type here...
Home Blog Page 1072

INS VARSHA: India’s Secret Naval Base

By
SSBCrackExams
-
0
INS Varsha

In line with India developing a secret nuclear city, it is developing secret base for the Indian Navy.

What is INS Varsha?

Project Varsha is one of the secret projects undertaken by Indian government to provide Indian Navy underground secret bases off the east coast of country in an order to protect nuclear powered submarines that would form one of the third nuclear deterrence platforms of India.

It was planned to be located within a radius of approximately 200 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, which are the headquarters of the Navy’s Eastern Naval Command. But the base is being developed at Rambilli, 50 km from Visakhapatnam.

What is the need of INS Varsha?

INS Varsha would de-congest the Visakhapatnam Port, which is used by both the Navy and the civilian Ministry of Shipping. The Navy’s dockyards at Vizag are facing shortage of berthing space due to the rapid expansion of the Eastern fleet, which grew from 15 major warships in 2006 to 46 in 2012, and is still expanding.

What are its advantages?

INS Varsha will have a large near-by facility of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and will include modern nuclear engineering support facilities and extensive crew accommodation.

It will also have underground pens to hide the submarines from spy satellites and protect them from enemy air attacks. The navy is seeking foreign technical assistance pertaining to nuclear safety features for the base.

INS Varsha would have undisclosed access tunnels on the mouth of deep water base and highly protected shelters along with jetties that are meant for demagnetizing submarines and is a conspicuous addition to the base facilities.

The biggest advantage of having underwater deep bases that the submarines do not need to surface on the water, they can come and go from the base through multiple underwater tunnels that open directly to the deep sea and lead straight from the secret base.

In any kind of conflict submarines are one of the most offensive platform of nuclear deterrence thus they can do their job well while not being detected by adversaries. The underground bases also provide highest protection than the ordinary bases on the coast shores provides, the underground bases are known to maintain top level of secrecy from any kind of threat including the satellite intelligence.

When will it be completed?

The construction of underground base started in 2009 but has struck several times due to finance crunch. INS Varsha would be accompanied by a weapon storage facility called ‘Missile Technical Positions near the underwater base.

₹160 crore were sanctioned for the project in the 2011-12 budgets, of which ₹58 crore were for civil works and the balance were for setting up a VLF communication system.

 

For the security reason, it is still highly classified that how big and capable the underground base would be but the base reportedly could docked some 8-12 nuclear powered submarine that are under construction and are being planned. The Varsha would be capable of housing other vessels of navy in forms of destroyers, frigates and replenishment ships.

China has a similar base in the Hainan Islands.

India Participates In ADMM International Naval Exercise

By
SSBCrackExams
-
0
ADMM International Naval Exercise

ADMM-Plus Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism began in Brunei on May 1, 2016, and will go on until May 9, 2016.

ADMM-Plus is an abbreviation for ‘ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus’. The exercise is a multinational naval exercise conducted under the aegis of ADMM Plus consortium and focuses on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism (Ex MS & CT).

This edition of ADMM MS & CT FX is being co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). It will culminate at Singapore after conducting with various drills and exercises in the South China Sea.

The exercise seeks to strengthen the strong bilateral ties and extensive maritime interactions between India and ASEAN countries.

It aims at enhancing mutual understanding with respect to maritime security issues and streamlining drills on counter-terrorism operations at sea.

The Indian Navy has been a regular participant in maritime exercises conducted by the ADMM countries. This year Indian warship INS Airavat is participating in it commanded by Commander Jayant Mahadik.

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat is a Landing Ship Tank, indigenously designed and built in India. The ship has a lift capability of 500 troops, 10 tanks and 11 combat trucks.

The ship was inducted into the Indian Navy on 19 May 2009. It is effectively tasked with a variety of missions ranging from amphibious operations to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). An integral helicopter significantly enhances the capability of the ship.

The ADMM exercise began with a harbour phase which included board, search, and seizure (VBSS) skills exchanges, flight deck familiarization and a welcome reception hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

The sea phase of the exercise will then be commenced. This phase will feature a maritime security and counterterrorism scenario, both of which include cross-deck helicopter operations, VBSS training, divisional tactics and communications drills.

During the exercise, the Indian Navy would engage with about 14 participating navies from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, Republic of Korea and US, through professional interactions in the harbour and complex operations at sea.

Indian Navy and the navies of ASEAN countries have a mutual interest in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, given our shared maritime security interests. The participation of INS Airavat aims to bolster India’s ties and enhance inter-operability with the participating navies.

Indian Navy to Retire the Sea Harriers – World’s Only Operational Vertical Take-Off Jet

By
SSBCrackExams
-
1
Sea-Harrier-India

With the scheduled decommissioning of INS Virat and great difficulty in maintenance of the ageing Sea Harrier fighters, they are scheduled to be decommissioned on May 11, 2016, at a ceremony at INS Hansa in Goa. Admiral R K Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff will be the Chief Guest for the ceremony.

The Indian Navy will induct a new squadron of Russian MiG-29Ks in the ceremony replacing the British Sea Harriers. The MiG-29Ks will operate from the INS Vikramaditya, an aircraft carrier which has been procured from Russia.

India had planned to replace the Sea Harriers with the homemade Light Combat Aircraft (Naval) version but the program is more than 15 years behind schedule.

The Indian Navy bought 30 British-made Sea Harriers in 1983 but only 11 remain now. Over the years, 15 of them crashed killing eight pilots. The last Harrier fatality occurred in August 2009 in the Arabian Sea off the Goa coast.

Here are some interesting facts of the Retiring Sea Harrier:

  1. The Sea Harriers, also called as the White Tigers, were inducted into the Indian Navy following phasing out of then obsolete Seahawks and served since 1983 aboard INS Virat.
  2. The jet fighter can take off vertically giving them the ability to take off and land from a small clearing or the deck of a mid-size aircraft carrier.
  3. The Harrier jump jet is the only fighter jet that is capable of doing that, making Indian Navy one of the handful of operators in the world that flew the magnificent jets.
  4. The flexibility offered by the aircraft’s capability to undertake short/vertical take-offs and landings had enabled it to operate from any fixed wing carrier and had regularly conducted cross-deck landings on ships of foreign navies.
  5. The Sea Harriers had an operational speed of 640 knots or 1,186 kmph.
  6. It has a range of around 800 nautical miles, but, they fell short of exceeding the speed of sound at Mach 1 or 1,235 kmph.
  7. The squadron of White Tigers has embarked on the carrier during Operations Vijay and Parakram providing the essential offensive posture to the country and ensuring readiness to react to any escalation by the enemy.
  8. In last few years, the Harriers had added a new dimension to their operations with the increased multi-national exercises in which the Indian Navy participates.
  9. These exercises have seen the Harriers facing eye-to-eye with the best in the business. The magnificent carriers and the flying machines of the American, French and British Navies have come, exercised and gone back suitably impressed.

The surviving aircraft will probably be mothballed at INS Hansa, the navy’s shore-based facility at Dabolim in Goa, before being dispatched to various naval stations around the country to serve as exhibits.

Narendra Chaudhary Who Diffused 256 Bombs Alone Died In Grenade Blast Test

By
SSBCrack
-
2
Diffused 256 Bombs Alone

Hats off to 48 year old Shri.Narendra Chaudhary from Raipur(Rajasthan), who died in Grenade Blast Test. He was the man who diffused 256 bombs all alone & saved thousands of life in Naxal areas.

He use to walk over 50 kms without water & food, never in his career got ill, His friends use to call him “Steel Man”.

13220813_1005450559531438_3961729066964776939_n 13151991_1005450542864773_6116215727260614515_n 13177821_1005450492864778_5261267514614400959_n 13015476_1005450489531445_7277357432591736552_n

via: FB/Citizen 4 Forces (C4F)

National Defence Academy Member Dies While Helping A Cadet

By
SSBCrack
-
0
National Defence Academy Member Dies While Helping A Cadet

A 57-year-old staffer from the Equitation Training Team (ETT) of the National Defence Academy (NDA) died during treatment when a horse kicked him on his head while the staffer was trying to offer help to a cadet who had fallen off the saddle.

The NDA has ordered an inquiry into the incident and offered a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased staffer.

The ETT at the NDA is well known for the training given to cadets and has till date, produced several national and international champions in various equestrian sports. Mainly, the cadets of the second and fourth term take part in the training and at present, there are around 170 horses and nine stable sheds.

As per the NDA authorities, Yellappa (57) was a Multi-Task Staffer (MTS) attached to the ETT for several years and was well experienced in his job. The incident took place during a training session on May 2, when a cadet had mounted the horse and fell down.

“We have well-trained staff who understand the behaviour of horses and care is taken while dealing with the animals. This was a rare incident, in which the horse got irritated due to some reason. On the way from the stable to the training arena, the horse went out of control and the cadet fell on the ground. Yellappa immediately went to help the cadet get up and move away from the horse. At that moment, the horse kicked him and the horseshoe hit Yellappa on his head, causing a serious injury.” Yellappa was immediately rushed to the Military Hospital in Khadakwasla and from there to a private hospital in Pune, where the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits could be availed. He, however, succumbed to his injuries during treatment on May 5, said NDA authorities. A post mortem was conducted at the Sassoon Hospital and later, the body was handed over to the family. When contacted, Lt Commander Shibu Devasia of the NDA said, “A compensation of Rs 10 lakh has been announced for the family of the deceased staff. Provisions are also being made to give a job to a family member of Yellappa at the NDA. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the case to find out what exactly happened and what steps can be taken to avoid any such incidents in the future.” –

Source: indianexpress.com

14 Things You Should Know Before You Join the Armed Forces

By
SSBCrackExams
-
0
14 Things You Should Know Before You Join the Armed Forces

Every six months, thousands of aspirants consider joining the Indian Armed Forces. And that’s so obvious given the facilities and pay perks, military proves to be a very rewarding experience especially if you love adventure.

But when we see people quitting(?) the military training academies because they do not find it suitable for them (as in this case of the Lady OTA Cadet), we either feel demotivated or not yet ready to join the forces. I totally respect her decision on this, but what brilliance is it to go on a path without knowing where it will lead you to, even if you are an AIR-2 holder? Would you go for a job without knowing what the job expects from you, or what you are going to do in that?

While I applaud everyone who decides to serve the country, I think that it’s important to know well what to expect from the career you chose and what the career expects from you. Recruiters and middlemen are surely a great source of information, but at times even they might not be able to help you out – either because they don’t know or because you ask too many questions, which by virtue is totally acceptable given that it’s your career choice.

So, here are the 14 things which you must know before you join the Armed Forces. They might not be to the point or accurate but would contain enough information for you to make a mature decision about the career you are deciding to choose:

DISCLAIMER: I do not intend to demoralize anyone from joining the Indian Armed Forces. I, myself am a die-hard defence fan and I’m just presenting the dark side of being in the military to consider before making it as a career option.

Let’s begin:

  1. You are your own motivation:

At times, after you join the forces, you may feel segregated and alone at the beginning. They are the worst part of the career – you feel like running back to home leaving the training because you can’t cope up or the seniors are too harsh on you. But, if you are considering the military, it is you who should to be motivated enough to let it pass. You need to look at the bright side – the side when you’ll be commissioned and will be a soldier. Everyone has hard times and they all pass by. You just need to have the right and don’t-quit attitude.

  1. OLQs don’t help every time:

If you are setting OLQs as your long-term goals, you need to focus on the larger image – being a leader. OLQs are just a part of being a leader which is assessed by the SSB. You were recommended because assessors THOUGHT you are capable of being a leader, not because you were from a certain part of the territory or a community. At times, you need to make decisions which require more skills than the OLQs and they need to be right; like choosing between family and border during a conflict. Sometimes you will be asked to do something, and you’ll have no idea how to accomplish that task. But you’ll have to figure it out. You may also have to do things without people telling you to do them.

  1. You need to be Fit and Tight, always:

So you think that you’ll automatically be fit when you join the training? Wrong. This thinking is going to lead to failure, injury, or even being dropped from the training, just because you don’t want to exercise enough. No one is interested in how attractive you are. Believe me, while just as an NCC cadet, the thing most attractive to me is my bed and pillow. So, think about the military training academies which produce officers. You need to have the minimum standards and enough motivation for training and you have to push yourself every next time, even after the training. Think of the training as your exercise routine which is going to make your life healthier and better than those who don’t exercise. Even joining the forces require some set physical standards. So, start working on your fitness right now. And yes, you are not weak by your gender, you are weak if think you are.

  1. You’ll Do Every Sort of Menial Labour:

Going to the range, shooting off hundreds of rounds, practicing your closed quarter combat techniques, jumping out of airplanes, etc. is not a normal day in the military. The normal day includes cleaning the barracks, sweeping the floor clean, unclogging the manhole, cleaning the bathrooms among more. And you better make it spotless or else get ready for ragda by seniors.14 Things You Should Know Before You Join the Armed Forces

  1. Your Job Is What Your Seniors Tell You:

Regardless of what you have heard before joining the military about doing so and so adventure, your job will depend entirely on the needs of your unit/regiment/corps at that time. You may have joined because you want to fly a plane or be an aircraft technician, or a radio systems operator. But if your arm doesn’t need that particular task to be done now, then you’re out of luck. So you just need to sit back and relax and wait for the correct opportunity to knock an adventure.

  1. Criminal Records Could Land You in Trouble:

When you join the forces, you are expected to be free from all criminal records. Your criminal record will be checked in a background investigation, and it can be an issue in your attempt to join depending upon what you have been arrested for. This could land you in major trouble and can even ban you from joining the services in the future. FYI, cheating in the examinations is also criminal offence (malpractice) and if your invigilator is really strict, they can book a case against you. Avoid such mistakes, little is okay but doing it to an extent that it may book a criminal case on you is a big NO.

  1. Discipline is your foundation in the Armed Forces:

Joining the military, you are expected be disciplined at all times. Even if you have an attitude which deals with “equality” with all, including seniors and authorities, you will be forced to change your way of doing things in basic training. There is nothing you can do about your seniors, ever. It is then where people think of quitting (See point 1). Learn to accept it and move on. This sole quality will be the one which will set you apart from the civilians. Even if you have an attitude that says “I will not respect an officer’s wife of my age”, be informed that it’s not the age that matters; it’s the seniority, the rank that matters. And to respect that rank, you have to respect who he/she accompanies.

  1. You Can’t Quit You are not allowed to Quit:

Joining the military is not like doing it till whenever you like and then signing off after some years. When you are commissioned, you sign an enlistment contract for a specified number of years. Once you sign the contract and take the oath (Passing Out Parade or Kasam Parade), that’s it, you’re in and they will not leave you unless maybe you are dead or you retire.

  1. Learn to stay away from the family:

You are expected to be gone from home and staying away without family during training and postings throughout the year. While the military allows you accommodation for your family in peace, you still can’t stay with them forever. You need to move asap to where your duty demands and at times, leaving your family behind.

 

Download eBooks
 TAT eBook  SRT eBook
 WAT eBook  OIR Test
 NDA Solved Papers  AFCAT Solved Papers
 Current Affairs eBook  101 Maths Shortcuts
  1. You will not always be posted in hill stations or metros:

The Army has a disproportionate amount of bases spread all over the country. Being happy and content is not what the Army values in its soldiers, it values getting the most out of them at the cheapest possible price and that means your transfer to any place possible irrespective of its terrain (although they care for your safety and accommodation). Sure, the Army has “Dream Stations” like Metro Cities and foreign postings, but it is very unlikely that you’ll be posted there in your initial period after being commissioned. The first year after being commissioned itself is at the border.

  1. You Are a Government Property more than a Sarkari Damaad, hence you do as instructed:

This means you will be required to stay in shape, wear your hair according to policy, and obey all standing orders relating to your personal health. For instance, if you decide to get a tattoo, you’ll be charged with disciplinary papers saying “Destruction of Government Property”. You do as instructed; they are neither making men out of boys nor women out of girls; they are making officers who will lead battalions of soldiers. And who’s responsibility do you think is the life of these fellow soldiers?  They have to follow the orders saying YES SIR , YES MAM and even to the things that are absurd and illogical. Because they know that you know better than them. This is the knowledge which you will not find in a fat-ass book, it the knowledge that you inherit from your seniors. And that comes by saying, yes you get it, “YES SIR , YES MAM”, everytime.

  1. You’re Not Special, You Never Were:

You become a soldier because of all the pride, honour, adventure, and blah blah you get. The thing is, everyone around you is all the same. You are not special at all among them and that’s the reason soldiers have a uniform. You’re are not special by any means and so are the other thousands of soldiers around you. You have to develop other characteristics and qualities that distinguish you from your peers. You must have a deeper personality than just being a man in uniform. If the training at the academies explicitly wants you to shut off your mind and follow orders, you do it. Period. Or ‘Dope’ will make you do it. You are not going to wear a saree or suit-boot when you pass out, it is the uniform which you will be wearing. Indira Gandhi in saree certainly could not save even her from being killed, but you, in the uniform, can save thousands of such Indira Gandhis!

  1. You no longer have relevance to most of the constitution:

Once you enlist, most parts of the Indian constitution no longer apply to you. While serving, you fall under the military law and will be tried in the Court Marshal. While for the most part, you enjoy most of the same basic rights, there are some big differences like no freedom of speech/press/assembly, no right to privacy/protection from unreasonable search. Moreover, your orders are your laws and if you fail to follow orders, you can put people in danger, even get them killed. You follow orders, period. You don’t ask questions. Period. You don’t give explanations. Period. The cultural and intellectual overhaul is something you should learn to be okay with.

  1. You Can Die:

Saying everything about sacrificing life for the country is one thing and actually being able to do it is other. Joining armed forces is not like any other job you’ll ever have. Getting fractures and pains are verrryyy normal. You have real enemies who will kill you if given the chance. They don’t care about who you are, or where you’re from or that you want peace, all that matters to them is that you are their enemy. And vice versa, you’re not a diplomat. It’s not your job to talk to people or reason with them, even if you are a national level debater, because, no one cares. If ordered, you will be expected to kill those enemies.

Yes, it does takes a lot of guts to “kick a job of almost 70k bucks, to kick a job that shall give you a class 1 Gazetted officer status in GOI , to kick a job even though you got an AIR 2nd and you were a mini-celebrity, to kick a job despite knowing the fact that LOG KYA KAHENGE” because it’s not money that you think before joining the academy, you think about being an officer in the military. If money were so, you definitely should go kick a 2-lac-paying job in the corporate. Military is no place for you.

THE BRIGHT SIDE:

We have discussed enough what Armed Forces as career expects from you. Now, let us look at what you can expect from the career. First, the pay is pretty decent in most respects. You will have the best medical coverage there is, even for your family, that too free of cost.

You will also develop a bond with your co-workers that no civilian job can offer. They will be more than just brother-in-arms to you. I mean you are putting your lives in each other’s hands that’s more than there is to define.

Above everything else, you become part of something larger, you become a symbol of courage, loyalty, duty, sacrifice, and love of country that serves as an example to others. Be proud of the decision that you will make.

To crack  SSB interview,  recommend you to get “Let’s Crack SSB Interview” book from Amazon.

 

9 Most Dangerous Special Forces On Earth

By
Vignesh Krishnan
-
0
9 Most Dangerous Special Forces On Earth

Special forces, the name speaks for itself. These are elite units of a country’s defence force that can go beyond the horizon and achieve the impossible like a daily routine job. Every special force in the world has to go through some badass training which sometimes may seem ridiculous to a common man but is essential to mould them into what they are. Here are some of the best special forces from around the world:

1. THE NAVY SEALS

FireShot Capture 14 - What is the world's best special opera_ - https___www.quora.com_What-is-the-

Remember Osama bin Laden? This special force took out the most feared terrorist in the world. They are Battle proven and thus, are a pioneer in special forces. SEAL basically means sea,air,land which shows the diversity to operate in any terrain.

ORIGIN: United States Of America

IN SERVICE SINCE: 1962

DEPLOYMENTS/ MAJOR OPS: Korea,Iraq,Somalia,Afganistan

TRAINING: The navy seal has very hard and long training schedule. Starts with the BUD/S school where the main filtering happens and then seal proceed on to the para course followed by the gruelling 26 weeks SQT( seal qualification training). One becomes a Seal after passing through this. During the training, there is phase called ” HELL WEEK” which is a period of 5 days where one gets to sleep 4 hrs maximum while doing 20hrs of physical routine!

SPECIAL MENTION:  The SEAL TEAM 6 is said to be the most elite of the navy SEALS such that their identity and location is unknown.This unit took out Osama bin laden and is under the direct command of the POTUS ( president of the united states).The fallout rate of to become a seal is more than 80%.

2. SPECIAL AIR SERVICE

sas

The SAS, special air service is the special force of the united kingdom.They mainly specialise in hostage rescue, gathering intel,counter-terrorism. The SAS is a unit of the British army and came to fame since the Iranian siege.

ORIGIN: United Kingdom

IN SERVICE SINCE: 1947

DEPLOYMENTS/ MAJOR OPS: Kosovo war, gulf war, Afganistan

TRAINING: The selection is from personals of the British armed forces. The selection involves a hill phase followed by a jungle phase, then survival phase and finally interrogation phase. Only 15-20 % of the whole pass out as SAS in the end.

SPECIAL MENTION: The SAS are put through a unique final phase of selection ie resistance to interrogation which lasts around 36hrs. This involves gruelling interrogation and physical torture. The SAS believes this makes them mentally strong.

3. SPETSNAZ

russia

Spetsnaz is the collection of Russian special forces. There are various groups to perform different task and are thus, trained to excel in the same field. They take up tasks such as anti-terror ops, intelligence gathering etc.

ORIGIN: Russia

IN SERVICE FROM : 1957

DEPLOYMENTS/ MAJOR OPS: Soviet-Afgan war,Beirut hostage crisis, Ukraine war, Syrian war

TRAINING: The Spetsnaz has a gruelling training regime where physical abuse is a common thing. They believe that physical abuse makes them mentally tuff to counter any enemy in the most brutal way. The ration is that only 1 out of 3 makes it in the forces

SPECIAL MENTION: Though trained in all aspects the Spetsnaz alpha group is considered to be the elite and take the frontline when it comes to ops. They are the tip of the sword and take on ops like sabotage behind enemy lines, jungle and modern warfare. Any Spetsnaz solider can kill a man in hand to hand combat as they are well versed in the same.

4. MARCOS

marcos

The marine commandos of the Indian Navy are the most elite special force in the country. They are a version of the navy seal which can operate in any terrain and handle any scenario. Trained to take on ops like hostage rescue,sabotaging enemy location, asymmetric warfare reconnaissance, the MARCOS can do it all.

ORIGIN: India

IN SERVICE FROM : 1987

DEPLOYMENTS/MAJOR OPS: CT ops J&K, Anti-piracy Somalia, 26/11 Mumbai

TRAINING: The selection for Marcos are from the personnel of the India navy. The Marcos are trained at INS Abhimanyu, the training is continuous and rigorous. In the first phase, the fallout rate is 50% which goes on to raise up to 90% during the final phase. Only a handful make it through the tough training. The ” DEATH CRAWL” is the pinnacle of the training phase where one has to move in an 800 thigh-high mud with 25kg gear after a 2.5km obstacle course, the final phase also include firing a target 25m away with a buddy standing next to it when you are sleep deprived and exhausted.

SPECIAL MENTION: The Marcos can be deployed in any terrain/scenario from the hostage rescue to the Himalayas, from the jungles to the bay of Bengal, they train everywhere and can operate anywhere, thus are regard as the best in the world. The Marcos are also deployed in counter-terrorism ops in J&K and have earned the term ‘dhadiwali fauj’ for their badass nature.

5. GSG-9

gsg9

The german counter-terrorism and special operation unit that was formed post the black September event. This force is highly trained in the hostage situation and infiltration scenarios and is the best in what they do.

ORIGIN: Germany

IN SERVICE FROM :1972

DEPLOYMENTS/SPECIAL OPS: Lufthansa 181,Mogadishu, KLM hijacking

TRAINING: The selection process involves testing one not only physically but also psychologically. This is done by a series of examinations and interviews. They are put through a 22-week rigours training programme. Counter-terrorism training is given to selected few of the GSG-9 in which they are made to go through mental stress on a constant basis. Only 1 in 5 makes to the final.

SPECIAL MENTION: The GSG-9 is considered as the best in hostage rescue scenario and are a frontline in teaching special forces of the world in the same. The NSG of India sorted its help post the 2008 attack.

6. JW GROM

grom

The polish special force knows as the JW GROM is the elite counter-terrorism force of the country. The history of the force goes back to the world war where they performed some stealth ops behind the enemy lines but were groomed to a special force in the 90’s only.

ORIGIN: Poland

IN SERVICE FROM : 1990

DEPLOYMENT/MAJOR OPS: Afgan war 2001, Iraq 2003

TRAINING: The Grom initially trained under us navy seals. In addition to the physical training, the are subjected to psychological exhaustion tests to remove weak applicants. The training also includes frogman,sniping,parachuting

SPECIAL MENTION: 75% of Grom are paramedics and thus, the GROM are considered as a very good support unit. They complimented the SEALS in the afghan war and supported in their ops.

7. SHAYETET 13

sayet13

The maritime special force of Israel, the Shayetet 13 is trained to take up a variety of operations. They are trained in the sea to land incursion, sabotage, maritime intelligence, hostage rescue. They are one of the most active special forces of the world.

ORIGIN: Israel

IN SERVICE FROM : 1949

DEPLOYMENT/MAJOR OPS: 6-day war, Gaza war,  Yom Kippur war

TRAINING: The training of the Shayetet 13 last for almost 20 months which includes series of maritime diving,boarding, counter-terrorism training. Cadets are put through high-risk underwater training and are also subjected to cold water survival.

SPECIAL MENTION: The Shayetet 13 is the best when comes to counter-terrorism in the sea, which shall involve boarding, maritime warfare.Also, all members of the forces are trained in Krav Maga, Hand to Hand combat.

8. EKO COBRA

ekcobra

The special anti-terrorism unit of the Austrian police is highly trained to take on hostage and counter-terrorism ops. The are known around the world for their agility and speed. They are said to be formed since the Munich Olympics incident.

ORIGIN: Austria

IN SERVICE FROM : 1978

DEPLOYMENTS:/ MAJOR OPS: Graz-Karlau prison, Tupolev Tu-154 incident

TRAINING: The training involves a series of elongated scenarios of hand to hand combat, rappelling, incursion techniques, marksmanship. Apart from this, there is also series of psychological tests that are rigorous enough to tier one out completely.

SPECIAL MENTION: Since most of its ops rely on high-speed reaction and reflexes, the cobras are considered to be the finest around the world and thus have a relatively low strength as the standards are very high.All members of the cobra have to be among few in the world to have a very low reaction time!

9. Special Service Group

ssg

The special service group i.e SSG of Pakistan is the special forces of the Pakistan navy.They are considered to be one of the best in Asia next to the MARCOS.The specialise in naval warfare, stealth ops, counter-terrorism.

ORIGIN: PAKISTAN

IN SERVICE FROM: 1956

DEPLOYMENTS/MAJOR OPS : Indo-Pak wars, soviet-afghan war, siachen war

TRAINING: Like all special forces they have a very rigours training that involves air,land,sea in order to increase its degree of operation.One has to earn 3 badges to be SSG namely “SKYDIVER”, “MOUNTAIN WARFARER”, “COMBAT DIVER”. Only 5% make it to the final of all the recruits.

SPECIA MENTION: The SSG is among one of the few forces around the world that can operate in any terrain. Recently a special division of SSG is being made who are put through high altitude warfare courses so as to make them efficient in case of Siachen kind of standoff. This will make the force more lethal as it adds one more terrain to its operational capability.

These are the best special forces around the world and the men who serve in them are truly a class apart from a normal human being.In modern warfare scenarios these special forces of highly trained men will be the tip of the sword and will make the different between any two countries. Do you have it in you to be among the best, to be special?

10 Most Lethal Main Battle Tanks Of The World

By
Vignesh Krishnan
-
1
10 Most Lethal Main Battle Tanks Of The World

Hello Aspirant, this time, we take a look at one of the most important toll of war, the battle tanks. In any war, the armoured core plays very vital role in adding a power packed punch to the enemy. The usage of tanks in the war dates back to the first world war when there was an urgent need of something that can kill the trench warfare method, thus came the invention of an armoured vehicle that can move and kill, the tank. Over the years, there has been a lot of changes in the design and lethality of these machines. We take a look at some of the most dreaded battle tanks of the world.

1.M1A2 Abrams

m1a2_abrams

ORIGIN : United states of America

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm smoothbore gun, 42 rounds

SPEED :67 km/hr

CREW: 4

The 3rd generation battle tank of the American is the most battle proven tank in the world. The tank is known to be a complete package of speed,agility and armour. The tank proved very efficient in the Iraq and afghan war. Unlike other tanks the tank is almost silent but is one of the heaviest of all.

2. CHALLENGER II

Challenger2-Iraq

ORIGIN: United Kindom

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm rifled gun, 49 rounds

SPEED: 59 km/hr

CREW : 4

The tank is an upgraded version of challenger I and is considered to be the best-protected tank in the world. The crew is so well protected by the design that even the hull turret movement is made through solid state electric drive and not hydraulic. The tank is also one of the most armoured tanks in the world.

3. MERKAVA

merkava

ORIGIN: Israel

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm smoothbore

SPEED: 64km/hr

CREW: 4

Merkava is another mean machine that was battle tested for its capabilities. It was extensively used in the Lebanon war. The Merkava was designed keeping in mind that it should be cost effective and durable at the same time. The turret is more close to the rear than front thus allowing more space, which in return can be used for medical aid, forward command post etc. Another important aspect is the use of LAHAT ( laser homing attack missile ) missile which makes the tank more potent.

4. T-90

t90

ORIGIN: Russia

MAIN ARMAMENT: 125mm smoothbore, 43 rounds

SPEED: 60km/hr

CREW : 3

The Russian machines are known for their durability, T-90 stand by this thoroughly. The tanks are used worldwide in different countries in different terrain and has performed well in all scenarios. The machine has only 3 crew ie commander, driver, gunner as it has an automatic loading mechanism. It also has a 3 tier protection layer of aluminium and plastic. The tank also has the most elite ATGM ( anti-tank guided missile) jamming system in the world.

5. LEOPARD 2A5

1403167_-_main

ORIGIN: Germany

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm smoothbore, 42 rounds

SPEED: 72 km/hr

CREW: 4

The german tank is considered as the fastest in the world and is known for its agility in action. The hit ratio of the tank over a moving target is high when compared to other tanks of the world. The tank has a laser range finder and more stabilised coaxial machine gun. The design of the tank is unique, with the lower part of the hull bent by 45 degrees for protection against mines. The turret rotation time is 9 sec and is electric.

6. K2 Black Panther

k2

ORIGIN: South Korea

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm smoothbore, 40 rounds

SPEED: 70 km/hr

CREW : 3

The Korean machine is very new into the tank world but is one of the best in the world in terms of suspension and agility. The new suspension system called the in-arm suspension unit lets crew control every inch of the boggies thus making it move easy, the tank can ‘sit’ maintain a low-profile, ‘stand’ manoeuvrability, ‘lean’ for a corner.angular shot. In defence, the tank has missile warning system and infrared/smoke screening system. The tank has Korean smart-attack munition, which helps it to penetrate more than usual having a range of 2-8 km.

7. ARJUN Mk2 MBT

arjun_mk2

ORIGIN : INDIA

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm rifled gun

SPEED: 67 km/hr

CREW: 4

The indigenously made tank is an improved version of Arjun Mk1.In performance, it is on par with the T-90, Challenger and M1 abrams. The accuracy of the tank is its vital strength. As many as 13 improvements were made from Mk1. Though said to be overweight the tank performed well in the terrain that it has a possibility of deployment. The tank is said to have outgunned the T-90 in the deserts of Rajasthan owing to its suspension superiority. The tank also has LAHAT missile from Israel which enhances its attack capability.

8. TYPE 99

Tank-Type-99-China

ORIGIN: China

MAIN ARMAMENT: 125mm smoothbore

SPEED: 80 km/hr

CREW: 3

Type 99 the frontline of Chinese armoured corps, is a 3rd generation tank. The tank has an automatic loader and a centre position driver. The automatic loader has a high rate of fire ie 8 rounds per minute. The armour of the tank is similar to that of the T-90. The tank has a very good defence mechanism with the help of a laser warning receiver and laser self-defence system. It can find out enemy laser range finder and can blind the gunner if within 5km.

9. Al KHALID

al

ORIGIN: Pakistan

MAIN ARMAMENT: 125mm smoothbore, 39 rounds

SPEED: 72 km/hr

CREW: 3

The Al-Khalid is a joint product of china and Pakistan. The design of the tank is based on TYPE 90- II of china. Like the Chinese machine, it can fire anti-tank guided missile from its main gun making it a unique feature for the tank. The tank is relatively small in size and has only 3 members with an automatic loading system. It has a composite and explosive reactive model with hardened steel, all rolled into one. In addition, it also has laser threat sensor which detects laser and gives the crew audio and visual of any laser shot at it.

10. TYPE- 10

type10

ORIGIN: JAPAN

MAIN ARMAMENT: 120mm smoothbore

SPEED: 70 km/hr

CREW: 3

The tank is 4th generation in comparison with the tanks in the japan force. Th design of the tank is such that it gives the commander a better panoramic view and is better armoured than the T-90. The suspension of the tank is also improvised such that it accepts maximum recoil while firing. The tank can reverse and move forward at maximum 70 km/hr which is very unique. The tank also has improved networking such that its well coordinated wth the regiment and infantry.

The tanks are ideally mean machines which are a nightmare of enemy forces. Many battles of the world have been decided because of superior usage of tanks. With the growing changes, the improvisation is so rapid in this field. T-14 armata, the Russian tank the latest in the area and is regarded to the best of all till date. This has opened up yet another new league of tanks which can crop up in the coming years and can change the way of warfare. India is right now relying on the T-90 and the T-72 tanks as the Arjun tanks are grounded due to technical issues. The Arjun mk2 will be a game changer and will be in the elite league. In addition to this, the army has also launched FRCV ( future ready combat vehicle) RFI, which means either India can get the T-14 or maybe even more advanced tank too.

Reply To “Why I Left The Officers Training Academy” By A Former OTA Cadet

By
SSBCrack
-
20
Why I Left The Officers Training Academy

This is a reply, rather comment on the article written by Ambika Bhan “speaking the truth”  for why she left the officers Training Academy.

Nothing against her or her freedom of speech. This more than being a reply to her is for those who have read her article and would, may be, have made a perception about the army or its training for the Lady Cadets. I would be brief about it.

1. First and the most important thing, there is nothing known as a “Lady Officer”, it’s only Officer. We have categorized everything so it is kind of sad.

2.  Ambika yes, your fauji friend was right, army doesn’t need women. But he did not complete, army doesn’t need women and with it, it doesn’t need a hindu, a muslim, a sikh, a marathi, or anything which divides. Army needs an Officer.

3.  The Indian state might be pretending to show that they believe in equality but do they invite or force anyone to join the OTA. We all have a choice.

4.  I am a feminist, and trust me I believe women are better that men a lot of times. Yes, there are physical issues faced by ladies but there is no ‘Fauji’ who does not have an injury. I during my training had 3 stress fractures, both shoulders dislocated, tissue rupture in lower back, ankle ligament tear in the right ankle and a few more here and there, and yes in the same academy.

SSB Interview Preparation Material [ 100% Recommended]

5.  I do agree the training might get a bit rash at times, but i loved each moment of it, and there are others, i am sure who do too.

6.  I knew I was physically not up for the training, so before I joined, I did work on my physical weakness, which later did help me. The academy sends ‘Joining instructions’ to all cadets joining and does mention what preparation one needs to go through before joining, which includes basic physical exercise also. If one does not adhere to it, is not the fault of the army or the academy.

7.  Ambika this one is straight for you. Whatever you were taught by your parents teachers about learning, questioning and liberating yourself was right, but whatever army asks you to do has a reason for it. It is not wrong. I am a bigger rebel that anyone can think of. But I do understand and believe what army does and say has a reason. You cannot blame the organization for your lack of understanding about its ways.

8.  I guess everyone does not understand, but i must make it clear, in the academy they do not make men out of boys of whatever you want to believe. One does not join the academy to become an officer. There they train you to be a soldier, a simple ground soldier. One becomes an officer after he/she passes out of the academy.

9.  For whatever reason you were told not to converse with a GC you just couldn’t understand it. But trust me, for a GC there is no difference between you and any other GC there. No one has so much time there to appreciate the curves. The only eye candy to any cadet there is his bed.

10. I have been born and brought up in this environment, and trust me have worked hard to be here. But there are, and will remain issues in the organization. There is always a negative to a positive, and that has nothing to do with the organization, it’s always the people. You cannot brand the organization.

11. The training at the Academy, explicitly wants, not you specifically, but everyone to shut off their minds and follow orders. And there is a reason behind it and a real one. Trust me the country has seen and won wars because of that reason. I would not like to explain you the reason as you are not part of the organization anymore.

12.  Like I said the Army does not want anyone from a particular state or region. It needs an Indian. And the SSB was just checking your awareness and looking for ‘your’ point of view about your state and its issues. It selecting you clearly shows that the organization has no interest in your being a Kashmiri.

13.  Yes I agree with you, it takes more than two stars and the uniform to justify our purpose and meaning in this world. But no one stops us from doing so.

oir test and ppdt

14.  I am sorry if anyone called you DOPE and you took it personally. Clearly army wasn’t your place to be in.

15.   And like all you believed is a showbiz, has a reason. A reason I would like to clear. We are made to do all that cleaning and showbiz because we as officers will expect that out of the men we command tomorrow. If we don’t know how to do it, if we never did it ourselves, how and why can we expect it from the men. Lead by example, you see.

Last a few more words for my “Friend, no more in Arms”

My apologies, that there was no one to guide you during the training in the academy, no one who told and explained things to you. But what I could derive out from your words, (I am not judging you, believe me) is that you are a free bird, with free thought process. Your thoughts cannot be held captive, so, clearly Army was not the right place for you to be. I don’t know about others but I completely respect your decision. It’s yours and you have an individuality. But I would also like you to know that Army is not what you think it is, or described in your article. Your article is more about what’s wrong with the organization than why you left it. I wrote all this because I wanted to and another reason, there are lots of women who want to join the organization. I hope they do not get demoralized after reading your article.

spot_img

We all understood that you wanted to leave, you left. So why write and even explain.

Friend no judgments and no perception about you. You are a strong woman with a strong will. Army is not your place and I believe that you, one day will do really well for yourself, and I shall be really proud of you.

Thank you,
Regards

Harmandeep

Why I Left The Officer’s Training Academy Despite An AIR 2nd In 1st Attempt?

By
SSBCrack
-
59
Why I Left Officer's Training Academy Chennai

We have posted the SSB interview experience of Ambika Bhan recently, you can read it here. We got this email from her this morning about why she left the training at OTA, Chennai. In a disclaimer that this might invite the wrath n criticism of many but I think I owe it to myself n my pillars of support to write, write about my life’s biggest decision. To Quit The Indian Army.

I am not here to justify myself or to answer the many shocking voices of people who have known me , admired me , hated me or envied me. And especially those who so genuinely sought my advice n ‘gyaan’ once I got recommended. I am just here to do what I love doing … Speaking my truth in freedom without fear.

A dear friend and also an army man once told me, ” Indian army doesn’t need women.” I was offended by what he said feeling it as a direct blow to my feminist self. But I should have heard him completely.

Women in the armed forces are just the manifestation of an effort by the Indian state to prove that we believe in gender equality and women empowerment.

1. Let’s be frank about it women aren’t serving in combats n r not even needed to actually use a rifle once in the services. So to be logical I wasn’t going to be a warrior like my male counterparts would be.

ssb psychological tests practice book

Secondly 70% of the lady cadets inside had some or the other sort of a pelvic fracture, some even spine fractures… aggravated to the extent that they might not be able to conceive or the effects of these injuries shall be visible in later years.

Now my question … what’s the logic of having such a training regimen that results in you becoming a defaulted piece when u aren’t even going be in combat ?

N by this I don’t mean women are weak . MC Mary Kom could win us a medal even after having 2 kids. But an 11 month crash course to become an officer n that too in weather conditions of Chennai with no concept of any strengthening exercises and no sleep given are of course, going to lead to such dire injuries.

oir test book ad

Ok , I am not supposed to say this or whatever happens inside the academy but when a human body doesn’t get time to heal and restore itself it breaks and that doesn’t make you strong. Well, it just breaks you.

Given the modern lifestyles that we live into its absurd to expect the majority of our generation to be a bodybuilder or something.

I don’t think even Olympic wrestlers would be lifting weights 24/7 for a year.

So Why doesn’t the SSB actually check n recommend the candidates who have been agile n active physically not someone who has always been playing in the pages of a book n busy preparing for competitive exams. Or better still increase the duration n the place of training and gradually get the body accustomed to the changes.

What is so peculiar about the training that a lady cadet doesn’t have her periods for 9-11 months straight.

SSB Recommended For Indian Army

2. For 23 years of my life , I was taught by my father , my teachers n my books to question everything n not to blindly follow. Because in your questions lies your key to knowledge n in knowledge lies liberation. The opposite of this was what precisely happened inside. Don’t ask questions. Don’t give explanations. The cultural and intellectual overhaul wasn’t something I wanted.
I was told that I will get used to it in 2 months . And of course, I will because after 2 months what will emerge will be an entirely different person with a perfect ability to take orders n mechanically respond to them. And I wasn’t ok with it .

3. I was despised n slammed by everyone inside for taking this decision. And I was told,” this is a prestigious academy and people like you ‘topper types’ ‘lawyer types’ with heads filled with ideas of rights , freedom , etc are always the ones who leave . We are creating men out of boys here !!! “
Great … but
What are you creating out of girls , certainly not women ???

Ambika Bhan at OTA Chennai

In a subtle discourse on equality please observe I am a woman. You can train me to become a warrior . But you can’t turn me into a man and then tell me that ..look ! We have empowered you !
The identity crisis that ensues is idiotic.
And on top of that any contact or even having a basic conversation with a GC is prohibited . Because let’s admit this , “For them you are more of an eye candy since they haven’t seen a woman in a long time” .
So what’s the difference in n out ? When a girl is told ,” behave properly, don’t be friendly with guys they’ll think you are available “
Is it implied that a man’s sexual appetite and desires should guide a woman’s way of life.
Ok for some , but not for me !

spot_img

SSB Interview Preparation Material [ 100% Recommended]

I have a body shape and curves. Trust me , I am not interested in inviting or exciting anyone sexually but don’t expect me to magically flatten my cleavage just because the sepoys n the jawans n other GCs are there.

4. If the training at the academies explicitly wants me to shut off my mind and follow orders ( which by the way is necessary for the armed forces) then why did you choose a person who is rational.
I didn’t fake anything at the SSB. My entire interview revolved around me being a Kashmiri and the politics of my state , my take on that. With the zeal and creativity, I answered those question my IO complimented me saying,”you know how to play with words”. So how am I being expected to crush and kill that creativity and the love for freedom of speech and expression.  I am a lawyer and a writer on top of that . The last thing I can do in this world is to lower my eyes and say , YES SIR , YES MAM to even the things that are absurd n illogical.

You know it would take more than 2 stars and a uniform for me to justify my purpose and meaning in this world.

5. There is a term called being in DOPE that means your body n mind are exhausted to such a level that your motor skills become weak and you are like those slum dwelling kidnapped drugged children. To quote an example , if a national level debater like me can fail to introduce herself before 30 people then there certainly is a problem.
And for someone who used to study for 12 hours a day I am not able to read even 10 pages at a stretch and understand anything.

6. So another set of taunts that I heard was ,” what will you do outside ? Wear bangles , a saree and have kids ?”
And all this from lady officers .
I was enslaved there , I couldn’t question u back but today I can .
“Our mothers wear a saree , she gave birth to us , does it make her weak ? “
Oh , and Indira Gandhi wore a saree , did that make her weak?
Doesn’t almost every girl want to be a mother someday? To bring a life into this world .
It’s hysterical and almost funny that their notions of strength have skewed to such a level that someone who can’t do 500 pushups is ‘mentally weak’.

7. And , why the showbiz for god sake ? Why ds the cupboard have 2 sets of uniform hanging , just like that n not to be worn? Why is a Harpic and colin issued to you but u aren’t supposed to use it to clean ur bathrooms n buy ur own?

oir test and ppdt

8. A captain’s wife almost my age and I have to wish her , even if I see her 1000 times … N later maybe even welcome her to a party n click her pictures while she joyously sips her drink. WHY … Rightfully boasting about myself I studied so hard , cracked the ssb , topped the exam to reach there and what did she do ?
Marry an officer ?
Well if that is the amount of respect that an army wife holds , I think it’s time I should get married to my boyfriend .

9. I had an injury and the doctor advised me that had I continued my both elbows had 90% chances of getting fractured as the angles were too much.

10. And to all those and to my own demons who might lead me to believe that I was a loser and a quitter .

It takes a lot of guts to kick a job of almost 70k bucks , to kick a job that shall give you a class 1 Gazetted officer status in GOI , to kick a job even though you got an AIR 2nd and you were a mini-celebrity , to kick a job despite knowing the fact that LOG KYA KAHENGE …

It takes a lot of strength to give up on things as well as people who can’t give you happiness and satisfaction despite of having to bear the taunts of the world.

IF A WOMAN IN COMBATS IS STRONG , THEN A WOMAN WHO DARES TO FOLLOW HER HEART AND DARES TO SPEAK HER TRUTH IS EQUALLY STRONG !!!

© Ambika Bhan (Athena )

P.S. my utmost respect to army n all those who have undergone or are undergoing the training to achieve their dreams. It is awesome and great but it wasn’t right for me, so please  don’t judge .

READ: Reply To “Why I Left The Officers Training Academy” By A Former OTA Cadet

spot_img
1...1,0711,0721,073...1,387Page 1,072 of 1,387

NOTIFICATION

EXAMS UPDATE

About Us

Other Websites

Copyright © 2010-2025 SSBCrack.com

- Advertisement -spot_img