Consequently, you can expect the most scrutiny and thorough background investigation of any of the three levels. Indicating the ESCAPE post(s) of assignment is REQUIRED. Please return to Start Here to click on the steps to a medical clearance that best fits your status and overseas assignment. The purpose of this SOP is to establish procedures and criteria for considering requests for waivers of the requirement for overseas service, (1) after six years of continuous domestic assignments, and (2) after eight years of continuous domestic assignments. Class 7 is not valid for travel to an assignment abroad. These reports should include not only the diagnosis and previous treatments, but also a summary report of what follow-up care you require. The point of contact in MED is the Director of Medical Clearances, who will relay the request to the appropriate office or person in MED and return a formal recommendation to the CDO or Committee, as appropriate. DOS Medical Guidelines and DOD Medical Deployment Requirements. While a medical clearance is not required for TDY travel of less than 30 days, persons with health concerns should avoid to travel to localities where medical care is inadequate to meet their needs. Employees requesting a waiver should follow the instructions in Human Resources SOP A-04. All Rights Reserved. The security clearance process involves a comprehensive background investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies. - NAVPERS 1300/16_Rev11-09, Report of Suitability for Overseas Assignment, is required for overseas screening submissions. Secret Security clearance is considered the midlevel security clearance. A waiver request should be sent to an employees CDO, who will forward it to the Five/Eight Committee. The difference is the government studies any evidence of dual citizenship which might conflict with your duties of having a security clearance. Please check the signature area. Page 2 must be signed and dated. The Office of Medical Services of the Department of State determines a candidates medical fitness and ability to serve overseas. The employee, contractor, LE Staff, or EFM must provide a full explanation of all answers checked Yes on page 2. Do NOT include any personal medical information in this communication. Worldwide Availability Requirement for Foreign Service Officer Candidates, Fellows, and some First-Time Limited Non-Career Appointees. A Department of Defense military security clearance investigation examines your character, conduct, criminal background, financial responsibility, and emotional stability. The medical clearance process is designed to identify on-going medical, mental health, or special educational issues for which adequate resources may not be available at a specific post. Parts 160 and 164. f. Incomplete/Cancellation (Class 8): Issued to an individual whose pre-employment medical evaluation is incomplete and the application has been inactive for more than 90 days. The point of contact in MED is the Chief of Domestic Programs (MEDDP@state.gov), who will relay the request to the appropriate office or person in MED and return a formal recommendation to the CDO or Committee, as appropriate. The employee and/or EFM should complete the separation exam within 90 days of retiring or separating from the Foreign Service. This is a medical-legal requirement. Page 2 must be signed and dated. For example, if an individual needs an English speaking speech therapist, there are many posts he or she can go to, but many others that would not have that resource. All persons posted overseas or on TDY travel for 30 or more consecutive days must have a valid medical clearance before they can access a posts Health Unit and other Medical Program benefits including assistance with a medical evacuation or hospitalization. If you receive an official invitation letter from the Peace Corps, you must be medically cleared for service before becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. Learn more about obtaining confidential, secret, or top-secret clearance as well as security clearance disqualifiers. In addition to the hand written lab section, MED requires copies of the lab and radiology reports and the EKG tracing, if indicated. However, for some individuals with on-going medical, mental health or educational issues adequate medical resources may not be available in all countries. When to Start the In-Service Clearance Process. This may be delayed if the individual is not properly registered, has missing signatures, incomplete documents, inaccurate email address or the writing is illegible. DOD Contractors must include a 3308: DOD ICASS Verification Form. The step-by-step process for completing a separation and/or becoming a REA/WAE is found by returning to Start Here and choosing Separation or REA/WAE. Once youve completed the background investigation and medical examination, a State Department Suitability Review Panel will examine your file (minus any privileged medical information) to determine your suitability for employment with the Foreign Service. All employees including Locally Employed Staff, contractors and Eligible Family Members who will be posted to a designated ESCAPE posts for 30 or more consecutive days are required to obtain a medical clearance. Your CDO or agency HR will send your list to MED Clearances. Many Foreign Service posts are located in remote areas with extremely limited medical support. The separation (or retirement) physical examination is for employees and eligible family members (EFMs) leaving the Foreign Service. Foreign Service Officers are required to serve much of their career overseas. Medical Clearances must see reports from your specialists regarding the status of your health or educational issues. Unsigned forms will not be accepted by Medical Records. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Lastly, even those with top-secret clearance sometimes need to apply for more clearance to access classified information. Keep in mind that some security clearance disqualifiers are automatic while others can get justified and mitigated. If the examination/evaluation is not completed within 90 days, the individual will be issued a Class 8 clearance and will not be eligible for the Medical Program abroad. Repeated or habitual use to excess of intoxicating beverages affecting the ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the employees position. 1 views . Include the Medical Records coversheet. Outside activities also get analyzed by the Department of Defense. It includes illegal or unauthorized modification, manipulation, destruction, or denial of access to information on a system. Medical clearance process overview. Driving under the influence, alcohol-related fights, child or spouse abuse, or criminal incidents related to alcohol use all get studied. A medical clearance is valid until your scheduled home leave or end-of-tour whichever is sooner. Pre-Employment or Pre-Assignment Medical Clearance Process for ESCAPE Posts. Criminal conduct is pretty straightforward. While a medical clearance is not required for TDY travel of less than 30 days, persons with health concerns should avoid travel to localities where medical care is inadequate to meet their needs even if that travel is only for a few days. Individuals assigned to any of these ESCAPE posts, including TDY travel of 30 or more consecutive days, must meet more rigid standards and undergo further medical vetting than addressed in this document. Employees and their EFMs of one of the 5 Foreign Service Agencies must complete a: Employees, LE Staff, Contractors, and EFMs who are Non-Foreign Service Personnel must complete a: Persons holding a current valid ESCAPE medical clearance and are extending their tour at an ESCAPE post must complete the below documents annually. MEDICAL REVIEW OF A CLEARANCE DECISION FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT 22.9 On occasion, a medical clearance may be denied or limited because an applicant has a medical condition that is serious enough to preclude conversion to the Foreign Service. Those individuals will remain in a pending status. The healthcare provider must also review all current medications, dosages, and frequency of use. The examinee, parent or guardian must sign and date page 2 of the DS-1843. a. These individuals must receive a Worldwide Available (Class 1 Clearance) based on their pre-employment medical exam. Or fax to 202-647-0292 (less preferred) Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. Persons who are not an ESCAPE post at the time of their medical clearance renewal must complete the below documents: Employees and their EFMs of one of the 5 Foreign Service Agencies: Employees, LE Staff, Contractors, and EFMs who are non-Foreign Service Personnel: Submit all medical documentation to Medical Records. Now that you have a solid foundation of the three different security levels (confidential, secret, and top-secret), lets study the specific security clearance disqualifiers in more detail. If that is the case a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Programs (SAP) is required for clearance. All items listed in the physical exam section on page 3 must be completed by the medical provider (examiner). For the most part, the military uses the same criteria for judging eligibility with the three levels. 1 year after issuance of a medical clearance of all individuals who extend at an ESCAPE post. DOD deployment requirements are generally stricter than DOS medical clearance guidelines. d. Temporary Travel (Class 6): Issued only to an eligible family member who is not medically cleared to reside at the employees assigned post but is authorized to visit that post for a period of time not to exceed 120 days per calendar year. Related Article Military Dental Requirements and Disqualifications. The process considers such factors as: failure to repay a U.S. Government guaranteed loan or meet tax obligations; failure to register for the Selective Service; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; unsatisfactory employment records; a criminal record or other violations of the law; drug or alcohol abuse; and less than honorable discharge from the armed forces. There are numerous posts where conditions appear similar to that of the U.S. but which also suffer from some of these restrictive characteristics. Parts 160 and 164. Any applicants with immediate family members or a person to whom the individual has close ties of affection or obligation AND is a resident or present in a foreign country might serve as a national security threat. A single serious crime (involving more than a year in prison) or multiple lesser offenses are potential security clearance disqualifiers. The local emergency room, for example, might be completely inadequate, without ventilators, defibrillators, x-ray capabilities, etc. Criminal, dishonest, or disgraceful conduct. This will be determined by either a current diagnosis or . Often children are under one parents orders for their current assignment and need to be switched to the other parent for an onward assignment. The individual, parent or guardian should complete the first two pages of each form. Weve compiled a list ofFrequently Asked Questions. The U.S. government issues military clearance to select personnel at one of three levels. MED Clearances will reevaluate as to whether you could be issued a Post Specific (Class 2) or even a Worldwide Available (Class 1) Clearance. All persons must undergo a full physical exam for their first medical clearance. In addition to the labs on DS-6561, a Hepatitis C Antibody Screen, and a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screen, plus a lipid profile for those 35 or older must be added to the DS-6561 or DS-1843. February 27, 2023 . So its best not to lie and stay truthful as you fill out the personnel security questionnaire. The Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship is not only a unique opportunity for highly qualified, diverse college students to receive academic funding, internships and mentorship from the U.S. Department of State it is also a path to your career in the Foreign Service. Medical providers (examiners) should check the box if the individual is fit or is not fit to work in the conditions stated on page 1 of the, moving from one overseas assignment to another overseas assignment, moving from a domestic assignment to a new overseas assignment, on TDY overseas for more than 30 consecutive days, taking language or extended CONUS training the clearance is for the assigned post after language training. Failure to have all family members medical clearance in order may delay your travel orders. with a medical condition listed will NOT meet the medical standard required for an 1811 or 1801 position. The healthcare provider must print or stamp their name, as well as sign and date page 4. Ask questions! Document rationale for Post Approvals and/or Disapprovals. 22.10 If a medical clearance for an applicant or eligible family member is denied or limited, A MED Clearances Nurse Consultant assigned to you will follow this process: Review the list of posts submitted by the CDO or agency HR. Reasons for a Separation or Retirement Exam. The Department of Defense studies the same categories of your personal record as confidential clearance yet with a little more thorough analysis: The following are common security clearance disqualifications: It usually takes 1-3 months to officially receive secret clearance, like confidential status. Examples include, but are not limited to, the need to spend time with otherwise healthy children; to assist their readjustment to new living circumstances; to complete an adoption; or to assist in the career or personal needs of a non-tandem spouse. Please be sure that the name, DOB, and email address are all printed clearly. the State Department denied Dara Katz the medical clearance she needed to qualify for an . The examiner/provider should complete the physical exam, lab, and assessment/plan portion of the exam. Please return to Start Here to click on the steps to a medical clearance that best fits your status and overseas assignment. The Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship is not only a unique opportunity for highly qualified, diverse college students to receive academic funding, internships and mentorship from the U.S. Department of State - it is also a path to your career in the Foreign Service. Is there a list of conditions that would automatically . Please read and follow the instructions in Medical Clearance Guidance for Deploying to ESCAPE Posts. Please send inquiries only to this email address. A missing signature will delay the medical clearance review process. Obtaining security clearance is required to make sure you are eligible to access national security information. Many waiver requests are based on confidential medical or mental health information regarding the requesting employee and/or members of the employees family. Since youll be serving overseas as a Foreign Service Specialist after successfully completing the FAIT Fellowship program, youll need to be able to obtain and maintain a worldwide (Class One) medical clearance. Secret Security Clearance disqualifiers include foreign partialities, personal misconduct, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental disorders. Waiting well into that time frame may result in a longer processing time. Start collecting this information early. Additional countries can be submitted after the first 15 have been reviewed. Where to Perform a Pre-Employment or Pre-Assignment Medical Clearance Exam. Failure to have all family members medical clearances completed will delay the issuing of travel orders for individuals departing Washington DC. Review the list of posts submitted by the CDO or agency HR. You can also download a PDF document with this information on the Resources page. This includes eligible family members who have reached age 21, or persons leaving the program through legal separation, divorce, or death. You are in possession of a foreign passport. Any service (whether compensated, volunteer, or employed) with a foreign country, national, or interest is questioned. Contractors and DOD Civilians should contact their sponsors human resources. Provide a current phone number and valid mailing address that can be used even if you are between posts on home leave or personal travel. Submit internal consults or reach out to you for additional data, as needed. The medical clearances often take a couple of weeks, although the process can be longer depending on the situation. Waivers of these DOD requirements may be granted in select cases. How Long Will the In-Service Clearance Process Take? An MCU can be submitted to your health unit (preferred) or directly submitted to. Sending forms and reports to the wrong email address results in confusion. Under Status of Employee check or write in the appropriate designation (Employee, contractor, EFM, TDY, etc). The attainment of U.S. foreign policy objectives depends substantially on the confidence of the public (both American and foreign) in the individuals selected to serve in the Foreign Service. Employees subject to the six- or eight-year rule must work with their CDOs to make a request for a waiver by completing the attached 6/8 waiver request form. This is not guaranteed. Essentially the DOD is confirming that you dont have signs of alcohol abuse or dependence. The employee, contractor, LE Staff, or EFM must provide a full explanation of all answers checked Yes on page 2. Employees and Contractors have the right to appeal any Post-Approval decision. The examiner must sign and date page 4 of the DS-1843. Take charge! An official website of the United States Government, Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. Patients can arrange appointments on personal travel, during R&R, home leave or other government funded travel when services are not available at the post of assignment. Do NOT submit bids to Medical Clearances. Medical Clearance Notices will be sent to your e-mail address you place on your form. There may also be infectious and communicable diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, tuberculosis, rabies, encephalitis, and gastrointestinal diseases. MED encourages you to have your exam at your future medical providers office to establish a medical relationship with a provider at your retirement home. Obtaining any form of military security clearance demonstrates that the military trusts you with sensitive information even if you need extra clearance for classified information. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Bureaus and Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary, Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, Office of the U.S. The majority of people who have no significant health concerns and can be posted anywhere in the world. CONUS based individuals who do TDY travel to ESCAPE posts for 30 or more consecutive days have a medical clearance valid for two years from the date of issuance. If you're thinking of a career as a government agent, beware of the 5 automatic disqualifiers for security clearances. Additionally, compulsive or addictive sexual behavior when the person is unable to stop a pattern of self-destruction or high-risk behavior is analyzed. 8. Employees of other Government agencies, contractors, and all Eligible Family Members (EFMs) do not need to meet this worldwide availability requirement on their first overseas assignment. All blanks need to be filled in. A Post Specific (Class 2) Medical Clearance means you (or your EFM) have (or has) an on-going medical, mental health, or educational issue where the medical capabilities needed may not be available at every post in the world. Individuals extending at an ESCAPE post have a medical clearance valid for one year from the date of issuance. and Foreign Commercial Service/Foreign Agricultural Service/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/USAGM), (Applies to all U.S. Government Employees and Eligible Family Members Participating in the Department of State Medical Program). Candidates who hold dual citizenship, have had extensive travel, education, residence and/or employment overseas, or who have foreign contacts, a foreign-born spouse, immediate family members, or relatives who are not citizens of the United States, should be aware that the clearance process will take longer to complete. The post approval process for non-Foreign Service agencies, contractors and their EFMs mirrors the approval process for Foreign Service agencies. Reason to Update a Medical Clearance While In-Service. All blanks need to be filled in. If you are going on TDY, indicate if you are CONUS-based, any possible ESCAPE posts you may travel to, and estimated duration of your TDY. state department medical clearance disqualifiers. ESCAPE posts comprise a subset of Special Incentive Posts (SIP). If you shuttle between two ESCAPE posts, especially Baghdad and Erbil, please indicate both. Some posts could face extreme isolation due to limited air and other transportation services, and unreliable Internet, telecommunications and postal and delivery systems. Send all medical forms and reports to MEDMR@state.gov. You also cannot have association or sympathy for those that commit these types of crimes or organizations that advocate overthrowing the U.S. government. A medical clearance to an ESCAPE post expires at: Tips to Employees Completing ESCAPE Post Forms, Tips to Medical Providers Completing ESCAPE Post Forms. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. All optional tests are optional, unless clinically indicated, and not required for an ESCAPE post clearance. The DOD may also study those who you share living quarters with along with relatives or associates with connections to any foreign government. Learn more about the various security clearance disqualifiers for confidential, secret, and top secret security clearances. For children with special educational needs, starting early is important. The medical examination performed at the time of separation from the Medical Program serves to identify medical conditions that may have developed during service abroad. Send your completed forms and medical reports: The employee, contractor or EFM will be notified within 30 days of their clearance status. Mental incompetence determined by a mental health professional. All chronic medical conditions must be listed on page 4 in assessment or problem list section. We take the protection, release, and use of health information very seriously and follow strict privacy standards as stated in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 . Top-secret clearance takes four to eight months to complete (sometimes closer to a year depending on the applicant). Institutional Contractors must include a 3308.5: Institutional Contractor ICASS Verification Form. - All actions for processing and tracking Overseas/Remote Duty Screening shall be conducted through BOL, IAW MILPERSMAN 1300-302 . Certain conditions may require that the employee stay in the United States for longer than 6 years. Any documentation should be submitted well in advance of bidding season. Post Approval Process for Foreign Service Officers, Limited Non-Career Assignment, Foreign Service Fellows or their Eligible Family Members with a Post Specific (Class 2) Clearance. All personnel and their EFMs who have been issued a medical clearance in the past must update their clearance prior to departure for a new overseas assignment. MEDICAL HISTORY AND EXAMINATION FOR INDIVIDUALS AGE 12 AND OLDER PRIVACY ACT NOTICE AUTHORITIES: The information is sought pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (Title 22 U.S.C.4084). Fellows will receive decisions on their medical clearances from the State Department. An employee, contractor or Eligible Family Member (EFM) may start up-dating their medical clearance process up to one year prior to departing for their next overseas assignment or training. CONUS Option: The employee and EFMs are encouraged to have the separation medical exam completed by their private medical provider in the US. The point of contact in MED is the Chief of Domestic Programs (MEDDP@state.gov), who will relay the request to the appropriate office or person in MED and return a formal recommendation to the CDO or Committee, as appropriate. - All BOL status submissions must be reported as either "Suitable" or . Where a particular physical or mental health condition, extraordinary stress, or similar circumstances a represented as the justification for a 6/8 waiver, MED or an outside medical professional must confirm the basis for the A-4.4A-04 revised 01/2018 request. The clearance exam may also be done at the Department of State Exam Clinic in Washington DC for those over 6 years of age. (Uniform State/USAID/U.S. Two aspects of the military determine your security level: A) your military job (MOS) and B) your assignment. ESCAPE posts comprise a subset of High-Threat, High Risk (HTHR) posts. Tips for Submitting Your Medical Clearance Application. Tips for Your In-Service Medical Clearance Update. Do not travel to your next overseas assignment without a valid medical clearance. 3901 et seq., requires all Foreign Service employees to serve a substantial portion of their careers overseas, and limits the number of years Foreign Service employees can spend in continuous domestic service.