Public Trust positions have the potential for adverse impact on either the integrity and/or efficiency of the organization’s mission. These positions have a moderate risk or high risk sensitivity level designation. High Risk positions have the potential for exceptionally serious impact on the integrity and/or efficiency of the organization’s mission; and Moderate Risk positions have the potential for moderate to serious impact on the organization’s mission. These positions do not require a security clearance, but they do require a background investigation to determine an employee’s suitability to occupy the position. Public Trust positions require the completion of the Standard Form (SF) 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions.

National Security positions are positions that have the potential to cause damage to the national security. These positions have Non-Critical Sensitive, Critical-Sensitive, or Special-Sensitive sensitivity level designations. Many of these positions also require access to classified information at the Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret level. Positions with Top Secret access have the potential for exceptionally grave damage to the national security; Secret access has the potential for serious damage to the national security; and Confidential access has the potential for damage to the national security. National Security positions require the completion of the Standard Form (SF) 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions.