Hi, I am Ashish Sharma from District Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. I got recommended for RVC 2013 from 19 SSB Allahabad on 12th of May this year and from 1 AFSB Dehradun for Air Force Non-Technical Entry on 24th of May. It was my first attempt for both the entries. I am pleased to write down and share my experiences with all you folks who aspire to be a part of the prestigious Indian armed forces and if my experience acts as a source of inspiration and help, my motive is fulfilled.

Defence services have always allured me. There is no doubt that it’s the most fulfilling, adventurous and satisfying career option there is, for the youngsters.
I used to talk to people qualifying the SSB process, used to listen to stories from many in my circle who had their friends in the Armed Forces and think whether I would be able to make it one day.
There were certain hurdles in the beginning when I tried. I didn’t receive the call letter once, as I had committed some mistake in the application. Filled up the CDS form twice but couldn’t appear due to ill health and my college studies.
It was earlier this year that I appeared for the AFCAT examination and cleared it.
I knew that this was my chance.
I also joined Olive Greens Academy Chandigarh for Guidance and tips as I didn’t want to leave any stone

unturned.  I gained a lot from there which eventually helped in the SSBs. In the mean time I also received call from Allahabad board for RVC entry.  My reporting was on 7th of May.
Reached the railway station and I found many others over there who had come for the same. The bus took us to the selection Centre and after a few formalities we were given our initial chest no.s.
Spent the night in 19 SSB Candidate lines and went again with our bags packed, for the screening next morning.  There was excitement, there was hope, and there was nervousness. A hazy picture was shown to us and I made up a story about a guy making the villagers aware of certain issues. Discussion went fine and I got screened in along with 4 or 5 of my friends.  The next 4 days were full of challenges and tasks. Getting up at 5 in the morning was a task in itself. Psych test was long and I got tired of writing down stuff, but then, it wasn’t boring. Plus the psychologist was cute. 🙂
I attempted all the TATs n WATs. I could complete only 56 or 57 SRTs out of 60. But I was satisfied with my performance.
Oh yes!  I forgot. We filled up our PIQs too the day we got screened in.
The tip is, fill it up neatly and legibly and be truthful.
Group tasks were interesting. GD Topics were okay but I would not say that I had a lot of command over them. I was able to add some good point whenever I would get the chance in between. I spoke for just one or two times in both the discussions, rest I just listened.
In the GP I could not even give a single point to add to the group solution. No one would listen. I thought I am screwed, but then I didn’t worry about it a lot. In PGT, HGT and FGT I was able to give some good ideas and move the group forward. We completed them with ease and were stuck once or twice. My participation was active in Snake race and me and one other guy helped the group climb up the walls by making a stair sort with our hands. Individual obstacles I was able to complete just in time and I didn’t repeat any.
My command task was a bit interesting as the GTO took me to the end where the task was to pick up a bomb. He was constantly putting me under stress by giving me time check and denying me the structures and resources.  I did a funny thing there… My GTO said ‘commander!  Only 30 seconds left ‘. And my subordinate was standing in the Centre of the task with a bomb in his hand and I was to bring him out. I was denied the balli and two out of 3 structures. I was trying but couldn’t think of any idea to bring him out. ’10 seconds! ‘, he shouted…  In a flash of a second I asked my subordinate to switch places with me as our GTO had allowed that in the beginning for allowing the commander to give better ideas from any position he wants. ‘why did you switch places?  ‘the GTO shouted.  I said ‘ sir.. I don’t want my friend to die ‘.

Plus the girls are pretty in Dehradun 🙂 The process was all same. Psych went fine. In GD I just spoke twice in a 20 min discussion but gave some relevant points. My group wasn’t listening to many ideas in the outdoor tasks and even I didn’t try to give many as they were not working anyway.  Command task was okay. Here too, the GTO took away the balli…
The interviewing officer grilled me when he got to know that I am already recommended.  I got stuck at many places and even fumbled once or twice in the interview.  I knew that this SSB has not been as good as the previous one and I had thin chances of making it as I could see a lot of others better than me, experienced and knowledgeable than me.  In the conference the board asked me again as to what I would join if I get recommended in Air Force as well. I bluntly replied that whichever merit list comes earlier as I cannot give up something which I already have in my hands for something which is still to come. I Had thought that it was a rude reply and the President would screw me 😀
But then, after a while when results were announced, only 3 people were recommended out of 80 and I was one of them. The only one for non technical entry. I could not believe it… I did it again!
They took us for documentation straightaway and I was free by the evening.  I called up my parents and friends. The best part was the Air Force goodies which we received. T-shirt, notebooks, stickers and diaries… 🙂
Medical will take place at Delhi in July and then I’ll be waiting for my merit list.
All I want to say to all the people out there is that just stay humble, truthful and cooperative.  Don’t show off what you are not. If you’re good they’ll get to know. Have faith and confidence and all of you can make it.
Godspeed n Good luck 🙂

Also Read

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 About Ashish Sharma: I am Ashish Sharma from District Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. I got recommended for RVC 2013 from 19 SSB Allahabad on 12th of May this year and from 1 AFSB Dehradun for Air Force Non Technical Entry on 24th of May.

1. The first day as you know is the screening in. This according to me is the one test which can be a bit unfair to some people. You have to be at your very best during this testing because of its unforgiving nature. The important things to keep in mind for screening in according to me are:  your command over English language (the fluency with which you narrate your story), the content of your story. GD is important but by the time everyone in the group has narrated, the selectors have made up their mind to some extent. (Anyways no one will hear anyone during GD 😉 Try not to push your own story but the story which is acceptable to maximum number of people. Act as a mediator among the group. Trying to work out little details like number of characters etc. is a waste of time (as the image will be hazy). Theme of story is not important but content is.
2. Second day is psych testing and PABT. For PABT they will teach you about certain (6 in total) analog instruments of a plane for an hour. Based on those instruments you will have a MCQ test which can be a bit challenging. You will be shown the instruments and you have to choose the orientation of the plane from given options. Speed is very important here as you will get only few seconds per question. The officer there told us it is just like painting. If you have it in you then you have it, if not then not. Those who clear will get to play with simulator (just hope you spent enough time on that call of duty.) Next is Psych testing which is all about who you are. I will give you some tips here –For Word Association Test you are in a psych test not a sentence making test. So write whatever comes to your mind. E.g. Love – country. It’s not always necessary to make a whole sentence. Main problem comes when there is some negative word like coward, war, injury etc. Join 2 negatives to make a positive. Eg. Injury – illiteracy injures the democracy. For Situation Reaction Test you can practise beforehand. Just keep it real, keep it simple. For Thematic Appreciation Test again keep it simple. Don’t create any crisis like situation. Don’t invent anything which is not visible in the image.
3. Group testing goes on for 2 days. GD is the most important activity in GT. This will give your first impression to the GTO. It better be very very good. You have to have excellent knowledge about foreign affairs, internal security issues, currently ongoing global issues, economic affairs of India, various important articles like 370, afspa etc and so on. The more read you are, the more are your chances for getting through GTO. During military planning exercise there will always be one or two out of the box solutions. Progressive group task is about more about doing by hand than just giving ideas to the group. Same goes for half group task and final group task. In Command task don’t just command but also involve yourself. Extempore lecture task again tests your communication skills and your knowledge.
4. Interview will be based on your PIQ form. You will be tested in current affairs, technical knowledge and he will definitely put you in a pressure cooker situation. Keep composed and use your brain before you say anything which might go against you. Take your time and don’t haste for answering. He will be analysing your psychology and your mental ability throughout the interview.
   

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 About Rajat Sharma: I have cleared SSB and Medicals from 1 AFSB Dehradun. I am recommended for flying branch and waiting for the merit list.