DOD Polygraph policy

[efghi]

Academic Question:  

What is the general DOD policy on Polygraphs?  Is it used for all employees (like in the CIA), or only those with especially high clearance?

My understanding of the structure is this:  S/ TS clearances at DOD would not undergo a poly,  TS with a SAP would undergo a CI Poly, and TS with a SCI (or someone in the NSA) would undergo a lifestyle poly.  Is this the case?  Or do I have my acronyms mixed up :-P

[George W. Maschke]

The majority of DoD employees are not required to submit to polygraph screening at all. Those who are subject to polygraph screening typically have top secret clearances and special compartmented information (SCI) access. For example, it has recently been reported that the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is planning to ramp up it's polygraph screening program:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/?p=201

DoD's polygraph program is governed by DoD Directive 5210.48, which restricts the scope of polygraph screening to counterintelligence topics:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/polygraph/dod5210-48.html

With respect to military personnel detailed to the NSA, Section 4.13 of the directive states that "Polygraph examination shall be required on an interim and aperiodic basis for":

DoD civilian, military, contractor, and General Service Administration personnel, to assist in determining their eligibility for initial or continued employment, assignment, or detail for duty with the NSA in activities that require access to sensitive cryptologic information, or to spaces where sensitive cryptologic information is produced, processed, or stored. When military personnel are assigned or detailed for duty with NSA, the scope of such examination shall be limited to the counterintelligence topics prescribed in Appendix B of DoD 5210.48-R.

Under this policy, it would seem that DoD civilians detailed to NSA could be required to submit to "full scope" or "lifestyle" polygraph screening.