Hello aspirants, I am S ABHISHEK, pursuing my final year engineering at Amrita School of Engineering Bangalore. Initially in my college days, I had no knowledge of the Armed Forces of India rather I was just another students who was dreaming about placements projects etc. etc. … But it all came when I was second year when I was exposed to the Defence arena. This in turn went on to be my passion when I got to know more about the adventure, the life style, the class act, the attire of the Defence personals. So I applied for the UES NAVY PILOT (Flying), cleared my initial rounds and got the call letter on 7th December 2015. So after a brief preparation for my first ever SSB, I reported at 12 SSB Board Bangalore on 11th January 2016. I saw 219 people like me gathered up there for the same entry. I felt good as I got the feel that there I am here to get some good competition. After about a 5 long hours of verification process I was allotted 212 as my chest number.
Next day i.e 12th Jan the screening process took off. We were shown a woman looking out of her Balcony at the street in front of her. I made a story as the girl had come after studying at foreign university and had some plans to make the area and the traffic smarter by Internet of things etc. Many variety of stories were written by my colleagues and the GD took place. I had a GD more of a chaos but I could manage putting in some valuable points.
PPDT TIP: Never argue with others keep yourself calm and sneak in your thoughts when the voice levels slightly go down in the GD. And also practice the Narration of the story number of times before your group is been called for ppdt.
After about 3 longs hours of waiting, the results were being announced. One by one random chest numbers were called and the number went on up to 50 people and I just put my head down that I had a thought that I have to try next time again. But just as this thought came in , 212 my chest number was called and I was the second last to be called in the whole lot and I had a great sigh of relief and felt that yes I am one step closer now. I was given the Chest number 56 and thus a total of 57 people got screened in. We were given new accommodation. I had a great set of roommates with me and we all left no stone unturned trolling each other and had an enjoyable day.
Next day morning i.e 13th Jan, I had my Psych test. I felt the test easy and I put down all my efficient thoughts into words. I could successfully writes all 60 WATs, 56 SRTs and wrote a sound SD in the given frame of time.
PHYSC Tip: I would suggest all the aspirants that SD is one thing which you can prepare beforehand. I practiced the SD about 70+ times before actually putting myself into the SSB process. Practice WATs and SRTs from internet and be natural and try to be positive when responding to the WATS and SRTs.
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In the afternoon itself I was called for my interview. After a brief wait of about 40 mins I was called upon for the Interview. In all these 40 mins I was just keeping myself calm whereas some of my colleagues were discussing a lot of stuffs regarding GK and Current affairs etc. But I would suggest all of you is that the way interview goes depends only on yourself and none other. So your confidence and keeping yourself calm matters more rather than discussing all those current affairs at the end moment. So with this mind set I went into the interviewer. He first asked me about myself, all details about my family and friends. I just answered everything with truth and with a peace of mind, looking right into his eyes. I was asked some Technical questions and being an ECE student I was asked all about GSM and CDMA. I successfully answered all of these and to my luck I wasn’t asked any of the GK or Current affairs question because I dint give him a chance to go towards that domain so its all on you how you want your interview to be done. After about 50 mins my interview as done and I had a big satisfaction on myself and felt really great about it. After this I went back to room took some rest and in the evening played some volleyball and a fun filled night and the next whole day I was left free as my Interview had been done already.
INTERVIEW TIP: Keep calm, be confident and be truthful in the interview. If you don’t know some answer tell him that I’ll find out as soon as the interviews gets over and always show and have a positive attitude.
Next day i.e 15th Jan, I had my GTO. From chest number 51 -57 all were in the same group. We had a good GD, average GPE and in PGT, HGT & FGT, I was cooperative, suggested good ideas and helped and lead all my group mates to complete the obstacles. When compared to other groups my groups was doing the best as we had a great coordination with each other. Next we had our Snake Race. We went on to decide a war cry rather a very funny war cry i.e “BHAHUBALI” .The GTO started laughing when he heard out war cry. We finished second in the race and had an awesome race with all the other groups. Next the lecturette was also done with an ease.
In the Individual Obstacle Race, I successfully completed 9 obstacles and just I was about to do the left over obstacle the GTO blew the whistle. I would suggest that when the GTO explains about the Obstacles listen to him with utter attention and plan and adapt yourself during the race. Also it doesn’t matter the number of obstacles you do rather how you see the obstacles, the confidence and tries who make in countering the obstacles matters more.
In the command task I was called 5 times out of 7 people in the group and I helped all of them to my fullest. When I was called by GTO for command task, all of a sudden he asked to name 3 ships which Indian Navy possess. I named 2 destroyers and one aircraft carrier. Though was question was easy but it was unexpected at that moment so one should always be alert all the times at the SSB. I was given a tricky CT but I somehow managed to complete it. Also when GTO called me for the CT, I was scolded by him as I didn’t shave my beard on that day. So irrespective of the days in SSB make sure that you are groomed well. So in this way the outdoors came to an end.
GTO TIP: Nobody is going to check how strong you are physically. All is about your inner qualities and the OLQs. Adapt with the group, know each other and plan and discuss with your group before day itself so that you can execute the GTO in a smooth way. Never argue in GDs and always cooperate with your group. Also as I said before it doesn’t matter how many PGTs, HGTs or IO you do. What matters is how you perceive with all these obstacles and always keep trying and never give up.
Next day i.e 16th Jan, we all had our conference. All of them were dressed up in the best of their attire. We all knew that our fates have been sealed and I was confident about myself but yet I was on my toes always. In the conference I was asked about my stay and also they asked to rate my performance on all 3 aspects I.e. Physc, interview and GTO and the reason of rating too. At last I was asked by the president of the board on any suggestion I want to put forward. I said I don’t have any suggestions but the president forced me to put forward at least one suggestion. And I put a weird suggestion of changing the mess routine by changing curry made of panner to something else as it was repeated again and again. Suddenly all the officers started laughing and even I broke out my smile and my conference was done in a good note. It was an immense experience to see all of them in the White adorable uniforms.
After about an hour, the results were about to be announced .But before this happened suddenly the officer asked “Who was the person who asked for change in menu of the mess”. I stood up and he strongly asked me suggest me a new menu now and all of a sudden I said may be Malai Kofta can be included instead of panner on certain days of the week and the officer gave a big nod.
Now the results were being announced and my chest number was called 4th from last along with my buddies’ chest no 57, 51 and 40. 11 of us got recommended and we went on to make the 12SSB board record.
And to my surprise the next day at the lunch, we found that instead of paneer , kofta was made available to us.
In the next days, I went to AFSB Mysore to give my CPSS and PABT. I cleared both of them and also my medicals were done at Institute of Aerospace Medicine Bangalore.
At last, I would say one thing to all the aspirants. Be yourself…be confident…be positive…and adapt with different situations and never give up. This will ensure that you will become a part of the elite forces of our country.
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S ABHISHEK Ph no. +91 7795119118
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