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Adjudicative Guidelines Explorer

The 13 National Security Adjudicative Guidelines in SEAD 4, Appendix A, and where each part sits.

Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4) sets out the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines in its Appendix A. There are 13 guidelines, lettered A to M, and each has three numbered paragraphs: the concern, the conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying, and the conditions that could mitigate security concerns. Choose a topic to narrow the list, or browse all of them.

The guidelines

Showing all 13 guidelines.

How the guidelines are applied

Paragraph 2(a) of Appendix A describes the whole-person concept:

The adjudicative process is an examination of a sufficient period and a careful weighing of a number of variables of an individual's life to make an affirmative determination that the individual is an acceptable security risk. This is known as the whole-person concept.

Under paragraph 2(c), each guideline is to be evaluated in the context of the whole person. Paragraph 2(d) lists the factors an adjudicator considers: “In evaluating the relevance of an individual's conduct, the adjudicator should consider the following factors:”

  1. the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct;
  2. the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation;
  3. the frequency and recency of the conduct;
  4. the individual's age and maturity at the time of the conduct;
  5. the extent to which participation is voluntary;
  6. the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes;
  7. the motivation for the conduct;
  8. the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and
  9. the likelihood of continuation or recurrence.

About this tool

The explorer gives general information only. It shows where each part of each guideline sits in SEAD 4, Appendix A, and describes in plain words the area each guideline covers; the directive's own text is the authority. It does not assess any case, predict a result or provide legal advice.

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Sources

  1. Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4), Appendix A, National Security Adjudicative Guidelinesdni.gov
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