2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

300
Development of a Windows Based Computer-Administered
Personnel Security Screening Questionnaire1
Martin F. Wiskoff
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems/
Defense Personnel Security Research Center
Introduction
The Defense Personnel Security Research Center (PERSEREC) developed a computeradministered
questionnaire for screening enlisted applicants to sensitive Navy
occupations that has been operationally used by the U. S. Navy Recruiting Command
since 1996. The goal of questionnaire, called the Military Applicant Security Screening
(MASS 3.0) is to:
1. Reduce the number of Navy enlisted applicants who are processed for security
clearances and subsequently found ineligible.
2. Identify these applicants early in the accessioning process - at the Military
Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) - before they are accepted into high security Navy
jobs.
3. Reduce the number of unfilled school seats and jobs due to the later
ineligibility of enlisted personnel assigned to these occupations.
4. Develop a more flexible mode for administering personnel security screening
items and collecting more detailed information.
A detailed description of the MASS system, including development of the questionnaire
and the manner in which it is operationally administered is contained in Wiskoff, et.al.
(1996), and Wiskoff & Zimmerman (1994). As stated in Wiskoff, et.al, “the MASS
questionnaire inquires about the following areas of security concern: (1) alcohol
consumption; (2) allegiance; (3) drug involvement; (4) emotional and mental health; (5)
financial responsibility; (6) foreign travel and connections; (7) law violations; (8)
personal conduct; and (9) security issues. These areas, and the specific questions within
the areas, were developed by reviewing DoD security guidelines, evaluating existing
paper and pencil security questionnaires and discussing specific issues to be included
with security and legal professionals.”
“Each applicant for a sensitive rating is individually administered the MASS
questionnaire by a Navy classifier. The system includes a decision aid that automatically
informs the classifier whether the information provided by the applicant is disqualifying
or potentially disqualifying for the rating being considered, or whether it requires that a
waiver be obtained to allow the applicant to enter the Navy. This decision aid, appearing
as a flag, is triggered whenever an applicant response meets criteria for one or more of
these situations. The rules for the decision aid were established by linking all possible
responses to MASS questions to criteria contained in the Navy Recruiting Manual
concerning acceptance into ratings and into the Navy.”
1 MASS 4.0 was demonstrated as part of this presentation.
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003