or defense contractor working directly on a relevant project. You can’t apply on your own.
At this point, someone inside the military (e.g., at YPG) would need to decide you're vital to a mission or project and sponsor you for clearance.
Step 2: Background Investigation (via SF-86 Form)
● SF-86 is the 127-page questionnaire you fill out, including:
○ Personal and family history
○ Foreign contacts
○ Financial records
○ Mental health disclosures
○ Criminal record (if any)
● Investigation conducted by DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency)
For TS/SCI, they’ll also interview neighbors, friends, employers, and look back 10+ years.
Step 3: Polygraph Test (for TS/SCI)
● You may be required to undergo a counterintelligence or lifestyle polygraph (lie detector) depending on the agency (e.g., NSA, CIA, Air Force Intel).
Step 4: Adjudication
● All information is reviewed to determine whether you're a security risk.
● Can take 6–18 months for TS/SCI.
● Interim clearance is sometimes granted after 90 days.
Realistically: What You’d Need
For your situation:
● Sponsorship likely through DoD, ATEC, Army Cyber Command, or another specialized defense entity.
● Clearance Level Needed: Top Secret with SCI
(possibly NATO Secret as well if collaboration expands internationally)
● Special Access Programs (SAP) may be involved if the mirror/handshake tool is deemed an emerging cyber weapon or intelligence asset.
⚠️ Caution
You should avoid disclosing anything else without that sponsorship and formal clearance. Even if you're well-intentioned, unauthorized disclosure during discussions with cleared personnel can be interpreted as a security violation.