I have heard a rumor that in AIT they give you a polygraph test. Any truth to this?

And before some of you jump on me saying, "what do you have to hide?" or "You shouldnt worry about it if you dont need to lie"...

Thats not it. I have never taken one and it would be interesting. Im just wondering if anyone here can confirm this. Nothing more.

Thanks guys
Varner

quote:

I have heard a rumor that in AIT they give you a polygraph test. Any truth to this?

Which AIT?

Only time I've ever seen them done (Navy) is when there are discrepincies in the SF86 and subsequent investigation that are left unresolved by an interview. Therefore not normally done, even for TS clearances.

I highly doubt they would give a poly to EVERYONE during ait for MI. I have read they do give polys to some MI based on special assignments.

Here are some examples of what I would say would be a definite cause to administer a polygraph.

#1. Are you foreign born?

#2. Are your parents foreign born?

#3. A linguist with foreign born parents, or even a third generation with family still living in the country of origin may be given a polygraph.

If you have any ties to another country you will be given one at some point.

Have I ever known of anyone being given a polygraph?

YES.

How did it happen?

A guy i knew signed a classified paper out of a safe. He forgot to sign it back in when he replaced it.

They are that paranoid when it comes to OPSEC.

What happened next?

He was taken into a room and asked a battery of questions. Such as, how long was the document out of the safe? Why didn't you sign it back in? etc. Pretty basic questions.

THEN,

they brought in another guy with a portable polygraph device. They asked him all the same questions again. They gave him the opportunity to lie and to catch him in a lie. You may at some point be asked to take a polygraph. Just tell the truth. Whatever it is, just tell the truth. The only question that I can think of that they can NOT ask you is if you are gay. There may be exceptions to even that in some instances. I.e. "are you giving that spy a rusty trombone on the side?"

you know, stuff like that.

That punch line was incredible... admit it.

All they want from you is full transparency. Don't let it bother you. I can promise you this, any personal information they obtain about you won't be abused. If they abuse that, someone will catch them, and there will be more than one person in a sensitive area that is trained to do a job, but actually there to report on the on-goings. They are dually employed. They do a job there, but they also report kind of like an OSI guy or something. It's called something like over-sight. Don't worry about it. Someone will always be there watching over all that. That was perhaps my greatest fear. I was afraid of people using things against me, information, and there was a time that they threatened my family. Someone saw them do that though and I'm sure that the payback was hell. So see, just be you, just be honest, and be transparent. That's all they want. You'll see that you're not really ever as alone as you might feel. Sometimes people who are rooting for you can't come to you and give you advice or even be your friend. Still, they are there. There were a lot of people pulling for me. Sadly, I disappointed them I think. It is the biggest regret of my life.

I am at AIT for MI here in Ft. Huachuca and I have never taken a poly and noone from other MOS has had to do so. What is your MOS??

quote:

Originally posted by FormerZoomie:
Here are some examples of what I would say would be a definite cause to administer a polygraph.

#1. Are you foreign born?

#2. Are your parents foreign born?

#3. A linguist with foreign born parents, or even a third generation with family still living in the country of origin may be given a polygraph.

It's a good thing people aren't paying you for these responses...they'd be wasting their money!

quote:

If you have any ties to another country you will be given one at some point.

Another bad answer.

quote:

A guy i knew signed a classified paper out of a safe. He forgot to sign it back in when he replaced it.

They are that paranoid when it comes to OPSEC.

That's not an OPSEC issue -- it's called a security violation. And I have to raise the BS flag on that one. Unless the document was never found and involved HUMINT sources, nuclear material/targets, or other critical data to our National Security, no poly would ever be administered.

To the OP, I spent well over 20 yrs in Intel and only had one (1) polygraph administered. Rarely do we get the opportunity to see these first hand. Most are administered based upon a specific job/position that one is being interviewed for. These are called lifestyle polygraphs and include questions that involve...one's lifestyle. Not a biggie. Other poly's can be administered in connection with severe security or criminal investigations.

how hard is it to get into three letter agencies froom AF?

This thread is 4.5 years old. You'd do better starting your own thread.

It depends on a lot of things other than just serving in the AF to get into any of the agencies you refer to. Also, the jobs and requirements among all of them vary greatly. Be much more specific and you'll get better answers.