BECOMING AN OFFICIAL AT THE PENTAGON
DRUG-FREE FEDERAL WORKPLACE PROGRAM
Most DoD positions have been designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP). All applicants
tentatively appointed to a TDP, and not currently employed in a TDP position, will be tested
prior to employment or appointment. Typically, no final offer of employment will be made until a
negative test result has been received by the Drug Testing Coordinator and communicated to the
staffing specialist. It is permissible to waive the receipt of the testing results before an appointment.
All DoD employees in TDPs are also subject to random drug tests.
For information on DoD Drug-Free Workplace Program requirements, see Part II. Personal
Benef its and Services, Human Resources Matter section of this handbook.
SECURITY CLEARANCES
The duties and responsibilities of each position correlates with a specific “sensitivity level.” This
sensitivity level determines the type of personnel security investigation and level of security
clearance required for the employee that occupies the position:
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A “No Clearance Required” designation correlates with a “non-sensitive position”
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A “Secret” level security clearance correlates with a “non-critical sensitive position.”
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A “Top Secret” security clearance correlates with a “critical sensitive position.”
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A “Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information” (SCI) clearance correlates with a
“special sensitive position.”
The servicing Human Resources office is responsible for ensuring managers update the sensitivity
level as position descriptions change and for coordinating with the personnel Security Office.
After an individual accepts a tentative job offer, the personnel Security Office will coordinate
with other Government entities and the component Security Manager to facilitate the security
clearance and any special access credentialing. Each “Special Access Programs” (SAP) requires a
specific clearance level. Many SAPs require SCI access, and specific program indoctrination.
For new employees, once employment begins, the component Security Manager will coordinate
execution of the Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement, SF Form 312, and all
necessary special access/special program indoctrinations.
Questions related to security clearances may be addressed to the WHS Human Resources Directorate
Personnel Security Operations Division at 571- 372-4002/3985 or your component Security Manager.
BUILDING ACCESS
Obtaining a Common Access Card
The Common Access Card (CAC) is the principal card used for identification, physical access to the
Pentagon and other DoD facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR), and is the key to enable
information technology systems and applications that access the Department’s computer networks.
To obtain a CAC, you must have, at minimum, a favorable completion of a Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) fingerprint check, an initiated National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI), a National Agency
Check, law and credit checks, or an initiated national security investigation. The NAC consists of searches of
the Office of Personnel Management Security/Suitability Investigations Index, the Defense Clearance and
Investigations Index; the FBI Identification Division’s name and fingerprint files, and other files or indices
when necessary.
The NACI, the basic and minimum investigation required on all new Federal employees,
consists of a NAC with written inquires and searches of records covering specific areas of a person’s
background during the past 5 years. Inquiries are sent to current and past employers, schools attended,
references, and local law enforcement authorities. Once favorably completed, it typically takes only a few
days for your appointment information to flow into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
(DEERS), and the Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS).
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Authorizing Officials and Administrative Officers within your component have the authority to issue CAC
applications. Your Administrative Officer will approve your application and provide further instructions.
The Pentagon CAC Office is located inside and to the right of the Pentagon Metro entrance. Hours of operation
are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; and 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday.
Parking at the Pentagon
The WHS, Facilities Services Directorate (FSD), Parking Management Office (PMO) administers and
manages the Pentagon Reservation parking program. All vehicles parked on the Pentagon Reservation
must be registered in the parking database with an authorized, assigned parking permit or vehicle parking
clearance. Most parking permits and clearances are issued through the employee’s parking representative/
sponsoring agency.
Executive Parking
Executive parking spaces are allocated to senior officials based on their assigned positions based on the DoD
Order of Precedence. Upon approval, a parking permit will be issued to the senior official for entry through
each Vehicle Access Control Points (VACP) parking location. All OSD agencies have representatives who
can assist incoming officials with parking-related matters.
The WHS PMO is located in Room 2D1039 on the Pentagon Concourse. The PMO can be reached
via telephone at 703-697-6251 from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Contact the Pentagon Emergency Operations Center after hours at 703-697-1001.
Please see Appendix D for more information on reference materials pertaining to the DoD Order of
Precedence accorded to Senior Officials or DefenseLINK at http://www.defenselink.mil/sites/.
Contact Information:
Telephone: 703-692-5121
E-mail: WHS.2017Transition@mail.mil
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