If one fails their CI Polygraph for an SCI role(IC), does that mean they are banned or blacklisted from getting other SCI roles(DOD) that don’t require a polygraph for other agencies?
I noticed job postings agencies, contractors, or departments within DOD or don’t require poly for SCI don’t care even though a failed poly I assume is shared.
Does it make a difference if failed or inconclusive?
Also if one fails, CI poly, are they banned from applying from FS poly roles with other agencies?
To the best of my knowledge, there is no government-wide rule prohibiting those who fail or have an inconclusive outcome on a polygraph in connection with a TS/SCI clearance from holding a TS/SCI clearance in a position that does not require a polygraph.
However, a failed polygraph can be highly prejudicial. For example, it is not unusual for persons who have failed an FBI pre-employment polygraph to be rejected outright for employment by other federal law enforcement agencies.
I think that a failed polygraph is certainly worse for one’s employment prospects than an inconclusive one. But there’s an even worse possible outcome: an accusation of countermeasures use. It will likely result in one’s being blacklisted across federal agencies.
Although no polygrapher has ever demonstrated any ability to detect sophisticated countermeasures (the sorts of things that an actual, trained spy, or simply anyone who understands polygraph procedure at all would actually do), such accusations are commonplace and can be leveled, for example, simply because the applicant breathed slowly and evenly in an attempt to remain calm.
I didnt realize that failed and inconclusive polygraphs were distinct outcomes. I thought it could ONLY be inconclusive? Or does “failed” poly refer to any admissions by the applicant that take place during the test itself? In which case yes, that’s a major problem for the applicant and will most likely result in suitability denial. But an inconclusive test on its own is not “end all” just yet. If one knows they’re right and upfront about everything then that is what they need to maintain, no matter what the machine says.
Possible outcomes in a polygraph screening examination include:
Two intelligence agencies (CIA and NSA) use a polygraph technique that differs in significant ways from the probable- or directed-lie “control” question “test” (CQT) technique used by other federal agencies. With CIA and NSA, virtually all applicants are initially accused of having trouble and, provided no disqualifying admissions are made, are brought back for one or more follow-up sessions. In some cases, the subject may be told that the outcome of a session was inconclusive, but this is not usually the final outcome of the polygraph process.
I know of at least one person who could not “successfully” complete a poly for an IC agency and was then hired by another government agency which required TS/SCI but no poly.
Hard to render any conclusive judgements but you can certainly apply and see what happens.