Past actions: Polygraph Test and Security Clearance

If you report everything you should be fine. You have no felonies, you haven’t stolen any government classified documents or property, you haven’t deceived the government, you’re not in debt, you don’t have any unreported foreign travel, you have no habitual alcohol or drug problem, you don’t have gambling problems from what you have described. The worst thing they will do is ask you why you did something, and for the marijuana, if it was for recreational purposes and you wanted to see what it felt like to smoke it, then tell them that, or whatever the reason was, but don’t try to sugar coat it, talk around it, avoid answering it, or anything like that or they will think there is something going on that you aren’t telling them. If you can do that, you should do well. But I gotta forewarn you, it’s not a cakewalk, they’ll find something to grill you on and as long as you are up front and straight with them you’ll be OK. One last thing that I was not aware of. When you get done with the interview, ask the interviewer for a card that has his/her phone number on it. You will want to have that for future follow up in the event your clearance gets hung up in adjudication. And if you have a second Poly, which most people do, and you have a different interviewer, get their name and number as well, you will be glad you did.