Yankee White
Encyclopedia
Yankee White is an administrative nickname for a background check
given in the United States
for Department of Defense personnel and contractor employees working with the President
and Vice President
. Obtaining such clearance requires, in part, a Single Scope Background Investigation
(SSBI) which is conducted under the manuals of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Individuals having Yankee White clearances undergo extensive background investigation. Yankee White-cleared personnel are granted access to any information for which they have a need to know, regardless of which organization classified it or at what level. The Yankee White clearance includes requirements for U.S. citizenship and unquestionable loyalty to the United States.
follows the President wherever he goes and is never more than a few steps from his side. It contains a secure satellite radio and handset, and, although the complete list of its actual contents is classified, it has been reported to contain the nuclear launch codes known as the Gold Codes, as well as a President's Decision Book, a playbook that the President might rely on if he ever had to decide to use nuclear weapons. The bag is popularly known as The Football. It is carried by a military officer who must have a Yankee White clearance.
Background check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
given in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Department of Defense personnel and contractor employees working with the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. Obtaining such clearance requires, in part, a Single Scope Background Investigation
Single Scope Background Investigation
A Single Scope Background Investigation is a type of United States security clearance investigation required for Top Secret, SCI and Q access, and involves agents contacting employers, coworkers and other individuals...
(SSBI) which is conducted under the manuals of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Individuals having Yankee White clearances undergo extensive background investigation. Yankee White-cleared personnel are granted access to any information for which they have a need to know, regardless of which organization classified it or at what level. The Yankee White clearance includes requirements for U.S. citizenship and unquestionable loyalty to the United States.
Clearance categories
There are three categories of Yankee White clearance.- Category one clearance is required for selected personnel serving in extremely sensitive positions in direct support of the President or Vice President. This includes:
- Chief of StaffChief of StaffThe title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, White House Military OfficeWhite House Military OfficeThe White House Military Office , an entity of the Executive Office of the President, provides military support for White House functions, including food service, Presidential transportation, medical support and emergency medical services, and hospitality services...
(WHMO) - Assistant Chief of Staff, WHMO
- Military AidesAide-de-campAn aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the President and Vice President - Director, White House Medical UnitWhite House Medical UnitThe White House Medical Unit is the unit of the White House Military Office responsible for the medical needs of White House staff and visitors. The Unit provides medical care to the President, the Vice President, and their families....
- Chief, US Army Transportation Agency, White House
- Director, Special Programs Office, WHMO
- Security Advisor, WHMO
- Food Service Coordinator of the White House Staff Mess
- Commander and Deputy Commander, White House Communications AgencyWhite House Communications AgencyThe White House Communications Agency , originally known as the White House Signal Detachment , was officially formed by the United States Department of War on 25 March 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The WHSD was created to provide normal and emergency communications requirements in...
- Presidential Pilot and Deputy Presidential Pilot, 89th Airlift Wing89th Airlift WingThe 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force is based at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility and has an operational force of over 1,000 personnel...
, Andrews AFBAndrews Air Force BaseJoint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington .... - Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1)
- Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, Naval Support Facility Thurmont, MD (Camp David)
- Director, Presidential Contingency Programs Office, WHMO
- Director, Airlift Operations Office, WHMO
- Other personnel as determined by the Director, WHMO and the Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs
- Category two clearance is required for personnel assigned on a permanent or full-time basis to duties in direct support of the President or Vice President (including the office staff of the Director, WHMO, and all individuals under his or her control). This includes but is not limited to:
- Presidential aircrew and associated maintenance and security personnel
- White House Communications AgencyWhite House Communications AgencyThe White House Communications Agency , originally known as the White House Signal Detachment , was officially formed by the United States Department of War on 25 March 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The WHSD was created to provide normal and emergency communications requirements in...
personnel - White House Transportation AgencyWhite House Transportation AgencyThe White House Transportation Agency provides motor vehicle transportation to the White House as directed by the White House Military Office. This includes 24/7 ground transportation for the President's family, the White House staff, official visitors of the First Family and other authorized...
personnel - White House Staff Mess personnel
- White House Medical Unit personnel
- DoD personnel assigned to the Office of the Vice President
- Personnel assigned to the Naval Support Facility Thurmont, MD
- Employees of contractor firms who provide recurring services or who require unescorted access to Presidential support areas, activities, or equipment--including the maintenance of the Presidential retreat or Vice President's residenceNumber One Observatory CircleNumber One Observatory Circle is the official residence of the Vice President of the United States.Located on the northeast grounds of the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, the house was built in 1893 for its superintendent. The Chief of Naval Operations liked the house so much...
, communications, aircraft, or facilities - Principals of those firms used for PSAs who have direct involvement in the contract
- Category three clearance is required for personnel assigned to honor guardHonor guardAn honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
units, ceremonial units, and military bandMilitary bandA military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
s who perform at Presidential or Vice Presidential functions and facilities.
The "Nuclear Football"
A briefcase nicknamed the Nuclear FootballNuclear football
The nuclear football is a briefcase, the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States of America to authorize a nuclear attack while away from fixed command centers, such as the White House Situation Room...
follows the President wherever he goes and is never more than a few steps from his side. It contains a secure satellite radio and handset, and, although the complete list of its actual contents is classified, it has been reported to contain the nuclear launch codes known as the Gold Codes, as well as a President's Decision Book, a playbook that the President might rely on if he ever had to decide to use nuclear weapons. The bag is popularly known as The Football. It is carried by a military officer who must have a Yankee White clearance.