Address, school & job history
Build Sections 11, 12 and 13A newest first. The checker flags uncovered months, missing dates and missing verifiers as you type.
Not affiliated with DoD, DCSA, OPM, or any government agency; not legal advice. Free and unofficial. Always follow the official form and your sponsor's instructions.
The form uses month/year dates, so the checker works by month. Addresses and jobs must cover the window "without breaks." SF-86, PDF p. 10 Short residence gaps of under 3 months are marked Check rather than Fix: the form does not ask for temporary stays under 90 days that were not your permanent or mailing address, so your permanent address for that time may already cover them. SF-86, PDF p. 10
Residences Section 11
SF-86, PDF p. 10Schools Section 12
SF-86, PDF p. 14List schools attended in the last 10 years (after your 18th birthday unless needed to show 2 years). Schools need no continuous coverage, so there is no gap check here.
Employment activities Section 13A
SF-86, PDF p. 17Section 11: Where you have lived SF-86, PDF p. 10
How far back do I go?
Start with where you live now and work back 10 years. The form says residences for the whole period must be accounted for "without breaks." SF-86, PDF p. 10
I was under 18 for part of that time. Do I list it?
No, unless you need it to show at least 2 years. The form says not to list residences before your 18th birthday except to give a minimum of 2 years of history. SF-86, PDF p. 10
Do short stays count?
You do not have to list temporary locations of less than 90 days that were not your permanent or mailing address. Your permanent address for that time still covers those months. SF-86, PDF p. 10
Can I use a P.O. box?
No. Give the actual physical place you lived, not a P.O. box, and not a permanent address you were away from. SF-86, PDF p. 10
I split my time between two places.
List all of them. The form says that if you split your time between residences in a period, you must list each one. SF-86, PDF p. 10
Who is the "person who knew you"?
For any address in the last 3 years, list someone who knew you there, ideally someone still living in the area. Do not use your spouse, cohabitant or other relatives, and do not list people for addresses entirely older than 3 years. SF-86, PDF p. 10
Section 12: Where you went to school SF-86, PDF p. 14
Which schools do I list?
Schools you attended in the last 10 years. The form also asks separately whether you received a degree or diploma more than 10 years ago. SF-86, PDF p. 14
Do I list high school?
Only if it falls in the window. The form says not to list education before your 18th birthday unless needed to show at least 2 years of education history. SF-86, PDF p. 14
Who verifies a school?
For schools you attended in the last 3 years, list a person who knew you there (an instructor or student, for example). For online or distance schools, list someone who knew you while you studied. SF-86, PDF p. 14
Section 13A: Employment activities SF-86, PDF p. 17
What counts as an "employment activity"?
Every job, plus periods of unemployment and self-employment. Start with the present and go back 10 years, with no breaks. SF-86, PDF p. 17
I was out of work for a few months.
That period gets its own Unemployment entry, and the form asks for the name of someone who can verify your unemployment. SF-86, PDF p. 20
I was self-employed.
Choose Self-employment. The form asks for someone who can verify your self-employment. SF-86, PDF p. 19
What do I need about my supervisor?
For most jobs: the supervisor's name, rank or position title, email (or "I don't know"), phone number and work location. Collect these before you start. SF-86, PDF p. 17
I am military. One entry or many?
One per duty station. The form asks for a separate entry for each change of military duty station. SF-86, PDF p. 17
Same employer, different offices?
Use separate entries for the same employer at different physical addresses. SF-86, PDF p. 17
Source: Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions (Revised November 2016, OMB No. 3206-0005), published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Checked 2026-11-13.