Can I conduct a DoD and IC investigation at the same time?

Three-letter agencies, also called “alphabet agencies,” are part of the United States Intelligence Community (IC). There are 17 intelligence agencies and hundreds of other agencies and military departments that support national security. The mutual security clearance policies are intended to ease the transition between each federal agency working in the national security area – but that doesn’t mean the process is without redundancy.

waiting34 writes in the CJ Blog:

I have been in the process for a TS at SCI for a 3-letter agency for almost 2 years since I submitted my SF-86. Since I’m not sure if I’ll get an offer, I applied for a position at DOE that requires a Q clearance and I think I’ll get an offer soon. The DOE job also sounds pretty good and with better pay so I’m definitely leaning towards that. From reading online it seems like only one investigation can be done at a time and usually the higher one would take precedence, but since a TS is the same as a Q, I’m not sure what happens.

What happens to the investigation in this case? Can the DOE just use the ongoing investigation or do we have to wait until the first one is complete and then hopefully pass that on to the DOE team? Since it’s been almost two years, would they just start a new investigation for Q clearance?

Can I conduct a DoD and IC investigation at the same time?

Yes, it is possible to have multiple security clearances going on at the same time. For example, if you are applying for a position with both the IC and another government agency that may report to the DoD, you may be the subject of multiple investigations.

If you’re applying for multiple government positions, you may have to go through security clearances at the same time because, although most security clearances are handled by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) for the Department of Defense and over 105 government agencies, the IC has its own security clearance system. The National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) and the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) have the most security clearances, but for the IC, Scattered Castles is the system of record – and investigation progress is not visible.

Reading through the thread, it sounds like this applicant’s first investigation is complete — although they are in adjudication limbo. If the IC clearance is adjudicated, it can be positively transferred to the Department of Defense within a day. But until the investigation is complete, another agency can initiate a new investigation, and applicants should not worry about filing an application with a new agency or initiating a new clearance — you must disclose any prior clearance investigations or applications. Do that and leave the rest to the government.