It is a great pleasure for me to share my experience after getting recommended on my fourth attempt. Firstly I thank the Almighty God for his blessing and all the guidance I took from Lt.Col P. Balasubramanian while I attended the coaching from Shankar SSB Academy, Salem , Tamilnadu.  

I got a call letter to attend SSB at Bangalore centre for TGC125 for Army and we were asked to report on 7 March, 2017 at Bangalore Railway Station. Our SSB days was held from 8-12March which was fun and lively.

DAY 1: SCREENING TEST

Totally we were 311 candidates on the first day and I was assigned Chest No.259 and our test starts with OIR test which was divided into two sets (40 questions each in both sets). It was quite easy and I could complete all (OIR require a lot of practise, majority are from non-verbal like cubes and dices). The next test was PPDT and a hazy picture was shown where a girl was standing on a bridge and below was a river. I mainly wrote the story as per Sir Guidance and I wrote about a Girl who was a civil engineer who was posted in a rural area in PWD who found out the need to provide better connectivity by constructing bridge and was analysing the newly constructed one and how that help the people in transport and communication process.

Then we were divided into a various groups and our group have over 15 candidates and we were brought into a small room with three assessors in front of us. We were asked to narrate our stories individually and then discuss as a group and reach a consensus. Here I feel individual narration matters much as in a repeater group, everyone started shouting. Also I feel how you tried to make your point in the discussion will be analysed.

After lunch the result were announced and I was among 35 screened in and were assigned new chest number. I got chest no.26.

DAY 2: PSYCHOLOGY TEST

We were seated in a testing hall and before each test; the Psychologist briefed us on various Instructions. Our test started with TAT and I fully followed Sir Instructions on how to write and also in these tests you should accept the situation. (Eg. A dead body covered in blood and surrounded by 4 men need to be tackled in such a way that it will be in the interest of the psychology and not assuming it to be a play or show).

Next test was WAT and here I left two words. In this test, be prepared to face negative word and some difficult English words in the middle when your mind is in a rush to give your response. Be consistent in your response and try not to make your response conflict each other.

In SRT, I could answer 50 but I tried to give somewhat quality complete answer here. I also follow Sir Tips here and also it is necessary to accept the Situations given and tackle it the way which will impress the Psychologist. Also consistency in your response is a must and there are various questions with different situation but somewhat same response can be given, so I feel a consistency in giving an answer is important.

Self-Description was good and this time I wrote more on my negative sides but with proper points for what I have written.

INTERVIEW:

My interview was scheduled on the second day and my interview was at around 3pm. It was just an informal conversation and here unlike my previous interviews, it was only 20-30 minutes and there was no rapid fire round and neither current affairs nor technical questions were asked. All the questions were purely based on my PIQ, he asked all about my State’s history, insurgency problem (what led to it and the outcome), and social, economic and political developments. He also asked about the forces and a lot of questions on my personal life. He also asked whatever I wrote in my PIQ including sport sections and about my previous attempts and my preference for the forces and what all I could do to help people in my State if I became an officer in Indian Army. I could answer the questions and in some instance I gave with some examples of my own to support my sentence. If you are a repeater, be ready to face questions on your previous attempts.

So I advise  you to know everything about your PIQ regarding the history and the consequences and never contradict your answer or answer differently with the questions that he asked you as IO tend to check your consistency in giving answer.

DAY 3: GTO 1

We were having two GTO, one was senior GTO and other was training (I guess). We were 8 people in our group andMy GTO started with Group Discussion and the first topic was to be chosen by us - it was regarding Trump immigration policy or Low Quality of education in private institutions. We chose the latter one and for the next topic was Reasons for rising level of woman harassment. I could spoke well in both the discussions and spoke 3-4 times to make my points clear.

GPE was then conducted and in this task, I tried to utilise all resource and also follow Sir Guidelines here (like if a highway is present there will be some vehicles passing by), the discussion was somehow okay and I could contribute my plan to the discussion. Some people may feel the GTO did not read what you wrote but he did read it as I saw him reading during other tasks was performed.

GPT and HGT was again conducted and I could contribute some part in the planning, and I found that some candidate doesn’t want to carry the load and tend to progress trying to dominate but I don’t think that’s the case I feel our success and completion is more important than one person dominating it.

GOR (Snake Race) was then conducted and I helped everyone cross the obstacle and I was usually the last to cross. Here, never leave your team mates as some people have difficulty in crossing the obstacle, I feel completing and cooperating as a groupis more important than rushing to win.

Lecturette was then conducted and I spoke about National Budget as I have read about the Union budget recently and I could spoke for three minutes. Here, keep updating with recent news so that you can make your points more clear.

Try to show your best in each task and if you feel you could’ve done better in one task, don’t get disheartened and perform the net task with your best efforts and try to be on the GTO radar for the first three tests.

DAY 2: GTO 2

Our day started with warm-up exercise for individual obstacle and after some time first task individual obstacle (IO) was conducted. I could complete the entire obstacle and even in this case I feel how you choose to get with the obstacle matters as balance beam will be difficult once you completed 8^th obstacle as it really required efforts in some obstacle but that solely up to you.

Next task was command task and my task was little bit tricky but I could manage it with some hint from GTO. It was solely cantilever Principle and most of them can be tackled easily.

Final group task was held and here I was just a mute spectator carrying the load.

DAY 5: CONFERENCE

Firstly we were introduced to the conference room and after that we assembled at one hall where the Dy. President briefed us and gave us motivational speech. Then we were called in and when my preceding chest no. came out from the conference room, I have to wait for about 10 minutes before I was called in. My IO was the one greeted me and asked me to give one point where they should change in the Administration. I suggest having variety in breakfast as we were having bread continuously almost every day and include puri for breakfast. He then wished me Good Luck and I left the room.

After an hour of waiting, one technical officer came and announced the chest no. of the recommended candidate randomly and I was the last no. to be called. 8 of us were recommended and I was so happy that I thought it was a dream. I thank Almighty God for his blessing and I am also thankful to my parents and immediately contacted my parents and informed them of my result.

PROFILE:

Name                : LALDINGNGHETA

Education            : BE