The threat from terrorists is on just about everyone's mind these days. At first it was concern for foreign nationals who either conducted terrorists operations against American citizens and American held property in foreign countries. Then as we grew more aware of the larger pool of terrorists and their possible recruits we came to understand that many potential terrorists were home grown and of a different ethnic background than we first observed. Not only were there Muslim extremists but there were also Timothy McVeigh and certain militia and neo-Nazi types who threatened public security. We discovered the zealots of different stripes who formed cells in the United States, or who traveled to Europe or Pakistan and Afghanistan to ply their new found skill sets.

We have seen idiots try to blow up planes or attempt to set off a bomb in Times Square. There have been successful subway attacks in Europe and abortive ones here. The proliferation of terrorism has necessitated that individuals who are candidates for federal contracting work must have a Global Terror Watch List Background Check conducted on them. This instance often applies to IT employees who will be working for defense related or assorted contractors who do various work for the federal government. In some cases employers must run the Global Terror Watch List on their drivers if the drivers enter government property. Even the driver deliving soda to an Army Base may need to be first cleared with a Global Terror Watch List background check, as well as various county criminal and federal criminal searches. Employers who send technicians to repair ships in American dry docks or foreign harbors must first clear their people with the Global Terror Watch List.

As the co-founder of a background checking company, I would be among the first to say that finding a terrorist in your midst is highly unlikely. The last thing I want to do is to stir up a scare where one is undeserved. Life is scary enough already, and I have no wish to make it scarier and drive people crazy as they seek out the bogeyman in the utility broom closet.

But, despite the rare instances, there is a certain reality to the terror threat. Last year, there were 10 U.S.-linked Jihadi incidents that involved individuals who received terrorist training outside the United States.   Another forty-odd  American citizens or legal residents  were were charged with terror related crimes or found to be associated with terror group in the U.S. and elsewhere.  All danger aside, more importantly, for certain employment candidates to be eligible to work, the Global Terror Search is necessary. And as I noted before, this is usually coupled with a series of other background checks, including the county criminal records, the nationwide criminal database search, and federal criminal records. That is what we see most of the time.

For those not quite sure what is in this particular background check, I am listing the seventeen different agencies who report to the Global Terror Watch List. This is not one search where I would admonish it is better to be safe than sorry. I think that is a bit overboard. I would however remind you that for certain position with certain contractors, this is a mandatory background check.

Here is the list--

OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) & Blocked Persons
OFAC Sanctioned Countries, including Major Cities & Ports*
Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories*
Department of State Trade Control (DTC) Debarred Parties
U.S. Bureau of Industry & Security (formerly BXA)
Unverified Entities List
Denied Entities List
Denied Persons List
FBI Most Wanted Terrorists & Seeking Information
FBI Top Ten Most Wanted
INTERPOL Most Wanted List
Bank of England Sanctions List
OSFI - Canadian Sanctions List
United Nations Consolidated Sanctions List
Politically Exposed Persons List
European Union Terrorism List
World Bank Ineligible Firms