Hie! I am Garima Puniani, A defense aspirant like you all. I would like to Share my story with you, not guidance but the experience, for a realization that nothing is impossible if you have made an aim in life. I have lived my entire life (till now) in Chandigarh, and none of my family member is into defense, not even in 3 generations. Since my childhood whenever I used to see a defense personal, I used to wonder who all these people are and how they are selected. Â Are they from different world or something? As I grew up my myths changed as I made friends who were from defense background, I used to go to their places. Meet their families, but still, a feeling was there, this life is something way beyond you could imagine in civilian cadre. There was prestige, honor, and most of all. A good life!
This all inspired me to make an aim in life that one day even I will be there. Â And I was in my 8th class.
Time came and went by. With luck or destiny, I took non-medical, got a good score in my 12th, took civil engg , but back in my mind, I knew one day I have to make it in defense forces only!
When I came into my final year, time came for me to apply for Indian Air Force! I cleared the AFCAT and went for my ssb at afsb Dehradun on 21st November 2012! I was screened in in batch of 87 selected out of 168. I was given chest no 19. Being a defense aspirant, though I did not take any formal coaching from any institute but went to a rtd. Col for some guidance as what happens at ssb.
Believe me even if you go with no training you are equivalent to the one who has taken training because it is all so new , you cannot learn anything from anywhere. The ssb judge you for what REAL you are, and not what you portray, they know exactly what kind of people come over there and how to judge them , so do not play smart with them. I did mistakes in my story writing about which I came to know later, though rest of the words and SRT went well, but I believe stories play an important part in judging one’s personality! The GTO were good. Being a sports person I was able to do 7/8 individual, GD and GPE were good, but progressive group task did not go well, our batch did not work as a team, which I feared was a negative. I did not work as a team. My interview went for more than 1 hr, which I came to know later, was not a good thing because I blabbered out many things which I shouldn’t have. I did not know many things about Airforce, which I should have, my G.k. was poor and I wasn’t prepared for the interview at all, which I realized later.  My conference took time, there was a time gap in me going to the room and my preceding one leaving the room, so that meant I was a border line case. They asked me about my achievement and about my hobbies and how I managed time with things, I was Conference out from my 1st SSB because of my over confidence only!
I was shattered, it was my dream to make it to in defense forces, but it did not happen, but I wanted to make it into the forces. In January, my result for cdse-2 /2012 result came and I had cleared it! My spirits rose. I wanted to prove myself this time, in mean while I filled in for sscw tech as well as afcat. My SSB for cdse-2 came to Allahabad on 29th may 2013, only 57 girls had reported and 36 were screened it, but I was in one of those who were screened out, I couldn’t believe what had happened, in my life I had always wished to be in defense force but now the dream seemed so unreachable. I was sad but hopeful that it wasn’t my time, and my time will also come soon.
My 3rd SSB call came from Indian Airforce, at Mysore on 24th June 2013, I was screened in batch of 74 out of 169 with chest no 61 . The Very next day they took our PABT, in which I cleared the written and for battery aptitude they said they will give the result on conference day, then we had our psychology, for what joy I used to make someone die in my stories,  SRT and words went ok. I did most of them. 25th June as it was my birthday , I celebrated it with my whole SSB batch , we cut a cake at night and celebrated it with full spirit and enthusiasm, the whole batch sang songs for me. I must say it has been the best bday ever till date. My interview this time was taken by the president, and it approximately went for 1 hr, which went really well, he asked me some GK questions, I answered them well this time most of the interview was based upon SRT, which I managed well and I could see the president was impressed, what went wrong in SSB this time too was my GTO. Though, GD, and GPT went well, my progressive group task did not go well again. I had become either bossy, or was shouting out orders out things on other, which I realized in the end. My conference again went in for long asking me about the achievement and made me sure that I am again a border line case. I was again conferenced out from Airforce SSB and did not clear my PABT too, so luck wasn’t favoring me at all! My SSB ended on 29th June and I reached back Chandigarh on 2nd july!
With only 4 days gap, my next SSB was lined up at Allahabad. My Tech entry SSB on 7th July! Â This was my last chance as my family had given me ultimatum to either make it or think of other options also. I had to make it in this time!
I was screened in 30 out of 81 girls in 11 SSB board. This time they made batch of repeaters’ and fresher’s together. I was given chest no. 1. Freaking Chest no. 1. The next day we had our psychology, which went well. I did not make the same mistake this time, did not make anyone die in my stories, words went absolutely fine and SRT I attempted 55-56. So over all this time psychology was better than ever. My interview was on the same day in fact 15 minutes after we completed our psych test. Since I was chest no. 1, I was the scapegoat. But to my amusement, my interview went very fine. Deputy president took my interview, and it went only for 20-25 minutes,  this time I could see the change in my answers, be it from guidance from others or your own experience, it went amazingly good, I was good with my g.k. I knew everything what I had written in my p.i.q. The g.to were perfect from team work to gd, gpe to lecture , all went fine. I did all my individual tasks,. Everything ended really well. This time from inside I had a feeling yes, I have done everything right. Conference went in for 10-20 seconds only. Deputy President presided over my conference. Be it a good batch or our luck, Out of 30 /9 girls were recommended from our batch. The medicals went well. I was given over weight by 8 kgs, which I had to reduce in 42 days, ask me, how difficult it is being a sports person, but I did it. I lost 10 kgs. Finally the Merit list came on 11th September and I have topped my stream. I am going to join OTA this 5th October.
I cannot explain the feeling I had when I made it to the merit. I feel content that, my parents, my family is so proud of me. It’s the hard work and never dying attitude that took me to here, so long, so far!
I hope I have not bored you all, thank you for your patience for reading it all!
For any reference or questions you can contact me here at https://www.facebook.com/gr8glory
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 About Author: Garima PunianiI am Garima Puniani from Chandigarh. Completed B.E. in Civil Engineering. Been an all rounder and have been a defense aspirant since my childhood.
