Screwed up poly with NSA - how likely am I to be successful re-applying in the future?

Hi,

I went though the poly with NSA and unfortunately it did not go well. I was asked a very personal question during Psych, I didn’t know how to respond in the moment and I ended up lying. I screwed up. Under pressure I then fessed up about it in the poly. My poly overall was a train wreck. I was incredibly nervous and I regret how I handled it.

I was given another shot at the poly and then a month or so later I received the following:

We appreciate the interest you have shown the National Security Agency (NSA) and the time you have invested exploring employment opportunities with us. I regret to inform you that I have been notified that your processing with NSA has been discontinued.

The specific reason(s) for this has not been disclosed to me; however, it is important to understand that our employment decisions are often a result of a comprehensive evaluation of many factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, individual qualifications, personnel security guidelines, psychological standards, test results, and prior work experience, where appropriate.

From what I understand from the email above I was not formally denied clearance but rather I was never put up for adjudication.

With all this — anybody know people that initially did poorly on the poly and successfully re-applied later? Would time be a mitigator?

More details please. What was the “very personal question” that you were asked during your psychological exam? What was your response at the time and what was the truth?

The top two ways of failing your poly and psych exams with the IC is to make a disqualifying admission and/or to get caught lying. For the former, there is no public list of disqualifying admissions. Examples of such would be things like admitting to intentionally omitting derogatory info on your SF86 or smacking your wife around when she gets out of line.

No matter how much these people interrogate you, you have to stick to your statements and DO NOT CHANGE YOUR STORY. By admitting to lying during your psych, that is what got you DQ’d.

For the IC, generally once you are DQ’d during the security processing, whether it is a security clearance or a suitability denial, you are banned for life. You are of course allowed to reapply in a year, but your chances are slim to none.

Time is a good mitigator and you can still apply elsewhere.