GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Everyone working with children in U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria must pass a criminal history background check, in compliance with public law, Department of Defense instructions and Army directives.
This requirement, outlined in DoDI 1402.5 and AD 2014-23, is one measure the Army uses to ensure that all employees, contractors and volunteers who regularly interact with children in Army programs are fit for their roles.
The background check provides information on incidents of violent offenses, sexual offenses, child abuse or neglect, and other behaviors that affect a person’s suitability to work with children.
While the local Civilian Personnel Advisory Center conducts background investigations for employees who provide child care services, the process is different for contractors and volunteers.
Local Background Check Administrators, or BCAs, conduct these investigations for contractors and volunteers, in cooperation with the manager of the program the contractor or volunteer is working with.
In general, when a contractor or volunteer wants to start working with a program, he or she submits an application packet that includes initial background investigation forms. The program manager submits these initial forms and the request for a background investigation to the BCAs. The BCAs then contact the contractor or volunteer to complete fingerprinting and additional forms.
USAG Bavaria’s Background Check Administrators are located at Grafenwoehr (Bldg. 535) and Hohenfels (Bldg. 314), and serve all USAG Bavaria sites. For office hours and phone numbers, visit the USAG Bavaria security office webpage at www.bavaria.army.mil/security.
For more details on the background check process—including the kinds of checks required by different programs, whether background checks are valid for more than one program, and what happens if derogatory information is returned—see Background Checks for Volunteers and Contractors: Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have a question not addressed in one of the FAQs, contact the USAG Bavaria BCAs at Usarmy.bavaria.imcom-europe.list.cde-bca@mail.mil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is required to get background checks?
All employees, contractors and volunteers who work with children in an Army program must pass a criminal history background check. This includes both adult and youth volunteers, contractors who provide in-home care and their household members, and contractor instructors and activity leaders.
Q2: Why are background checks required?
All employees, contractors and volunteers who work with children in an Army program must pass a criminal history background check per U.S. Code, the Crime Control Act, DoD instructions (DoDI 1402.5) and Army directive (AD 2014-23). This requirement is in place to protect children by ensuring that everyone who interacts with minors in Army programs is of good character, law abiding, and fit to be responsible for children.
Q3: What kinds of background checks are required?
The investigative requirements vary based on your status—volunteer or paid contractor—and which program you want to work with. (See FAQ 4.)
- Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) fingerprint checks. If required, your fingerprints will be captured using a Livescan fingerprinting system and then transmitted digitally or printed and mailed to investigators. The FBI will conduct a database check based on your fingerprints and also conduct checks using your name, Social Security Number, date and place of birth.
- Installation Records Checks (IRCs) are database checks of systems owned by the Army Criminal Investigations Division, Army Substance Abuse Program and the Family Advocacy Program.
- Tier 1 OPM investigation. This is a basic background investigation conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the most common investigation type. It includes checks of employment and residential history, character references, military records, previous federal investigations, law enforcement checks, education checks, state checks (see SCHR, below) and other federal agencies as required.
- State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) checks. If you already have a previous, favorable OPM investigation (Tier 1 or higher), you might just need some additional checks to meet the requirement for working with children. These may include checks done in the U.S. states where you have lived within the past five years. SCHRs include checks of criminal and sex offender registries, court records and other law enforcement entities.
Your Background Check Administrator can also provide more details about what type of investigation you might need, and what checks are included in that investigation.
Q4: Which programs and positions require what background checks?
| Child & Youth School Services (CYSS) | |
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SKIES (Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills) Instructor—contractor
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Youth Sports & Fitness Programs—volunteer
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Family Child Care (FCC)—contractor
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Child Development Center (CDC)—volunteer
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School Age Centers, Youth Services—volunteer
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| Religious Services Office (RSO) | |
Club Beyond—volunteer
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Protestant Women of the Chapel —volunteer
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WatchCare Program—contractor
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Vacation Bible Study—volunteer
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Distinctive Religious Group Leader—volunteer
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| Army Community Services (ACS) | |
Family Advocacy Program—contractor or volunteer
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Exceptional Family Member Program—contractor or volunteer
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Respite Care Provider—contractor
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Other ACS volunteer or contractor
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Q5: How do I get the background check process started for the position I’m interested in?
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Religious Services Office |
| For volunteer or contract positions with Club Beyond, Protestant Women of the Chapel, Vacation Bible Study, WatchCare, Distinct Religious Group Leader:
2. Complete and return a volunteer/employment packet. 3. RSO will submit the request for a background investigation. 4. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. 5. A chaplain may interview you, if required. |
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Army Community Service |
| For volunteer positions with the Family Advocacy Program or Exceptional Family Member Program:
2. Search for FAP or EFMP volunteer positions and apply online. 3. The FAP or EFMP manager will contact you for an interview. 4. ACS will submit the request for a background investigation. 5. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. 6. Complete required ACS training. |
| For contract positions with the Family Advocacy Program, Exceptional Family Member Program or other ACS programs:
2. Once you are selected for a contractor job at ACS, ACS will submit the request for a background investigation. 3. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. |
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Child, Youth & School Services |
| For volunteer positions with the Child Development Center, School Age Center, Youth Services or Parent & Outreach Services:
1. Contact Outreach Services (Rose Barracks: Bldg. 224, Hohenfels: Bldg. 10, Garmisch: Bldg. 723). 2. Complete and return a volunteer packet. 3. CYSS will submit the request for a background investigation. 4. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. 5. Complete required CYSS training. |
| For contractor positions with SKIES Unlimited:
2. Return the completed packet with a current résumé. The SKIES Director will interview you. 3. SKIES will submit the request for a background investigation. 4. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. 5. Obtain a German tax ID and complete additional training. |
| For volunteer positions with Youth Sports & Fitness:
1. Contact the Sports & Fitness Program (Tower Barracks: Bldg. 547, Hohenfels: Bldg. 10, Garmisch: Bldg. 715). 2. Complete and return a volunteer packet. You may be interviewed. 3. CYSS will submit the request for a background investigation. 4. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. 5. Complete required CYSS training. |
| For contractor positions with Family Child Care:
1. Contact the FCC Director to obtain an FCC application packet (Tower Barracks: Bldg. 539). 2. Return the completed FCC application packet. 3. FCC will submit the request for a background investigation. 4. A Background Check Administrator will contact you to complete fingerprinting and other investigative paperwork. Your sponsor and other family members over the age of 12 will also need to complete a background check. 5. Once the background investigation is complete, the FCC director will conduct a family interview. 6. Complete FCC orientation, training, home observations and a home inspection. |
Q6: Who conducts these investigations?
The Background Check Administrator (BCA) assigned to your case will submit your investigative checks to the appropriate agencies. Installation Records Checks are processed by local agency points of contact. The FBI returns its fingerprint check results via the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM conducts Tier 1 investigations and SCHR checks. USAG Bavaria’s four BCAs are located in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels but support all USAG Bavaria sites (Tower and Rose Barracks, Hohenfels and Garmisch). You can reach our BCAs at Usarmy.bavaria.imcom-europe.list.cde-bca@mail.mil.
Q7: I already work for the federal government (military/contractor/civilian employee). Do I still need a new background check?
Military, security clearance and employment background checks do not typically include the specific checks that are required for individuals working with children. Depending on which program you want to work with, you might need new FBI fingerprint checks, Installation Records Checks, or State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) checks for the U.S. states where you’ve resided within the past five years (see FAQ 3 for details on types of checks). Since IRCs and SCHRs are not included in a typical military or security clearance investigation, these may need to be run.
Q8: I already work in another childcare program. Do I need a new background check to volunteer?
Some checks might need to be re-done. All personnel working with children in an Army program must have FBI fingerprinting and IRCs done on a recurring basis, in accordance with Army Directive 2014-23. (See FAQ 4 for the kind of checks required by different programs.)
- Family Child Care (FCC), Respite Care providers. Emergency Placement Care providers and Foster Care providers are required to have FBI fingerprints and IRCs re-done annually. This category of contractor also requires some additional annual checks for family members over the age of 12 living in the home.
- Volunteers are required to have FBI fingerprints and IRCs re-done every three years.
- Contractors are required to have FBI fingerprints and IRCs re-done every five years.
Q9: I previously volunteered with RSO/CYSS/ACS at my last duty station. Do I need a new background check?
Probably. We can retrieve results of FBI fingerprint checks and OPM investigations directly, so those checks may not need to be run again. However, all categories of child-related volunteers and contractors require Installation Records Checks. IRCs are conducted and maintained by local organizations and we are usually unable to retrieve them, so the checks may need to be run again. The IRCs take about 14 days to complete.
Q10: I currently volunteer with RSO, but also want to volunteer with CYSS. Do I need another investigation?
As long as your background checks haven’t expired, the checks performed for one organization are valid for another. Let your Program Manager know that you are already an active volunteer so that the Background Check Administrators can provide the required proof of investigation results to the new program.
Q11: I want to volunteer with Boys Scouts/Girl Scouts/Family Readiness Group/American Red Cross. Do I need an investigation?
The Army is not authorized to process child-related background investigations for non-federal entities.
Q12: Will these checks transfer to other DoD programs if I change employers?
The investigative checks we run for you are based on DoD and DA policy. Other agencies may have different background investigation requirements. Consult with your hiring department to determine if the checks already done meet their requirements.
Q13: How long do background checks take?
FBI fingerprint results take up to 12 days from the date you are fingerprinted. Installation Record Checks take approximately 14 days from the date you sign the IRC consent forms. Tier 1 OPM investigations with childcare checks (formerly called “CNACIs”) can take up to 120 days and are required for all paid contractors but only some categories of volunteers. In most programs, if your IRCs and FBI fingerprints are favorably completed, but you are still waiting on completion of a Tier 1 OPM investigation, you can begin to work under Line of Sight Supervision—that is, as long as another cleared adult care provider is in the room with you.
Q14: Where can I get my fingerprints taken?
Your Program Manager will send a request form directly to our Background Check Administrators (BCAs), identifying you and which background checks are required. Once this request is received, the BCA assigned to your case will contact you by phone or email, usually within one business day, to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting, to sign consent forms, or to initiate the OPM investigation request. (See FAQ 15 for more information about your appointment with a BCA.)
Q15: What do I need to know for my background investigation appointment?
Your appointment with the Background Check Administrator can be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of investigation needed. When a Background Check Administrator contacts you to set up your appointment, they will let you know what to bring. At most, you will need to bring proof of citizenship or U.S. immigration.
Q16: What types of information are considered “derogatory”?
- Minor derogatory information. Document or date discrepancies, traffic violations, administrative actions or credit issues. We do not run credit reports on contractors or volunteers, so credit issues appear only if an applicant has a higher-level OPM investigation for a different purpose, such as a clearance or military investigation.
- Moderate derogatory information. Minor, isolated criminal conduct that occurred more than 10 years in the past. Minor drug issues, an isolated DUI, other non-violent criminal act that is non-recurring.
- Significant derogatory information. Non-minor drug issues, recurring alcohol related incidents, any violent crime or recurring criminal behavior. Acts that tend to indicate poor judgment, unreliability or untrustworthiness in working with children.
- Mandatory disqualifying information. Conviction of a sexual offense, drug felony, violent crime or a criminal offense involving a child or children.
Q17: What if I have a criminal record? Can I still work with children in an Army program?
It depends on the type, severity and how recent the record is. Army Directive 2014-23 (with additional guidance memoranda) outlines the handling of specific categories of derogatory information. Your Program Manager or Background Check Administrator can provide more information on the Assistant Secretary of the Army guidance. (See also FAQs 16 and 18.)
Q18: What happens if you find derogatory records for me?
The process for handling derogatory information varies based on the investigative requirements of the program and the type of derogatory record (see FAQ 16). Your Program Manager will notify you in writing if any derogatory results in your background checks require you to respond. There are several processes based on the type of information returned on your background checks
- Garrison Commander waiver for minor derogatory information. In many cases, minor issues can be locally waivered with no further action. The Garrison Commander (GC), at his or her discretion, may choose to waive minor derogatory information. If the GC chooses not to issue a waiver, the issue may be presented at the Installation Program Review Board.
- Installation Program Review Board (PRB) for moderate and significant derogatory information. The Installation PRB is a board of subject matter experts that meets approximately twice a month to review cases of moderate and significant derogatory information. The Installation PRB includes representatives from the Garrison Commander’s office, the Staff Judge Advocate, Army Law Enforcement, the Army Substance Abuse Program, Child, Youth & School Services, Installation Security, the Family Advocacy Program, and other agencies as necessary. The PRB panel reviews investigative documents and makes a recommendation to the Garrison Commander about the applicant’s suitability to work with children in accordance with DA policy. Moderate issues may be decided at the Installation PRB. Significant issues go through both the Installation PRB and the Department of Army PRB.
- Department of Army Program Review Board (PRB) for significant derogatory information. All issues that require a Department of Army PRB decision must first be routed through the Installation PRB. If the Installation PRB renders a favorable decision, the case is then sent to the Department of Army PRB for a final decision. Once the Department of Army PRB makes a decision on a case, the decision is final. Even if an applicant moves to a new Army organization, the case will not be screened through this process a second time for the same issues.
Q19: If I have specific questions about my investigation status, who should I call?
Once the Background Check Administrators have submitted all the background checks for you, the results are communicated to your Program Manager for their decision. Background Check Administrators only process investigative requests, but do not process or make decisions on the results.
Q20: My background checks are done, when can I start working?
Keep in mind that the background checks are only part of the vetting process. Other program requirements may include health assessments, CPR or other training, and orientations or inspections. Only your Program Manager can decide when you can begin working.
Q21: Where can I get a copy of my OPM investigation?
We are prohibited from releasing investigative results to the subject of an investigation. However, you may submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain a copy of your background investigation. Visit www.opm.gov to learn more.
Q22: How can I contact my Program Manager?
Army Community Service: Visit the garrison ACS webpage or call ACS at Tower Barracks at 09662-83-2650. In Hohenfels, call 09472-83-2795. In Garmisch, call 08821-75-03777.
Child Youth & School Services: Visit the garrison CYS Services webpage or call CYS at Rose Barracks at 09662-83-2760, 09662-83-2658 or 09662-83-2851. In Hohenfels, call 09472-83-2078. In Garmisch, call 08821-75-02599.
Religious Services Office: Visit the Religious Services Office webpage for a list of RSO phone numbers and locations across Bavaria.