Which statement about investigative forms is true?

• A. Investigations use a single universal form
• B. Investigations are initiated with one of three distinct investigative forms
• C. There are four distinct investigative forms
• D. SF 86 is the only form used

Answer: (B)

Investigations begin with a form chosen to match the level of risk and the role's sensitivity. There are three distinct investigative forms used to initiate these checks. The SF-85 is used for low-risk, non-sensitive positions; the SF-85P is used for positions requiring a public trust determination or moderate risk; and the SF-86 is used for higher-sensitivity positions that require a national security scope. This framework ensures the depth of the background inquiry aligns with the job’s access and responsibilities. Because of this, there isn’t a single universal form, and there aren’t four distinct forms. The SF-86 is not the only form used; it’s simply the form for the highest-sensitivity cases, not the sole form across all investigations.