For many defence aspirants, facing rejection at the Services Selection Board can be difficult. For Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh, it became a test of just how strongly he believed in his dream.
After facing the SSB challenge 17 times, Harsh Deep Singh finally succeeded on his 18th attempt, turning years of setbacks, preparation and perseverance into the moment he had been working towards. He went on to train at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, and passed out as a commissioned officer of the Indian Army.
His journey is a powerful example of persistence. Every unsuccessful attempt could have been a reason to choose another path, but Harsh Deep continued working towards the same goal. Seventeen setbacks did not define his journey; what ultimately mattered was his willingness to return for an eighteenth attempt.
Inspired by His Elder Brother
The motivation to serve in uniform was also deeply connected to his family.
Harsh Deep was inspired by his elder brother, who serves as a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy. Watching his brother pursue a life in the Armed Forces strengthened his own desire to earn a commission and serve the country as an officer.
His eventual success at the SSB and passing out from OTA Gaya therefore represented much more than an individual achievement. It added another chapter to a family already closely connected with India’s Armed Forces.
A Father Who Served in the Indian Air Force
At the heart of the family’s military tradition is their father, who serves as a Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force.
His years in uniform provided Harsh Deep and his brother with a firsthand understanding of military life, discipline and service. The values associated with the Armed Forces were not simply something they observed from a distance; they were part of the environment in which the brothers grew up.
The father’s service in the Air Force was followed by one son becoming a Naval officer and another earning his commission in the Indian Army.
Together, they have created a rare and remarkable family connection spanning all three branches of India’s Armed Forces—the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
A Proud Tri-Service Legacy
With Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh joining the Army, the Singh family now represents a proud tri-service legacy.
The father represents the Indian Air Force, the elder brother serves as an officer in the Indian Navy, and Harsh Deep now wears the uniform of the Indian Army.
Three services. One family. One shared commitment to serving the nation.
For the family, Harsh Deep’s commissioning is undoubtedly a moment of immense pride. But for thousands of young aspirants preparing for the SSB, his story carries an equally important message.
17 Setbacks Could Not Stop the 18th Attempt
The most remarkable part of Harsh Deep’s journey is not simply that he became an Army officer. It is the number of times he was willing to try before achieving it.
SSB preparation can test an aspirant’s confidence, patience and ability to learn from failure. Facing the process repeatedly without achieving the desired result can make continuing increasingly difficult.
Harsh Deep faced that situation 17 times.
Yet he returned for another attempt.
The 18th attempt finally brought the breakthrough he had been pursuing, demonstrating that a setback does not necessarily mean the end of an ambition. Sometimes it becomes another opportunity to identify weaknesses, improve and return better prepared.
His story also serves as a reminder that everyone reaches their destination differently. Some candidates succeed in their first attempt; others may need several opportunities. The number of attempts matters far less than the determination to keep improving and moving forward.
From Aspirant to Lieutenant
The young man who repeatedly appeared before the SSB eventually stood at OTA Gaya as a commissioned officer of the Indian Army.
That transformation gives Harsh Deep Singh’s story its real significance.
Every rejection, every journey back home and every decision to try again ultimately became part of the road that led him to the uniform he wanted to wear.
Today, Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh carries forward not only his own dream but also a proud family tradition of military service.
His father served in the skies through the Indian Air Force. His elder brother chose the seas with the Indian Navy. Harsh Deep chose the Indian Army.
Together, the Singh family represents the spirit of India’s tri-service Armed Forces.
For every defence aspirant wondering whether another attempt is worth making, Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh’s journey offers a simple lesson: failure may delay a dream, but perseverance can keep it alive.
Seventeen attempts tested his determination.
The eighteenth changed his life.
