Does NSA really do the R/I test?

[martjacobs6]

George, et al,

Please confirm the type of polygraph test that NSA does for employment screening.  
Is it probable-lie or relevant/irrelevant?
I have read conficting answeres to this question.
How does one perform countermeasures in a relevant/irrelevant test?
There are no control/comparison questions?
Does anyone have an exact list of NSA questions?
I am not sure if the information in the DoDPI document applies to NSA.

[George W. Maschke]

Yes, the NSA uses the relevant/irrelevant technique. To the best of my knowledge, the NSA is the only federal agency that still uses the R&I technique as its primary one, though other agencies use it as a back-up. Information on the R&I technique is provided at pp. 115-19 of the 3rd edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. Countermeasures to it are discussed at p. 152.

Questions asked will be similar to those listed in this DoDPI instructional worksheet:

http://antipolygraph.org/documents/dodpi-relevant-irrelevant.shtml

For additional discussion of th R&I technique, see the message thread, Passing NSA relevant/irrelevant test?

On a final note, be aware that NSA polygraph examiners also read this message board. If your name really is "Mart Jacobs," you have left yourself little choice but to adopt the "complete honesty" approach outlined in Chapter 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. Explain to your polygrapher that you've researched polygraphy and mention that you have posted here. It is to be hoped that you won't be subjected to retaliation for having done so.

[NSAreject]

Mart,

   I also hope you didn't post your real name;
nevertheless, they will still ask you, if you have
visited any anti-polygraph type of Internet sites.  You
will receive instructions from your SSO to park at
"Cardiac Hill", but park at the airport parking next to
FANX1 (it's a long, degrading walk from "Caridac Hill",
next to a busy street, plus it's impossible to find
parking).   Watch out for the good guy/bad guy routine
(read the DoDPI Interrogation Handbook).  One time,
they tried to get me to lie on a control question
(probable lie control test), but I refused, so he
PRETENDED to get mad, slammed down his fist on the
table, and shouted, "test over !".   Once you figure out
their routine, you wil see what a bunch of clowns they
are.  If you have a security clearance, and get denied
by NSA, that may affect your current clearance, or any
future clearances.  If you want to work in a dysfunctional
environment, then go for it, but my advise is to stay the
Hell away.  The DoD investigators are very fair and
professional, as long as, you are honest with them.
Applying for a TS/SCI/Poly position, puts you into that
dysfunctional/abusive system, unless you go for a
non-poly TS/SCI position (DIA, DoD, NGA, some CIA, etc.)

[GoodNurse]

Early next week I have my pre-employment "lifestlye" (I assume) poly at NSA.  After reading a number of materials (posts, pdf's, statements) on the NSA's process, I am anxious about the upcoming experience.  Plus, one of my girlfriends just did this processing (she was applying for a summer position, while I'm going for full-time -- but it sounds like it will be the same 2 day affair) and she is really shaken up.  This only adds to my anxiety.

A few specific ?'s ....

1) Can anyone who has taken NSA's poly very recently re-confirm that they are still doing R/I? (in addition to being shaken up, my friend is taking the whole thing really seriously and won't say)

2) Can those who have both passed NSA's poly, as well as those experts like George, skeptic, and others, please clearly state whether or not to make any admissions? (see my personal "bio" below)  There is some ambiguity in various threads about this.

3) If the answer to question 2 is any sort of yes, please suggest when and to what.

4) Without control ?'s to look for, how/when specifically should any CM's be employed?

5) Has anyone heard of, or had experience with, probing personal (i.e. sexual, etc) questions during NSA's poly?

I've NEVER done/sold/touched drugs of any kind.  I've NEVER been arrested (in fact, the first time I was ever inside a police station was to fill out my fingerprint card) or even charged with any crime -- other than speeding.  ;-)  Sure, I take pens and paper from work home with me sometimes.  Sure, I tell my boyfriend that he looks like he's lost weight even when he's his usual pudgy self.  Sure, when I was younger I told my parents that I was going to a girlfriend's house when I was actually meeting a boy.  But nothing major at all, ever.  I'm a squeaky clean girl!

I wasn't sweating this poly at all until I read this site and other items that led me to believe that the examiners are subjective (rather than objective) and that many "clean" people fail.

Thanks in advance for your timely (and specific/detailed) help.

[George W. Maschke]

1) Can anyone who has taken NSA's poly very recently re-confirm that they are still doing R/I? (in addition to being shaken up, my friend is taking the whole thing really seriously and won't say)

NSA has been using the R/I technique as its primary one for more than 50 years. AntiPolygraph.org has received no information indicating any recent change.

2) Can those who have both passed NSA's poly, as well as those experts like George, skeptic, and others, please clearly state whether or not to make any admissions? (see my personal "bio" below)  There is some ambiguity in various threads about this.

While I think that applicants for positions that require polygraph screening have an ethical obligation to answer relevant questions truthfully, there is no obligation to provide a laundry list of everything one has ever done that may be a source of embarrassment, shame, or regret.

No matter how truthfully you initially answer questions, you can expect to be accused of at least "having problems," if not outright lying, and to be pressed for admissions. It may thus be helpful to have some pre-planned explanation for why you might have reacted to any question. One should be careful not to say anything that could be twisted into a damaging admission. See pp. 152-54 of the 3rd edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for more in this regard.

3) If the answer to question 2 is any sort of yes, please suggest when and to what.

Please see the reference cited above.

4) Without control ?'s to look for, how/when specifically should any CM's be employed?

Countermeasures to the R/I technique are briefly discussed at p. 152 of the 3rd edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. The purpose of applying countermeasures by augmenting reactions to a different pair of relevant questions during each question series is to prevent reactions to any one relevant question from standing out in relation to the others. As you will recall, the R/I technique is scored by looking for consistent, specific, and significant ("con-spec-nificant") reactions to a particular relevant question.

It may also be beneficial to augment reactions to any announcement of the beginning and/or end of the examination, as these may be used as a kind of "control" stimulus.

I think that in the R/I technique, behavioral countermeasures (appearing honest) and having a plausible, non-damaging explanation for any alleged "reactions" are probably more important than physical countermeasures.

5) Has anyone heard of, or had experience with, probing personal (i.e. sexual, etc) questions during NSA's poly?

One NSA applicant reports having been pressed to admit to being a homosexual. See the statement of "NSA Reject".

[applicant123]

George,

What would be some examples of good explanations to any alleged 'reactions' during the exam?  Admit a small misdeed that's related to the topic but not damaging?  Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

[George W. Maschke]

You'll find three examples at p. 153 of the 3rd edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.