Dave and Mark, I also have taken the polygraph test a few times (pre-employment, and one routine) and have never had a problem, but I think Mark is right in that it is not 100%, but then again nothing is.  I don't think anyone should expect it to be 100%.  The first test I took I had a problem with use of illegal substance.  The examiner talked to me and asked me what I was thinking.  I told him I have a girlfriend who part-takes in the smoking of marijuana every once in a while, and that's what I thought when he asked me.  We clearified the issue and I re-took the examination.  After the exam was over the examiner told me I did not fail the first test, but I was no opinion or he could not tell, and after resolving that drug issue I had no problem.  Back to the basic bottom line. No I don't think there 100%, but I'm not going to try and cheat or beat it if I have nothing to hide.

Dave,

Your post reminds me of those of Duc748.  As I read your post, your implicit conclusion seems to be that you took the polygraph eight times, told the truth every time, and never had a problem, therefore, no one else should either.

It's a bit like coming back after a game of Russian roulette and saying: I spun the barrel, put the gun to my head, pulled the trigger, and never had a problem.

The only reasonable inference I can see from your experience is that not 100% of truth tellers will be falsely accused.  We already know that.

If the polygraph or any other procedure is, let's say, about as accurate as a coin toss, is it fair for the 50% who "pass" to claim that the procedure works just fine?

Hello, I have worked for a dod agency for 20 years and have taken 8 polygraph tests.  I have always been truthful and have never had a problem.  The first test I took I was worried about, but I just told all.  I do know if I did something criminal I would never take it.

The primary polygraph technique used by the Department of Defense, the so-called "Test for Espionage and Sabotage," (TES) is different from others in that it employs directed-lie (rather than probable-lie) "control" questions. These are covered in Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. But you should also note that in fiscal year 2000, the only persons who didn't pass their DoD polygraph screening "tests" were those who made what their polygraphers deemed to be "substantive" admissions. Everyone who made no such admissions "passed." See my open letter to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld on this:

http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-011.shtml

For further reading about the TES, see also my article, "The Lying Game: National Security and the Test for Espionage and Sabotage":

http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-002.shtml

and also the official documentation available on AntiPolygraph.org at:

http://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml#TES

Is there anything peculiar or special about the DOD's security clearance polygraph testing?
I will soon be testing for a clearance and don't want the last year of my life to be wasted just because I "fail" a bogus exam.