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ashesofempires t1_j9y99il wrote

Reply to comment by JoJoJet- in Suspect arrested in 2001 killing of a pregnant soldier at a former U.S. Army base in Germany by StevenSanders90210

In the modern day it is a big deal in the military because it shows a lack of character. That the person cannot be trusted. That they can be tempted or swayed, and their judgment is not good.

The military handles a lot of sensitive, secret equipment and information, and a soldier that makes bad decisions in their personal life can carry that into their professional life. It also provides an opportunity for espionage to leverage that against them. "I know you're having an affair, I'll keep quiet if you tell me how this secret device works, or bring me the manual for the new widget."

It also really fucks with unit cohesion, as soldiers deployed have to worry about whether their loved ones are having an affair with another soldier while they are gone. It is distracting and dangerous.

So the military takes it seriously, and enforces it as a crime.

There's also some historical reasons on it that have to do with honor and some religious underpinnings.

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JoJoJet- t1_j9y9ez4 wrote

> It also provides an opportunity for espionage to leverage that against them. "I know you're having an affair, I'll keep quiet if you tell me how this secret device works, or bring me the manual for the new widget."

> It also really fucks with unit cohesion, as soldiers deployed have to worry about whether their loved ones are having an affair with another soldier while they are gone

That makes sense I guess.

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ashesofempires t1_j9yapm6 wrote

Its not widely known, but part of the review process for a security clearance is to see if a person has any history that could be used against them as leverage. Large debts, gambling habits, affairs, unsavory/embarrassing sexual habits, etc. These are all taken as signs that either the person has poor judgment or impulse control, or can be manipulated. It can mean being denied a clearance, or losing an existing clearance.

An example of why the government takes security clearances so seriously is Aldrich Ames. He was compromised by heavy debts and his affairs.

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