The British Forces in Germany must ensure that those persons to be offered employment within the Forces environment do not pose a threat to national security or indeed the safety of the military and their families as well as the locally employed civilian staff.

The security clearance is therefore a prerequisite for employment. Clearance can take between 2 - 6 weeks and in some cases even longer. Your GLSU will give as much assistance as possible in completing the process. Security clearances are however outside their control.

The British Forces in Germany also have an obligation to comply with UK laws relating to child protection. Anyone selected to work directly in a childcare setting, in the accompanying of children or with vulnerable adults will be required to undergo the same stringent checks as the applicant resident in the United Kingdom.


Clearly such checks necessitate a certain amount of research and for this reason the successful applicant will be asked to complete various types of forms. The type of form and depth of information required will depend on the clearance level that has been stipulated by the unit or organisation with a vacancy.

If you are posted to Germany from a country outside the UK then you may find the list of Embassies useful. You will find a link in the top right hand index.

If you would like to find out more about the Defence Vetting Agency a link has been provided on the top right hand index.

An employee who will be required to handle highly classified documents will clearly need a higher security level than a tailoress for example.

The types of checks now carried out for child protection reasons may seem excessive, particularly the documents to be completed and information required therein. When put into perspective however and considering the child abuse cases that have come to light over recent years it is only right that we do everything in our power to reduce the risk to our children.

Referees and References

As part of the Vetting and CRB process you will be asked to provide names and addresses of referees (not relatives or friends) who will be able to provide references for you. In order to speed up the process and avoid delays it is essential that you provide this information covering the last 3 years for the vetting process and 5 years for CRB checks. If you were not employed during the 3 or 5 year period then details from a professional such as your GP or someone of equivalent standing in the community would also be suitable.

Types of Clearance

When applying for one of the vacancies advertised on the LEC Support web pages you will also find the level of security vetting required. In the case of child care settings you will see if CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance is required. By selecting the option Types of Clearance from the Index at the top right of this page you can find out just what each type of clearance entails and also download the forms that are required for this level.

How to Use the Forms

You are welcome to download the forms at home. This may assist you in gathering the addresses, places of employment and other information required. Furthermore you can also print the forms off and complete them in BLOCK CAPITALS using BLACK INK. For your own personal security please never send them to the recruiting office by email however. You must hand in the forms personally.

We do not want your personal data to accidentally fall into the hands of anybody who does not have the right to see it!

When you return the forms personally you must also take along the following documents:

Passport.
ID Card.
Birth & Marriage Certificates.
Driving Licence.
Proof of current Quarter Address (utility bill for example).

As well as the forms required for each type of clearance, the Vetting Categories and Forms page also provides a guide on how to complete the documents.