Quote:

I wracked my brain for any security lapse I could think of no matter how minor.... even down to leaving my screen unlocked sometimes.



This is the game they play, DO NOT PLAY ALONG!



They have a pattern of reactions from you, BUT NO ADMISSIONS. This doesn't mean you are being deceptive. Like you said, you are probably just reacting becuz they said you were having trouble with THAT question.



They played the same game with me in 2000. I applied for a Chinese linguist position after retiring from the navy (20 years in which I held TS/SCI). I was NSA professionalized, and even an NSA adjunct language instructor. I too pasted four 5 year update BIs.



Anyway, it's the same old game. "Gee you are having trouble with the foreign contact question. So must get everything even remotely related to that OFF YOUR CHEST". And like any honest, cooperative applicant I fell for it and finally ended up saying something they could use to eliminate me. If you think about, why would you have to get everything off your chest. They explain the relevant questions quite clearly. Did you answer truthfully? Yes? Then logically, there would be nothing else to explain. Don't let them get you to suspend your critical judgment! Conversely, if you are answering truthfully, yet the machine is indicating deception, then, again logically, the problem must not be with you it must be with THEIR FUCKING MACHINE !!!!





Now, LEGALLY, if all they have is a set of chart readings which they claim show deception, but no admissions THEY CAN NOT FIRE YOU! Looks like you are too late. You admitted to a security breach. I'll bet they are blowing it out of all proportion, aren't they. Don't give them anything else! Incidently, if you had admitted to your boss in ops to a minor security breach (rather than to a poly examiner during a 5 year update), would your job now be in jeapardy?!! No, you'd get chewed out and maybe a little not in your personnel file. Lesson? DO NOT MAKE ADMISSIONS to anything short of the actual test question. If the question concerns KNOWINGLY divulging classified information (and not minor security lapses), then concern yourself with the original question, and not anything tangential.



Take GM's advice. Also, check out the following website:



http://www.sheldoncohen.com/publications/polygraph.htm



Federal administrative agencies handling employee appeals of adverse actions deal with polygraph results in a number of ways. The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals which decides appeals of security clearance decisions, has held that admissions by an applicant made during a polygraph examination may be admissible even though the results of polygraph examination are not.(11), Such "results" would include the polygraph charts and the polygraph operator's interpretation of those chart, [The DOHA Appeal Board has held that Paragraph D.6 of DoD Directive 5210.48 which states that: "no adverse action will be taken solely on the basis of a polygraph examination chart that indicates deception" does not bar the use in evidence of applicant's admissions. DoD Reg. 5210.48-R provides, however, that the "results of an analysis of the polygraph charts may be considered to have probative value in administrative determinations.



You are at an advantage. I was just an applicant, you are an actual EMPLOYEE. From what I have heard over the years, is that if the folks you work for in OPS want you bad enough, and are willing to go to bat for you, they will just have you tested, and tested and tested until you pass. They used to have an old lady examiner (grandmotherly type) who specialized in those types of cases.



If you just can't pass, and nobody will go to bat for you, and you end up maintaining your legal right not to be fired based soley on some squigly-wigglies on a set of poly charts, they will give you some lowly job not requiring a clearance. IOW, under-employ you and try to get you to quit.



I hope that helps.



TC This is the game they play, DO NOT PLAY ALONG!They have a pattern of reactions from you, BUT NO ADMISSIONS. This doesn't mean you are being deceptive. Like you said, you are probably just reacting becuz they said you were having trouble with THAT question.They played the same game with me in 2000. I applied for a Chinese linguist position after retiring from the navy (20 years in which I held TS/SCI). I was NSA professionalized, and even an NSA adjunct language instructor. I too pasted four 5 year update BIs.Anyway, it's the same old game. "Gee you are having trouble with the foreign contact question. So must get everything even remotely related to that OFF YOUR CHEST". And like any honest, cooperative applicant I fell for it and finally ended up saying something they could use to eliminate me. If you think about, why would you have to get everything off your chest. They explain the relevant questions quite clearly. Did you answer truthfully? Yes? Then logically, there would be nothing else to explain. Don't let them get you to suspend your critical judgment! Conversely, if you are answering truthfully, yet the machine is indicating deception, then, again logically, the problem must not be with you it must be with!!!!Now, LEGALLY, if all they have is awhich they claim show deception, butTHEY CAN NOT FIRE YOU! Looks like you are too late. You admitted to a security breach. I'll bet they are blowing it out of all proportion, aren't they. Don't give them anything else! Incidently, if you had admitted to your boss in ops to a minor security breach (rather than to a poly examiner during a 5 year update), would your job now be in jeapardy?!! No, you'd get chewed out and maybe a little not in your personnel file. Lesson? DO NOT MAKE ADMISSIONS to anything short of the actual test question. If the question concerns KNOWINGLY divulging classified information (and not minor security lapses), then concern yourself with the original question, and not anything tangential.Take GM's advice. Also, check out the following website:You are at an advantage. I was just an applicant, you are an actual EMPLOYEE. From what I have heard over the years, is that if the folks you work for in OPS want you bad enough, and are willing to go to bat for you, they will just have you tested, and tested and tested until you pass. They used to have an old lady examiner (grandmotherly type) who specialized in those types of cases.If you just can't pass, and nobody will go to bat for you, and you end up maintaining your legal right not to be fired based soley on some squigly-wigglies on a set of poly charts, they will give you some lowly job not requiring a clearance. IOW, under-employ you and try to get you to quit.I hope that helps.TC