I just got a job with where I will probably need to get a TS or possibly even a TS-SCI clearance at some point down the road.
My question: Is a polygraph a mandatory part of any TS clearance, even just a "vanilla" TS? In other words, if I get just a TS, will I necessarily have to submit to a polygraph? I am assuming a poly would be required for SCI. Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks.
No, not everyone with a top secret clearance (or even SCI access) is necessarily required to submit to polygraph screening. For example, I held a TS/SCI clearance while an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, but was never required to submit to polygraph screening in that connection.
However, if your job requires that you be "read on" to a Special Access Program, then you can expect to be required to submit to this pseudoscientific procedure.