Hello everyone!! I’m Devendra Chaudhari, appeared for AFCAT (Air force Common Admission Test) in my third year of degree for UES-14 entry. I appeared for the exam, it was a bit easy and I cleared it. My score was 167 out of 300 and the cut off marks were 144.
Now let me come to the point..
I would prefer to say…. I’m going in this field by an accident. To tell you all frankly, let me start the story after clearing AFCAT. When I passed the written exam, it was the time for AFSB (nothing but the Air Force SSB) and I was not sure whether to go for it or not. But by the time the news of clearing the written test reached to all my relatives, friends etc. and they all started to praise me and all. In between one of my friend told me that SSB is really tough and I think that is not your cup of tea. And that’s it; it was a wound to my ego. Then I finally decided to go for it. Just to take the challenge. ( and more interestingly…. to save my money on my food for 6 days in college.. really.. J )
I selected 3 AFSB Gandhinagar as my option and the date of my interview was 8th July 2013.
I started my journey from Lonere to Mumbai and then Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 7th July. Our reporting time was 0645 hrs at Khalupur Station. (I had to Google “Khalupur” for knowing that it is the Ahmedabad Railway station.J)
All the candidates were asked to fall in there on the MCO at the station and after some formalities the officers took us to the AFSB Gandhinagar by vehicle. The place is around 35 km from Ahmedabad Railway station.
So we all went there. I was feeling so much uncomfortable because everyone there was in formals and I was in T-Shirt and Cargo. Moreover I was looking like a kid among them and when I asked one of the candidate about what is going to be there in the screening(as I was not having any idea), he replied “beta, don’t worry its easy.” As soon as I heard the word “beta” I didn’t asked anything to anyone. I just started listening each and every word from the officer and act accordingly.
As soon as we reached there we were given some chest number, mine was No. 06. Then we had our breakfast and then the testing started. We had two aptitude tests (in engineering lag.) and after finishing those two tests we had to go for the PPDT (picture perception and Discussion Test). Frankly speaking, I wrote the story of the movie “Kismat Konnection” as I saw there an architect and one another person. In the discussion I narrated my story well. My story was not recommended. But in discussion I took an active part and our group was quite descent. As a result out of 12, we were 9 to screen in and only 3 members of our group were screened out. Total 22 candidates were screened in and my aim (to save money of 6 days meal) was completed. J
Now our chest numbers were renewed and my new chest number was 05. We were asked to take our belongings and go into the rooms. We were 6 people in a room (chest no. 01 to 06). The room was neat and clean with white beds, bed sheets and really a descent stay. Afterward there was our document checking just after having our lunch. We completed those formalities and then came back to our rooms. Then I came to know about the sports room and I couldn’t stop myself from playing table tennis. And frankly, I’m good at that. This made me recognised among my other mates. J Then the very next day in morning there was PABT (Pilot Ability Battery Test), but as I applied for the Technical branch, I didn’t appear for PABT. In the evening of the same day, we had to fill up the PIQ form. Ie. The personal information form. In which we have to fill details about everything related to us. We are asked the population of our village, town etc. and I was not knowing. I just wrote something approximate by doing “calculation in imagination”. J
By the time, we got to know each other’s names. And we were quite comfortable in the stay there. After the dinner, when I went to play table tennis, one of the senior citizen (the candidate having experience of more than one SSB, I was calling them “senior citizen”.) advised me, “Beta, don’t use some fixed words in the WAT in pshyc test tomorrow.” I listened his words carefully and didn’t replied anything. The next day, in the pshyc test I did the exactly opposite of whatever was advised. Not by intensions but it was simply spontaneous. I did whatever I was feeling. I wrote, whatever was there in my mind. I didn’t showed off anything. It was truly me and my thoughts which I put on the paper in the psychological test.
After the pshyc test, when we people were having discussion on the test, the same senior citizen said ”beta, tere chances kam hog aye hai. Aise nahi likha karte paper me.” But I was really… really.. Chilled.. Tension free…and had nothing im ma mind… Everything was clear… My aim was already completed. J (Aim of saving money of meal.J).
Group Tasks
Then for the next two days we had our GTO with us. Mr Reddy Sir, really a dashing person. He made all of us much comfortable throughout our GT.
Group Discussion
In GD, the first topic which we chose was “how to improve the relationship between India-Pakistan?” I was clear with my views and explained it well. The next topic given to us was “how to irradiate corruption from India?” with this topic also, the same thing. I listened everyone, kept my views explained it. Tried to make everyone convince with my views. Also supported views by others.
Military Planning
“Many problems and the common way to solve them.” This is the idea behind this. I wrote my solution for the problem discussed with the group-mates and we did it well.
The next day, it was having Lecturrate and the ground tasks.
For lecturrate, my topic was “The cable TV”. I took my time and explained every possible thing in short. Such as advantages, disadvantages and Conclusion.
For ground tasks, such as Progressive group task, half group task, command task I don’t have words to explain. It was simply a great experience. You better to have it by your own.
The next day, it was the time for PI. The personal Interview and I was deliberately waiting for this moment. Because this is the last thing on which we are jugged. When I entered the room, the interviewer stood up and made a hand shake with me. Asking me to have my sit. He asked me “Mr. Devendra Rajendra Chaudhari, you have got a long name. What shall I call you?” I replied “sir, Devendra is enough.” And from that moment he started to ask me each and everything about me, my family etc. He asked me everything about me. Private life, Ultra-Private life (Love life) and then cross questioning on the same topics. The interview was all about my life. Just like opening the full book in front of that person. When he asked me about the reason to join Air force, I frankly replied, “a great career option having a good salary and a safe job.” And I think this thing which I told very honestly might have impressed him. He started from the meaning of my name and ended with a smile. My interview lasted for almost 1 and half hour (which is usually of an hour.).
So this was all about the interview. Then I was totally relaxed and was 80% sure about some candidates to get selected and I was 100% sure about myself. Although I was saying this thing to everyone in fun but in ma mind I was sure about my selection.
On the conference day, I was asked very usual questions about stay, my college name etc. and nothing difficult.
Then it was the result time and I made it in my first ever attempt. Chest No. 05 (me) was selected and it was to every one’s expectations. I was damn happy then. Still celebrating the moment. Now my medical date is 6th January 2014. I hope no other issues come in between me and academy. Need your wishes.
With Love and Wishes,
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About Author: Devendra Chaudhari
A final year B.Tech. Student. Pursuing degree in IT branch at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technologicar University Lonere-Raigad (MS). Applied for UES-14 and cleared AFSB in first attempt. Now looking forward for Medical at Delhi in January-14..
