Hello to all the future officers. I am Amritpal Singh recommended from 33 SSB BHOPAL for PC(EDU) June 2016 course for NAVY(INA) and from 32 SSB KAPURTHALA for SSC TECH 47 course for Indian Army(OTA) in my third and fourth attempt. My Journey for SSB started from June 2015.Regarding my background I am an engineering graduate in ECE from ACET Amritsar pass out in year 2014. I was born in family of farmers in rural part of Amritsar on Border of INDO-PAK. To make it clearer I should say Lahore was nearer to my home than Amritsar city but obviously on the other end of LOC. I was decent in studies but very good in Sports. I am U-19 national level Soccer player and was captain of my college cricket team. After my B.Tech I got campus placement in one of the very good organization in NCR named AON HEWITT Pvt. Ltd. Everything was going good and I completed my one year in AON on JUNE 2015. I was happy. Then I met 2 of my college friends in my home town who were serving in NAVY/ARMY and just completed their training. We shared our experience and from then I said to myself “Ke Bhai Abb To Uniform Hi Chahiye, Chahe Kucch Bhi Ho Jaye’’ and I Begun my preparations for SSB. I have almost zero knowledge about selection process at that time because I was never motivated for Defence . I searched Internet, Bought SSB books from market/online. I studied the Lives of Greats like PVC Captain Vikram Batra, ACM Arjun Singh, FM Manekshaw and other great sons of the soils which lighted the fire in me even more. SSBCRACK was best of the lot to get all the required information for clearing SSB. I recommend every aspirant to follow SSBCRACK to clear SSB.
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I was in such a state of mind that SSB is everything for me. I changed my shift timing in office to get proper time to prepare but I made sure my office work is not getting affected due to my Preparations. I daily wake up at 6:30, go for running, come back study on internet, read news; practice WAT, TAT, SRT, SD, Lecture topics, GD, Interview questions almost everything I could. I read success stories of different successful aspirants to motivate myself. I use to work in 12 noon to 09 PM shift in office and study for SSB in morning and on weekends.
I got my first SSB call on 1st NOV 2015 for SSC ELE at 33 SSB Bhopal. It was Diwali coming and I have to choose one Diwali with Family or SSB because I got only 4 leaves from office, I chose SSB and decided to spend Diwali alone in my Flat as all my roommates went to their native and same thing happened later. I was very happy as Fresher is best chance and I was fully prepared from my side. I went there did well in OIR and in PPDT also and I was screened in. I was very happy to get a chance to stay there for 5 days. I did well in my PSYCH tests next day. Did 54 SRT’s, all TAT and 59 WAT. My GTO went well. My command task was also difficult one but I did it and GTO was scolding me which is a good sign. I was confident to be recommended but my interview was on 2nd GTO day and it went disastrous. It ruined my chances. I could not utter a word properly. I was Totally Blank. Interviewer had broken me completely. I was just sitting Numb and it was over in 20 minutes. Interviewer made my cry (literally) as it was my first experience. I cried for some time and slept. Next day was conference and as expected I was not selected.
My failure didn’t deter me I noted down all my mistakes and started working even harder giving more emphasis on PI. I was even more confident.
I got my second call for SSB on 17th JAN 2016 for TGC123 at Allahabad. It was my sister’s engagement on the day on which it would be conference; again I have to choose SSB or My sister’s engagement. I could have requested date change of SSB but Leaves were problem. I couldn’t get for both occasions. My sister called me and wished me luck for SSB and said me to do well, I reached there. I was fully prepared again. OIR went well. I PPDT There was fish market as in repeaters and could not speak anything. Surprisingly I got screened out. I was upset but I didn’t cried this time but smiled I could see positive change in me only due to preparing SSB. I returned home and attended my sister’s engagement. One of my friend asked me about my result I said I getting recommended next time. I was confident because I had seen worse what could happen and I prepared accordingly now.
I kept working hard and kept myself motivated. I had to do it in any case.
My Third SSB was on 23rd Feb in 33 SSB Bhopal for PC(EDU). I booked my ticket for Bhopal and kept preparing. Just hours before leaving I got message on my phone from IRCTC that Train has been cancelled due to JAAT ARAKSHAN ANDOLAN. I was Pissed off as it was my last chance for NAVY(1st choice) as I will be overage. I rushed home and checked for other trains but all were canceled. I looked for by Air options and I got I ticket of AIR INDIA which was costing 11,000. It will disturb my budget for next month but I have to be an officer so I booked it and reached Bhopal on time. Few of my friends were saying to me that it is wastage of money as I was screened out just a month ago but I didn’t listened to them and said it to my best friend that I will get recommend this time I promise.
After 4 Months I was standing at same place with same challenge from where I ridiculed and I cried like a baby but this time I was changed person with lot more confidence and upto challenge.
DAY 0:- Documents verified, everybody in total of 99 reported out of 450 due to lot of cancelled trains.
DAY 1:- OIR was very easy, I did all of them well before time. In PPDT we were Shown a hazy picture. I could see one person standing with one arm in air. I made action oriented story of college team’s captain celebrating after winning football match. My Narration went well and In Discussion I contributed 3-4 times with valid points. I got screened in, total of 19 got screened in. I was feeling bad for my friends who were not screened in. I got chest no 1. I was happy but focused on next days.
DAY2:- In PSYCH tests, In TAT I wrote on all the pictures what came to mind putting all my practice and experience in use. I wrote good stories showing my positive qualities. In WAT I could write 54, it was mixed kind of test few good few not so good sentences. I could do only 34 SRT. I Wrote my SD which was pre pared
DAY 3:- First GTO Day, We were divided into two groups. We had Group discussions on two topics. In first GD GTO sir gave us two topics to choose one and have Discussion. We chose ‘Which of the following Make In India, Digital India or startup India has been proved most beneficial for India’ I chose Make in india and spoke 5-6 times with good valid points and facts supporting on it. Second discussion happened on ‘Women empowerment can be achieved with Education, reservation or employment ’ I spoke in for education and again stated 4-5 valid points. After GD we had GPE(Group Planning Exercise). I paid full attention to understand the Map first and then wrote the answers. In GD I gave few valid points, supported others and most importantly gave points which others forgot. We successfully came to conclusion of problem and one of us gave common solution which we all agreed. Then next task was GOR/Snake race. It’s not about winning the race its about supporting others, motivating others and admitting whenever you break rule and do the obstacle again. we won the race. Next task was PGT. We were able to do 3 obstacles and I gave 3-4 good ideas, move others ahead, motivated others. Its all about presence of mind and team work. Next was lecture. Being chest no 1 I got some extra time for preparation and I spoke well very common topic of Reservation in India. Always select the topic on which you can speak well not the most difficult topic.
INTERVIEW:- I was called for interview immediately after GTO1 and I was in GTO dress only. President of board took my interview and It lasted for 1hour and 55 minutes. Each and every corner of my life was questioned and I kept on replying with Confidence and honestly. Best way to clear SSB interview is be Honest no matter what. One cannot fool a commodore easily so better be honest. I struggled in technical questions but I gave honest reply that I Don’t know sir. I must have said 15-20 times in my interview that I don’t the answer sir but I can surly find it. Best question was when interviewer asked me why my marks decreased from83% to just 64% in +2 from metric. I gave honest answer that “sir I did my +2 in Amritsar city, I got new bike and independence, I spent most of my time Roaming on bike and in school just concentrated on sports. It was my mistake to neglect my studies which I corrected in B.Tech and managed my sports, studies and extra curricular activities well and got good marks”. This is the kind of honesty expected. After almost 2 hours I was released and I was happy as did very well.
DAY 4:-It was GTO 2, We did HGT. I supported team again. Individual obstacles I was able to do 9. I fell in the double ditch 3 times but completed it in 4th attempt. My GTO was shouting at me through out from day 1 which I believe is a good sign. I n command task I was called 3 times by my group. I was second last to be called and was given bomb diffusal task. It was a difficult one. I found my way in first structure GTO made that portion Red I shifted to second structure and was tying rope and GTO said me to disperse it took only 3-4 minutes. In FGT also I supported the group and gave others chance to gave ideas and implement them.
DAY 5:- It was a big day. The day of judgment. It was conference day. Being chest no 1 was expecting to be called first but they started calling from last no i.e 19. Everyone was taking 1-2 minutes. My number came last. There was huge discussion before I went in and the last person got out. My conference went in for 10-15 minutes. They asked me technical question which I gave logical answers. I was released after that.
It was big time for us, officer gave closing speech and was with results in front of us. He said he will call the chest no of selected candidates. He said chest no ‘3’. I was shocked as I thought I was no ‘1’ and he called ‘3’ means I am not selected. Then next moment he said chest no ‘1’. I was in seven wonders. All my hard work had paid. I was feeling king of the world. I spelled my name and we both were said to wait and all others were said to get their luggage.
We were taken to president and he congratulated us explained to us about our medical procedure. It was the best compliment of my life.
For my last attempt for SSC TECH I didn’t prepared anything and went and gave my best and got recommended for second time for Army.
My medicals took some time but I got fit and I am in merit for INA and will be joining INA shortly.
OLQ’s according to me.
1) HONEST:- Being honest is mandatory for an officer. Dishonest person can never serve the nation well. It’s simple if you are Honest in your daily life then only you can show honesty in interview. Honesty can be achieved by being straight forward in your daily life. More straight forward you are less drama in life. So, start being honest if you want to join DEFENCE.
2) RESPONSIBLE:- By responsible I doesn’t mean one who can do his work responsibly. Everyone is responsible for their needs. By responsible I mean who had a feeling of responsibility towards society. This could be developed by having responsibility for our family/Friends.
3) HELPFUL:- Serving nation is all about being helpful and responsible. One can start being helpful by helping their friends. Think your friends problems as yours and start helping them in any way you can even going out of way.
4) PRESENCE OF MIND:- Presence mind means ability to take correct decisions quickly. This is also necessary for an officer.
5) PRACTICE:- Practice makes a man perfect and it is true here also. Prepare well for SSB. Read books, newspapers, study from internet etc.
My motive to write this was to motivate you all and let you know that there will be problems at every step but never ever give up even when you feel there is no way out.
I want to thank all my friends of my company, roommates, college friends and my well wishers through this post who supported in my journey. I wish you all the very best for your future.
Thanks!!!
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