Why you should never give up! Recommended in my 4th attempt! My name is ROHIT GHOSH, I recently got recommended. For the army technical entry in my 4th attempt and I would like to tell you all about my journey. But first Here is the list of ssb’s I have been for :
- NDA-NA on 23/01/2016 at 33 SSB,BHOPAL(CONFERENCE OUT)
- 10+2 B.TECH NAVY on 11/08/2016 at NSB(v), VISAKHAPATNAM(CONFERENCE OUT)
- NDA-NAVY on 19/08/2016 at 33 SSB,BHOPAL(CONFERENCE OUT)
- 10+2 B.TECH ARMY on 03/09/2016 at 17 SSB,BANGALORE (RECOMMENDED) {Finally}
I feel extremely proud as well as elated on getting recommended and that is the reason for me writing this article. This is specially for those who have been there, so close to reaching it but still somehow have not been able to make it. (THE SO CALLED “REPEATERS”). Well, the best advice from me to you is to please never give up and never lose hope. Getting conference out once or twice may be disheartening for you. I have been conf out thrice and that too twice in a matter of 2 weeks. It feels awful, you would feel that “this is it” ,”I’m not going again” but remember that one chance is enough for your selection and making your dream come true J. Take some time out to read this long article and I’m sure you’ll be happy and motivated.
So, after getting conf. out twice in 14 days, I was having doubts on attending my army tech ssb at Bangalore, it would be my 4th attempt and people told me about how greater amount of the chances you have availed, the difficult it becomes for your selection.( all bullshit!, trust me on that!).So, first thing I did was to brush up on GK, very imp a strong hold on GK and current topics will always get you an upper hand for your selection. Apart from GK, you should always be prepared on questions about your family history, parents, grandparents ,their strengths, weaknesses everything. Now for the 5 days at Bangalore.
DAY ‘0’: Reporting at 2:00 PM at BANGALORE railway station. Train was late, but so was the ssb bus :p got it, reached by 6:00.Document verification etc etc was done.
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DAY’1’: SCREENING DAY:
OIR went very well.Did all the questions with ease.
(TIP: brush up on your speed using practice questions available in any ssb book/guide. Do easy questions first if you are not getting an answer leave and move ahead quickly.). Try doing all,even if you do not know at least attempt there is no negative marking as such.
In PPDT a picture of 3 persons was shown.I made a simple story about a conversation between a sports coach and students about inter school activities.
(TIP:make simple and effective stories which is realistic and practically possible)
Now,it was time for the group discussion and 1 thing I was sure about was on getting screened in.; I had never been screened out before and went with the same belief and confidence,narrated my story the best in the group and gave 2 valid and good points to take group ahead. RESULT= Got screened in!. 44 of us were screened in. I was given chest number 43( gave me Goosebumps though, they called my chest number so late) (TIP: GD is not about who can speak much and shouting, please Don’t shout for no reason and at the same time do not remain numb and quiet. Speak assertively but to take the group ahead and go with the majority.)
Then we had to fill the PIQ form, just be honest about it, even if you’re writing something false remember that false thing :P. It will help in interview.
DAY’2’: THE PSYCH DAY:
This was the day for the psychological tests. Everything went well.I did 12 TAT, 60 WAT.I suggest practicing by taking pictures and words from newspapers for TAT AND WAT.(WARNING: DO NOT PRACTICE SRT’S WITH SOLUTIONS!).SRT’s should depict your natural reaction and thus I believe you should not practice for it but you should not waste time on thinking, just do what comes first in your mind! The biggest mistakes people do is in your self-description. Completing anywhere from 45-60 srt’s is more than acceptable. I could do 51, which were my honest and spontaneous reactions.
There is no need to write mind-boggling words describing how hard-working efficient you are. Please,do not write like this.Genuinely ask your parents, friends and teachers. Sit and think for some time. Write everything down.Yes,do learn and go but not what is false.
(TIP: [1] I HAVE A HELPFUL NATURE.
[2] I ALWAYS HELP MY PARENTS WITH HOUSEHOLD WORK.
Which response would you rather believe in? (1) or (2)?
This is what I’m trying to say, write in terms of your actions which depicts your abilities and strengths rather than blabbering about them and writing an honest SD will help you in interview. If he says to describe yourself narrate your SD, If he asks weakness and strengths again narrate your SD part.)
DAY’3’: GTO-DAY 1
It was now time for the GTO tasks series, which I believe can make or break your recommendation. So,enjoy it thoroughly and be as natural as possible forgot about whatever you have learned or remembered from your coaching.Use your own “brains” and “common sense”!
First was GD, two topics were given we chose to have a GD on DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH SECTOR IS MOST ESSENTIAL FOR OUR COUNTRY? IS IT :
(1)FARMING SECTOR
(2)IT SECTOR
(3)EDUCATION
I Felt farming sector is important and spoke on it. I only spoke for 2 times in the whole GD but gave good and factual points.
Second topic was IF GIVEN A CHOICE WHICH SUBJECTS WOULD YOU REMOVE IN 8TH,9TH,10TH STANDARDS TO RELIEVE STRESS FROM A STUDENTS LIFE?
(1)ONE OF THE SCIENCE SUBJECTS
(2)ONE OF THE LANGUAGE SUBJECTS
(3)MATHS
I again only spoke twice about removing science(xP) but gave full support and reasons for it.(TIP: GD is not about how much you can speak, speaking more is good but speaking more about irrelevant information will cause more harm than good. FOR eg; In this GD one of my group mate initiated the discussion saying as to “how there is no stress on students and I have managed my studies and sports and so can everyone. So we should not remove any subject” NO! PLEASE! This is not required, just give your views about what among the three according to you can be done instead of going into deep analysis!) .
GPE went very well, go with the majority think of the simplest and most convenient way keeping time into consideration.In GD go with what the majority says, just keep adding points to your plan(GOOD POINTS!).
PGT: This is the part where I believe most of the problem lies, everyone wants to showcase their ideas but you gotta be quick and decisive, be ahead of everyone else always volunteer to go ahead without any fear and frequently give ideas.If someone has an idea help him in implementing it and everything would be fine!(TIP: Don’t just go there saying ”I have an idea” and end up trying it out there doing nothing. Only speak if you have an idea otherwise help others. Always try basic things first like directly keeping the plank etc. sometimes there will be structures given just to fool you and you can move ahead just by simple planking. Watch out for that! Like always use your common sense and enjoy the task).
All other tasks like HGT,PGT use the same logic there too.
Now talking about lecturette like I said having a strong hold of GK will definitely help you here as well as the GD and you should also be prepared about the common issues plaguing our country. My lecturette topics were
(1)AMARTYA SEN [DAMN!]
(2)UNSUNG WAR HEROES[ 1 ka bhi naam nhi pta :P]
(3)GDP[knew nothing except it’s abbreviation]
(4)INTERNET AGE[yes!]
So, I spoke on INTERNET AGE, spoke well for 3 mins full used modulation while speaking and looked at all my mates!(TIP: speak sense and something which is not to common using proper voice modulation, make it interesting it fetches more attention). For individual obstacles playing every day is enough!
DAY’4’: GTO-DAY 2
Got up at 6:00 , got ready by 6:45 went and was made to sit till 10:00! After which our command tasks started, one by one we were called. Now, it was my turn I had a moderately difficult Command task(was actually happy to see it that it was not easy!).GTO had a small chat with me then I called my sub-ordinates did it with 2-3 mins remaining with some comedy in between(:P).(TIP: You should not tremble after seeing a hard command task, you should actually feel happy and encouraged because the GTO will give you a hard task only if he holds you in high regard based on your performance in PGT and HGT.)
I also had my PI(PERSONAL INTERVIEW) today. It lasted for about 30 mins. I was asked about my personal life, I knew every damn thing about myself and my family! I answered everything confidently. I was also asked about the army and certain current affairs and GK. I was thoroughly prepared about that and gave all answers except one concerning the Nagaland issue.I could see how I had made a mark on him and he was trying to put pressure on me by acting as if he was not interested, yawning deliberately in between etc etc. DO NOT FALL FOR THESE! Continue being cheerful and confident while giving your answers. I was asked as to why I could not make it in my previous attempts, to which I honestly said “SIR, I was always afraid of the results and that is why I could not show my true qualities and give my best performance.” Then he asked,”So You’re not afraid this time?” “NOT AT ALL” I said J .(TIP: Be confident, prepared about your family and yourself along with GK. DO not show nervousness and anxiety. Rest all will be fine!)
DAY’5’: CONFERENCE DAY:
Finally, the conference day, no big deal. 90% of your fate is decided by this time and I was fairly confident about my result this time although the fear of getting conference out was haunting me :p. None the less first we were given an inspiring and motivating speech by a colonel about how this is not the end of life and you could still come again or do something great elsewhere. But to be honest I didn’t care, Armed forces are where I want to be! After the speech, they decided to call us from behind! ……(TIP: Be smart and confident. Do not shiver or show signs of anxiousness seeing those officers. I know “darr lagta hai, but dikhao mat usko :P”)
So first went chest number 44( A very good friend of mine, knew him since childhood! + he was already recommended). He came back within a min or two. Now, A discussion was going on about me inside. Wrong! Nothing, within 30 secs I was called inside! I was asked about my stay, which all places I visited, which place I liked the most! That’s it! Again, hardly 30 secs. I knew(ab toh aar ya paar hai!). My conference was very short, I was having doubts but still had that self-confidence. We went for tea, then our lunch,long-long process of giving back our mobiles,taking our chest numbers. Our conference finished at around 10:00 and now we were finally taken into the hall for our results at 13:30! Sitting there I started thinking This is my time! Someone came, started announcing the results “Gentlemen I will call out the chest numbers, You will shout your name..”
44(He got recommended again),13,21…… 8 more followed without my chest number. I thought Not happening this time too, Then came chest number 43 ( YES! THAT WAS MY NUMBER!) Tears started flowing through my eyes…I somehow managed to stand shout my name and come out. Lastly chest number 37 was called and 12 of us were recommended.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
This is something I leave you to find out on your own.
SHOULD YOU JOIN A COACHING ACADEMY?
Well, It’s not bad to join a coaching academy but you should choose a very good one, which trains you, guides you rather than gives you coaching and spoils your mind. Especially for freshers, First chance is the golden chance MAKE IT COUNT! So, I suggest OLIVE GREENS, Chandigarh as a Training center, they’ll make sure you’ll not learn anything there but know what it takes to become an officer! Decide cautiously any academy will be ok!
Medicals will follow after recommendation Mine were completed and now I’m waiting for the merit list.
Finally, From all ssb’s whether you get recommended or not, you learn something. Use it in your next ssb and always improve upon your mistakes and enjoy your stay and the beauty of the ssb selection procedure.If you have it in you, you will surely reach there sooner or later. J JAI HIND!
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