BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

Module 6: Personnel Security

Module Description

This module presents the concept of personnel security and personnel security
investigation.

Learning Objectives

After studying this module, the student should be able to:

1. Define personnel security;
2. Discuss the purpose of personnel security;
3. Explain the concept of personnel security investigation;
4. Distinguish each type of personnel security investigation; and,
5. Establish the factors that affect the background investigation.

PERSONNEL SECURITY

Includes all the security measures designed to prevent unsuitable individuals or

persons of doubtful loyalty to the government, from gaining access to classified matter or to
any security facility, and to prevent appointment, or retention as employees of such
individuals.

Is a security discipline that assesses the loyalty, reliability, and trustworthiness of

individuals for initial and continued eligibility for access to classified information.

“Personnel security involves the protection of persons associated with the organization and
the protection from individuals who might harm the organization” (Johnson, 2016).

Key Functions of Personnel Security

1. It serves as a screening device to assist the organization in hiring suitable employees.
2. It conducts background investigation on employees.
3. It handles investigation of employees suspected of wrongdoing.
4. It develops security awareness among employees.
5. It attempts to ensure the protection of employees from discriminatory hiring or terminating
procedures as well as unfounded allegations of illegal or unethical activities and conduct.

Scope of Personnel Security

1. Personnel security investigation
2. Security Education

General techniques in Personnel Investigation

1. Background check
2. Positive vetting - the process of examining with careful thoroughness.
3. Profiling - the process whereby a person’s reaction in a critical situation is predicted by
observing his behavior.

The Purpose of the Personnel Security Program

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1. The PSP aims to protect national security by ensuring that only loyal, trustworthy, and
reliable individuals may access classified information and/or be assigned to national security
sensitive positions.
2. The PSP establishes the standards, criteria, and guidelines upon which personnel security
determinations are based.
3. The PSP uses a comprehensive background investigative process to make this
determination.

The goal of the PSP

Is to ensure the protection of national security.

Two key aspects of the PSP

1. Providing access to classified information; and,
2. Ensuring the protection of national security.

What is Personnel Security Investigation?

It is an inquiry into the character, reputation, discretion and
l o y a l t y o f individual in order to determine a person’s suitability to be given security
clearance.

Types of Personnel Security Investigation (PSI)

1. National Agency Check (NAC).– This is an investigation of an individual made
upon the basis of written information supplied by him in response to official inquiry,
and by reference to appropriate national agencies. It is simply a check of the files and
record of national agencies. The national agencies checked under this type of
investigation are the following:
a. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)
b. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
c. ISAAFP or J2 Division, GHQ AFP 
d. CIDG PNP Camp Crame, etc.

2. Local Agency Check (LAC) – This type of investigation consist of the first type
plus written inquiries sent to appropriate local government agencies, former
employees, references and schools listed by the person under investigation. The local
agencies normally check besides the past employment, schools and references are the
following:
a. Place of the locality where the individual is a resident. 
b. Mayor, Police, Fiscal, Judge of the locality where the individual is a resident.

3. Background Investigation (BI) - This is more comprehensive investigation than the

NAC or the NAC and LAC. A through and complete investigation of all or some of
the circumstances or aspects of a person’s life is conducted.

This type of personnel Security Investigation may either be a complete (CBI) or a

partial Background Investigation (PBI).

1. Complete Background Investigation – Consist of the investigation of the background

of a person, particularly all the circumstances of his personal life.

2.Partial Background Investigation– Consist of the inve stigation of the

background of an individual but limited only to some of the circumstances of his
personal life which are deemed pertinent to the investigation. Normally, t h e r e q u e s t
f o r t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w i l l i n d i c a t e t h e s p e c i f i c p e r s o n a l circumstances

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to be covered. This type of BI is also used to further develop questionable information

contained in another investigation report.

4. Special background investigation

5. Special investigative inquiry
6. Periodic re-investigation
7. Personal interview
8. Expanded investigation

Factors considered in Background Investigation

1. Loyalty – f a i t h f u l a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e c o u n t r y , g o v e r n m e n t a n d i t s d u l y
constituted authority.

2. Integrity- uprightness in character, soundness of moral principles, freedom from

moral delinquencies, ore more simply stated-honesty.

3. Discretion- the ability of tendency to act or decide with prudence; the habit of wise
judgment or simply stated- good judgment.

4. Moral- d i s t i n c t i v e i d e n t i f y i n g q u a l i t i e s w h i c h s e r v e a s a n i n d e x t o t h e
essential or intrinsic nature of a person; his outward manifestation, personal traits or
moral habits.

5. Character - the sum of the traits that serves as an index of the essential intrinsic nature of a
person. It is the aggregate of distinctive mental and moral qualities that have been impressed
by nature, education and habit upon the individual.

6. Reputation - opinion or estimation in which one is generally held. It is what one reported
to be, whereas character is what a person is.

Motives that cause people to be disloyal

1. Revenge
2. Material gain
3. Personal prestige
4. Friendship
5. Ideological beliefs

Weaknesses that makes people susceptible to pressure

1. Close relative in foreign lands
2. Gullibility
3. Jealousy
4. Weakness of character
5. Serious indebtedness
6. Addiction to drugs
7. Serious guilty episodes in the past

Person’s internal hazards

1. Faith
2. Conceit
3. Enthusiasm and pride
4. Ignorance

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Guidelines in Personnel Security

Specific Guidelines
• Trustworthiness
- Background investigation
- Physical, mental, psychological qualifications
- Behavioral observation
- Voluntary and continuing assessments.

• Capability
- Education and experience
- Training (equipment-specific, initial, and ongoing)
- Security awareness
- Certification by examination.

• Secure Environment
- Vulnerability and risk assessment
- Hierarchy
- Internal, external, and contractor/vendor audits
- Enforcement
- Emergency plan
- Control system access control
- Identification and authentication.

Assessment.
MC questions.

Intro to Industrial Security Concepts