Horrible Polygraph experience

I had my first polygraph test and I was left with you did excellent but failed the drug portion. Then I came in for the second round for a more personal test. And I passed everything besides did I do drugs.

Apart from disclosing my latest MJ use in 2023 which I did on the SF86. I had absolutely nothing to disclose nor lie about. I did not use any form of drug.

Well the gentleman administrating this did not believe me and said I can tell you are withholding information or being dishonest.

He grilled me for what felt like ages. Asking the same question if I am withholding anything etc etc etc. and every time I said no I have nothing else to disclose nor am I lying. He said it will help my case if I did, to help him understand so he can fight for me. I didn’t budge because I had nothing to disclose. I asked if he wanted me to lie if that can help my case, and make a false statement because that will go against the agency policy.

I am so lost and feel like I failed and won’t get this job. They didn’t ask me to come again for a third round. Just he will write a report and send it to the adjudicators . So I don’t know if that is good or bad.

Does this sound like I passed or that I failed?

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What you are describing is 100% “normal”. I have done 4 FSP sessions, between 2 agencies. You did everything you were supposed to do, dont give them clowns ANYTHING. I would imagine, with this limited context you provided, that if you were to not get cleared, it would be for some other reason than the polygraph. It’s all for theater, doesnt sound like you cracked at all, sleep well knowing you handled it the way you should have.

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No. A polygrapher or a polygraph cannot tell if you are lying or withholding information. That is the polygrapher lying to you (but they demand that you be truthful). A polygraph cannot detect lies and the polygraph serves little more than an intimidation to make you think the polygraph can detect lies and get you to admit to something.

I don’t know if you passed or failed or more importantly if you will be cleared to work. If you do not have any more polygraphs scheduled, then you are moving forward in the process. You still wind up not getting the job outside of what happened in your polygraph. If you are polygraphed again, do not change your answers from what you told the polygrapher and what you put on your security forms.

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Thank you so much this is extremely reassuring! On separate note what other details should I give to help understand my situation?

Hey man. You’re not alone. Im in this crap too. I recently just had my second polygraph. My first one was the exact same thing. Drilled hard on drugs and honesty, told it would be sent to adjudication. Called back for a second round and passed the personal test but failed on every CI question, according to the examiner. Pretty sure im going to have to take a third one and you will too if its under one of the agencies that offer a FSP. Hopefully we get through. This is really stupid though. Bro asked if I ever Mishandled classified information yet I dont have a clearance…

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Did they tell you explicitly that you will have to take a third poly?

Nah. She left it off with “You passed/resolved the lifestyle issue but was unsuccessful on all CI Questions. I didnt even get to finish the rest of it either way because we ran out of time. You may need another polygraph but there is no guarantee. I will send your results over to adjudication”. That indicates most likely im going to need a third one or just passed in general.

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Honestly you might have moved on if they are sending it for adjudication but idk. Dw it seems like you are good.

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Eh. Who knows. My last polygraph she said she will send it to adjudication and a month later got contacted to take another.

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Average eryday poly. Many guilty party’s will fold. You disclosed prior drug use, so he figured his pressure will make you fold on a logical item.

Yeah when they said looks good….I’m coming back. On the ones where they tell me I’m lighting up like a Christmas tree…All done.

Yeah I have no clue where im at right now. I made no new admissions other than a shoplifting at 15, telling white lies and a parking tickets. Hopefully I just passed lol. Ongoing 2 weeks

IVE HAD THEM lag 5 months.

Sociopath’s and simpletons are the best at passing polygraphs. It’s a stress measuring machine not a lie detector.

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Actual spies are also good at passing polygraphs. For example, Aldrich Ames, Karl Koecher, Larry Chin, Nicolás Sirgado, and Ana Montes.

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What agency if you dont mind me asking?

The agency is the NSA. The one notorious for multiple polygraphs. Are you going for the same agency or having the same experience?

The only agency that would not fall into this category is FBI because they seem to have a one-and-done policy for new applicants.

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I thank god I never applied them. I have huge testing anxiety so im glad I at least get a few chances. Or maybe its a routine type of thing. One person I spoke too in the lobby told me she is on her 5th one.

Yes I am. However I haven’t been contacted yet to reschedule so I’m worried I might have failed.

May I ask your time frame for all your polygraphs/reschedules? Trying to see if I will get contacted again.