Hello Aspirants, I am Prateek Sharma, currently pursuing my B.Tech in Electronics and Communication from Amrita School of Engineering, Bangalore. I have been a regular visitor of SSBCrack since I was a fresher for SSB. It has helped me a lot, reading from experiences and success stories of many who were at different SSB’s all over India. Since, it has given me a lot; I thought to share my own story over here too. I hope it will be of some help to the readers.
I feel proud of being one of the luckiest ones in this country to get recommended for all three forces i.e. Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy. I have appeared for the SSB 7 times and having being recommended thrice gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction. Being a Fauji kid, I always had a dream of joining forces and wanted to be in one of the academies and defence establishments from childhood. I saw soldiers, irrespective of the colour of the uniform and imagined myself in them. It all started in 2011; I appeared for National Defence Academy (NDA) examination with my friends. I cleared it and got my maiden call for SSB at 2AFSB, Mysore in January 2012. I was a fresher then and was very excited about it. But I couldn’t make it, I was conferenced out whereas two of my best buddies made it through and they are presently under training at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezimala. I was happy for them but same time I knew I had things to improve upon.
TIP: For freshers, it is your golden opportunity. Try to make full use of it, be aware of the procedure at SSB before appearing for it and try your level best because “ Yeh mauka baar baar nahi milta.”
For repeaters, it’s often said “Once a repeater, always a repeater.” Don’t be afraid of that tag, instead be proud of it. I have been recommended as repeater always and if I can do it, anyone of you can also do it. Make a healthy self-introspection and find out ways to improve upon the things you wish to.
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I knew my mistakes and things which I could work out on. I practised hard for long hours on my mental and physical stability. I remember having tears in my eyes for not making it the first time with my friends but ensured those moments never came back. It paid off; I got recommended for the first time at 2AFSB, Mysore for Indian Air Force as Fighter pilot on 14th September. I had tears of joy then fulfilling my dream to join my friends at NDA. For medical reasons, I couldn’t join academy that time and was very unhappy about it. The only way I had to try for SSB again was after graduation. So, I made myself up and concentrated on my academics.
In these four years, there was not a single day I didn’t think of my recommendation, academy and friends at training. I used to meet them in their term breaks, listen to their stories and get amused like a child with his favourite toy. I used to look like them, according to people but I wanted to be one of them. The only things which were there for me were my parents; family, friends and most importantly hope and urge to be there. I never lost hope and knew if I could do it then, I can do it again. I had my dreams and was adamant to follow them even if I was alone in the path.
I got the opportunity to attend SSB again this year for Indian Army and Navy. Learning from my own experiences, stories and mistakes I appeared for both in full confidence. I got recommended for Indian Army on 14th January for University Entry Scheme (UES) from 20SSB, Bhopal and Indian Navy on 08th March for the same entry from 12SSB, Bangalore. Irrespective of the huge crowds on the screening day, I was unfazed and had only one idea; to achieve my aspiration, to get recommended again.
Now to my dear readers and defence aspirants, SSB is a life time experience and having appeared it for 7 times, I have learnt new things every time making long lasting friendships and relations. So, whether it is any SSB or even in real life, have an aim, dream to the fullest and strive to achieve them with your fullest confidence and endurance. Nothing is impossible in this world if a person makes up his mind to achieve something. Freshers, be fully aware of happenings in the world, procedure and ways of tackling them at SSB’s and my dearest repeaters, don’t worry about being one and face every attempt to your best abilities. Keep trying and never lose hope, because if you have it in you, you will definitely make it one day soon.
At last I would like to quote one special thing, it took 22 years for Sachin Tendulkar and Leonardo Di Caprio to achieve their dreams, despite being among the best in world. If they can do it, you too can. All the best. JAI HIND…!!!
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Contact me for any queries related to any force or SSB at sharmaprateek21@yahoo.in through emails or you could follow me on Facebook – Prateek Sharma, Bangalore. I would be really happy if I could be of any help to you.
