The Indian navy has published the INET 2019 result of the officer candidates. Many candidates have cleared the INET cut off marks and will be facing the SSB interview soon. Candidates who are looking for the INET officers cut off marks can check the details below.
The INET result has been published by the Indian Navy on 18 Oct 2019. Candidates can check the INET Officer result on the official website of the Indian Navy. All the candidates who have cleared the INET exam can also download their SSB interview call letter from the same portal. We suggest all the candidates go through the instructions mentioned in the SSB interview call letter/ admit card.
With the success of the first season of the Amazon Prime original, Manoj Bajpayee starring web series, the Family Man, which gave a quirky but relatively realistic portrayal about the lives of officers working in the National Investigation Agency which is the country’s premier terror probing agency. Many people have gotten intrigued about the lives of spooks and the uniquely challenging security threats looming over the country. Though narrative was greatly satirical in tone, it does successfully managed to paint a vividly realistic picture on the types of security challenges India faces. The character of the terrorist Moosa Rehman played brilliantly by Neeraj Madhav, has been depicted as an ISIS chemical weapons expert in Syria, who comes to Delhi to plan a deadly chemical attack in the nation’s capital moving away from fiction, the reality of chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons are indeed a genuine security concern, as has been seen by the chemical attack in Syria. Closer to home, the term ‘dirty bomb’ was referenced concerning Kashmir. But what is a dirty bomb? Is it a chemical weapon? Is it a Nuke? Or something more sinister? Read on to find out.
The Family Man promotional poster
So, What is a dirty bomb? How does it concern me?
Radioactive material being tested
A ‘Dirty bomb,’ according to the United Staes Nuclear Regulatory Committee, is a term given to a radiological dispersal device, also known as RDD.” This is a peculiar type of explosive which is engineered crudely, fusing the components of conventional explosives such as TNT or Dynamite, along with radiological material such as Cesium 137, Plutonium 238 among a host of other radioactive compounds. The ease of development, shock value and panic caused, combined with the fact that these radiological explosives may be designed to be transported using anything from everyday backpacks, office suitcase-sized bombs to trucks. The ease of transport and it’s deadly impact makes it an increasingly attractive choice for terror groups.
The extent of radiological contamination depends on several factors ranging from the amount of radiological material used the type of the radioactive component, the size and type of conventional explosive, all the way down to the means of dispersal and wind speed during the aftermath of a radiological attack.
In the event of a dirty bomb attack, victims who are at the closest proximity to the blast site will for apparent reasons sustain the most significant injuries. Bystanders further away from the kill zone will suffer from the spread of the radiological component used. The potency of the radioactive will gradually reduce as it spreads, reducing overall concentration and the extent of the damage.
The exact impact of the damage to the victim and radiological fallout cannot be ascertained as it exclusively depends on the unique components of the bomb, its design, the conventional explosive used and circumstances surrounding the blast. According to the NRC, the effects of radiation will be determined by
The extent of radiation absorbed by the victim’s body
The specific type of radiation involved, for instance, Alpha, Beta, Gamma rays.
The means of exposure external or internal, whether it was absorbed by the skin, inhaled or ingested.
The concept of snipers picking off targets swiftly from extreme distances has piqued the interest of people around the world since the inception of military practice. Sniping has evolved a lot since the Trench warfare of the First, and Second World Wars. The curiosity about the deadly art and the psyche has remained, however, as there is just something bone-chilling about a special breed of warrior, who stealthily stalks his prey for hours, patiently waiting for that one fleeting moment, in which all those years of training unravels itself in one precise kill. This article intends to highlight the five longest recorded sniper kills in contemporary military history.
Sniper sporting a ghillie suit
1.) Carlos Hathcock (United States Marine Corps)
Vietnam era master sniper Carlos Hathcock
Legendary Vietnam era master sniper Carlos Hathcock is the stuff legends are made up of! With a confirmed kill record of 93 enemy combatants and earning the nickname white feather, words fail to describe the daredevil exploits of the United States Marine sniper. Just any one of Hitchcock’s feats deserve mention in any list about snipers, after all, the marine had crawled for three days without food or sleep into enemy territory, evading Vietnamese military patrols, and getting close enough to shoot an NVA General in the heart! In another incident, the elite US sniper shot an enemy sniper with Hitchcock’s bullet piercing through the Vietnamese sniper’s rifle scope! This is an iconic incident that has been reimagined several times in Hollywood movies depicting military snipers! What puts Carlos Hathcock on this list however is his historic 2,500 yards long kill with using a now prehistoric M2 Browning machine gun! The record remained unbroken for 39 years until it was beaten by Canadian sniper Arron Perry in 2002, during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan.
The legendary sniper being awarded for meritious service
2.) Arron Perry (Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, Canadian Army)
Snipers from Princess Patricia’s Ligh Infantry deployed in Latvia
Canadian Army sniper Arron Perry, picked up the mantle, breaking the record set by USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock after nearly four decades on a different battlefield. Perry served as a sniper in the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. A Master Corporal at the time Perry was deployed under ‘Operation Anaconda’ to counter insurgents swearing their allegiance to Al Qaeda. During one of the sniper teams engagements, Perry zeroed in on an insurgent approximately 2,526 yards away, squeezing the trigger and eliminating the dreaded terrorist! The sniper rifle system used to accomplish this astonishing feat was the C15 Sniper weapon system, a favourite amongst Canadian troops
Representational image
3.) Robert Furlong (Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, Candian Army)
Digital art of Canadian sniper Robert Furlong
Another Canadian Sniper, who has served in the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry regiment, Robert Furlong, like Perry, was also a part of ‘Operation Anaconda’ in Afghanistan. During a fierce engagement with the Al-Qaeda, the now 40-year-old retired sniper managed to kill an Al-Qaeda fighter from a hair raising distance of 2,657 yards, using a Tac-50 sniper rifle. Furlong was awarded the Bronze Star for valour by the US forces and the General Campaign medal by the Candian Army.
Bronze Star for Valour
4.) Corporal of Horse Carlos Harrison (Blues and Royals Regiment, British Army)
Collage of British sniper Carlos Harrison
British Sniper Carlos Harrison quickly became a media sensation following his historic sniper shot in Afghanistan! Harrison served as a Corporal in the British Army’s famed cavalry regiment. The ace marksman was already a veteran of several military conflicts, such as Bosnia and Iraq before his deployment to Afghanistan. The British sniper honed his deadly accuracy and tactical acumen down to an art form during his service in Iraq. During his time in Afghanistan Harrison saw combat in the infamous Helmand Province, a tiny piece of land which saw a bulk of the fighting in the decades-long campaign in Afghanistan. During a fierce encounter, the famed British sniper broke all previous records gunning down two Taliban machine gunners from a distance of 2,707 yards, with his trusted British army issue L11 543 sniper rifle. The kill was confirmed by an Apache Attack Helicopter with the help of the choppers range finder.
British sniper looking through the scope of his L11 543 Sniper rifle
Name: Undisclosed (Joint Task Force 2 Canadian Special Forces)
Representational image of JF 2 Operators
The record for the longest standing sniper kill was made by a Candian sniper from the uber-elite Joint Task Force 2 in 2017. Not much is known about ultra-secretive JF 2, in fact, the Candian Prime Minister was substantially kept in the dark, to the point of being oblivious of the unit’s activities. While the unit has gained some prominence in recent years, with several of its operations being acknowledged, the identity of the Special Forces sniper has understandably not been disclosed. What is public knowledge, however, is the unbelievable distance in which the fatal shot was made, the Canadian operator took out an ISIS terrorist from a range of 3,871 yards! Demolishing any of the previous records as mentioned earlier by a margin and then some more! The Canadian sniper embodies the sniper credo of ‘one shot one kill, no luck all skill!”
Canadian Armed Forces hold the distinction of having some of the deadliest snipers
Sniper rifle and ballistic technology along with training doctrines have evolved since the battlefields of the great wars, one thing which has remained is the sniper’s otherworldly patience, lasers like focus and blood-curdling ruthlessness. These self-reliant soldiers distinguish themselves from the rest working in small teams taking on some of the deadliest missions, with minimal support, making their hair raising exploits some of the romanticised military escapades in popular culture!
The Dassault Aviation designed Rafale fighter jet is a beast of an aircraft! Its uber-advanced features make it deadly and much-needed addition to the Indian Airforce’s arsenal. With the first Rafale fighter inducted and the rest of the first batch to be pressed into service by May 2020, it is essential to look at the three lethal missile systems which make the Rafale a nightmare for the enemy!
1.) Meteor BVRAAM Missile
Meteor Missile
The MBDA designed Meteor is a next-generation beyond visual range air to air missile (BVRAAM), with a 150-kilometre effective kill range. The Meteor can cruise at a speed of 4 mach which is approximately 4,939 kilometres per hour. This battle-tested missile is capable of being launched from a host of high-end fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the SAAB Gryphon, Dassault Rafale and the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 Lightning 2. The Meteor has been designed as an all-weather missile giving it the ability to effectively eliminate its intended target in a variety of testing climatic conditions. The rocket is also stealth capable furthermore the missile has the largest ‘no escape zone’ when it comes to Air to Air Missiles (AAM).
Rafale fighter armed with SCALP missiles (Representational image)
The SCALP missile, also known as Storm Shadow, is a low observable and long-range deep strike missile. The combat-tested uber-sophisticated rocket was designed to eliminate stationary High-value targets, such as enemy airfields or command and control structures. The induction of the weapon in the IAF’s arsenal will give the force enhanced capabilities to conduct future Balakot style operations from a further distance and at lowered pilot risk. The highly potent missile has an effective range of 300 kilometres, though some experts claim that the SCALP’s actual range is more at around 560 kilometres; however, this claim cannot be ascertained. The missiles have the ability to cruise towards its intended target at 1000 km/hr. The rockets all-weather capability makes its induction an excellent alternative the India-Russia jointly developed BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile.
3.) MICA Missile
MICA missile on display
The MICA is a multi-mission air to air missile (AAM) with a range of 50 metres to 80 kilometres. The MICA like the Meteor can cruise at four mach (4,939 km/hr). The European weapon has superior tactical flexibility allowing the missile to be deployed in some of the most demanding mission conditions. The MICA comes in two variants the first being the Multi-Target BVRAAM while the second variant is a Short Range Combat missile. Given the MICA’s multi-purpose role, the weapon system comes with two distinct guidance systems. Other than the Rafale, the MICA will also be integrated into the IAF’s Mirage 2000s following the deal signed with France.
IAF’s sophisticated Rafale fighter
With the Rafale coming next year armed with some of the worlds most potent missile systems, the IAF will soon be in an elite club amongst some of the worlds most powerful airforce’s
With the shadow of the Bofor’s scandal having handicapped India’s artillery procurement, the Indian army can finally breathe a sigh of relief with the induction of the United States manufactured M777 ultralight howitzer. These uber-sophisticated howitzers will be deployed in the strategically placed state of Arunachal Pradesh. The 155 mm towed artillery gun will serve as a deterrent against any misadventure by the People’s Liberation Army of China along the Line of Actual Contol (LAC). With the M777 inducted and the army’s artillerymen are training religiously on the new weapon system at the Artillery training centre in Deolali. It is essential to analyse which make the M777 ultralight howitzer a force to be reckoned with.
Tale Of The Tape
M777 Howitzer being fired by US Forces in Afghanistan
1.) The Lightest Of It’s Kind
Rendition of BAE’s M777 Howitzer (Image courtesy BAE systems)
The 15 mm M777 has been engineered using aluminium alloys, and titanium, the use of these components allow the M777 to weigh in about 3,175 to 4,000 kilograms making it the lightest piece of artillery of its type. The unique lightweight characteristic aspect of the M777 allows the guns to be extremely portable, with army helicopters having facing no significant challenges in transporting them. The logistical feasibility the American artillery system provides makes the artillery system the perfect choice for mountain warfare.
Collage of Indian helicopters transporting the M777
2. Superior Firepower
Indian Army artillery crew firing the new M777 at Deolali
The M777 Howitzer does not compromise in firepower! Interestingly despite being half the weight of other 155 mm artillery guns in its class, the M777 howitzer provides far superior firepower than its 155mm counterparts! This makes BAE’s M777 an engineering masterpiece and a prime choice for India’s artillery needs!
3. Unparalleled Accuracy and Range
M777 being fired to pound on long-range Taliban positions in Afghanistan
The M777 Digital Fire Control system aids in navigation and self-location, this reduces the time it takes to put the weapon into action, this is a sought after feature as in matters of life and death even a few seconds matter! The accuracy of the weapon can give the five-man crew the confidence that it will hit its intended targets without the significant risk of collateral damage.
A Move In The Right Direction
The shadow of Bofor’s has been lifted
With the Indian army looking to modernise in order to meet with 21st century and future security challenges, these artillery guns will bolster India’s military efforts. The induction of the M777’s in the much anticipated Integrated Battle Groups will allow the Indian Army to maintain a formidable presence along the LAC without succumbing to what experts have called a “LAC mindset.” So after years of deliberation, the Induction of the deadly new artillery guns have been viewed unanimously as a move in the right direction!
The Indian Army is one of leanest and meanest fighting forces in the world, with its personnel training to be in the peak of physical condition so that they can be sent to take on the nation’s security challenges, in a moment’s notice! One look at a soldier and it is evident that they have taken part in gruelling physical regimens set under the watchful eyes of menacing drill ustaads and training officers, to be considered fighting fit, however, have you ever wondered who trains those who train Indian soldiers?
It is the Indian Army’s famed Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) which was willed into existence under the leadership of Major General Mahinda Singh, a Lieutenant Colonel at the time, is in charge of training curriculum and the practical physical training of personnel in the Indian Army. The APTC consisting of a small body of dedicated service members on deputation from other arms and services form the smallest, yet perhaps the most potent corps of the Indian Army!
The officers, JCO’s and NCO’s who are attached to the training establishment, are the cream of the crop in terms of overall physical fitness, and it is their responsibility to “raise, maintain and further improve the standard of physical training, and to ensure a uniform procedure and method of instruction in physical and recreational training of the Army.” Simply put, their job is to forge recruits into mentally and physically robust soldiers and gentlemen cadets into able-bodied officers! However the task of these physical training officers does not end by churning soldiers out of young civilian recruit, they are also tasked to scout for talent and groom those who have the potential to represent India at the highest level of sports!
A brief history of the Army Institute of Physical Training, the spiritual home of the corps!
The APTC is
housed at the Army Institute of Physical Training (AIPT) situated near the
Chusal Lines, Pune along the Sholapur road in Maharashtra. The institute has an
illustrious history dating back to a few years after the end of the First World
War, in 1923. Before the establishment of an apex physical training centre in
1923, the physical training for soldiers in the British Indian Army took place
in three separate schools, built-in Pune, Ambala and Lucknow. The training
centres at Pune and Ambala were command PT wings while the one at Lucknow was a
smaller establishment.
AIPT Pune (Picture courtesy ADGPI)
The centre housed in Pune closed down, and training facility in Ambala was soon rechristened as the Central Army School of Physical Training (CASPT) which became the military’s physical proficiency enhancement centre for the entire country, in other words, it became the apex body for recruit physical training in British India.
The summer headquarters of the then newly christened facility was located in Kasauli. Between 1923 to 1940 only British military recruits were trained at both Ambala and Kasauli, while Indian recruits underwent their physical training at the Ambala cantonment. Following 1940 even Indian recruits were permitted to undertake their training in Kasauli.
Following India’s Independence in 1947, the CASPT was relocated to Wasouirie in Pune. The location of the apex training institution was shifted for the second time post-independence in January 19951 to Eve’s estate, Pune. Courses were limited In its initial days with the training centre offering only in Boxing and Athletics.
However different sporting disciplines were steadily inducted to the school, and in 1964 the CASPT held the National Gymnastics coaching camp for the Tokyo Olympics. All six gymnasts who made to the national team were service athletes belonging to the Indian Army.
The institute has come a long way and now officers a multitude of different athletic disciplines such as Basketball, Volleyball, Yoga, Judo, Karate, Swimming and Lifesaving, Refereeing and Judging apart from Boxing and Athletics. The past decade has witnessed a surge in sporting and physical training infrastructure designed to enhance military training meeting modern warfare requirements and boost sporting performance at the international levels.
The Indian Army is renowned for its performance in equestrian sports
The Indian
Army established the Army Gymnastic Node at the CASPT in 2004, offering
specialist training in five gymnastics disciplines; Artistic gymnastics, Aerobic gymnastics, Acrobatic, Tumbling and Trampoline. However,
as of 2015 the Gymnastic Node of the Indian Army exclusively trains gymnasts in
Artistic gymnastics to groom athletes for the Olympics and Gymnastic World
championships. Training in Non-Olympic gymnastics formats has been moved to the
regimental centres.
The year
2005 says the rechristening of the Central Army School for Physical Training
into the Army Institute of Physical Training, the name it is known by today.
The training institute has been completely revamped to meet modern-day military
fitness standards with the incorporation of functional strength training using
Kettlebells inculcated by Parag Mehtre, the founder of Energy Kettlebell
Fitness Academy into the Indian Army’s physical training curriculum through the
AIPT.
The AIPT
offers a plethora of instructor course exclusively to the men and officers of
the Indian Army. Such as the Assitant Instructor Basic course (AIBC), the
Swimming and Lifesaving Course, the Boxing Instructor Course, the Basketball
Coaching Course, The Volleyball Coaching Course, the Refereeing and Judging
Course and the yoga course. These courses allow the men and officers to gain a
degree of mastery over their sport of choice and will enable them to train
service athletes at the highest levels.
The APTC plays a crucial role in forging a recruit into a soldier
Another basic course offered in the renowned institute is the Officers Physical Training Course. This course, unlike the others, is not a competitive sport-specific instructional module, but instead caters to the battle proficiency side of physical training. Commissioned Officers are prepared in this eight-week course to become qualified Physical Training Officers (PTO’s) who will be subsequently posted to the regimental training centres to overlook and contribute to recruiting training.
GC During in the middle of an obstacle course at OTA Chennai
This coveted instructional course generally takes place six times a year, however, has been cut in half due to the massive shortage of officers in the Indian Army. The Army took concrete steps to bolster fitness amongst its personnel following lowering physical standards.
This pressing matter was discussed in depth during a 2017 Army Commanders conference in May in which it was recommended that a vacancy of 24 positions be created in the Officers Physical Training Course, with the Military Secretory branch inviting officers with the required merit to pass the course and subsequently go on deputation to the APTC where they will be posted the regimental centres, to create a uniform and streamlined training curriculum.
This move had been welcomed by the military community with Brigadier P.K.M Raja speaking to The Times Of India about how this move will play a “crucial role a the regimental centres” The Brigadier further told the national newspaper that having “A qualified Physical Training Officer is the need of the hour, as he plays a crucial role in identifying sporting talent among the recruits.” “This will help the Army improve its sporting standards,” he added further.
Lady Cadets at OTA doing dips for build strength
The Indian Army’s Physical Training Corps has tirelessly strived to enhance the already high standard of the Indian Army and according to the ADG PI “have been unflinchingly training and conditioning all ranks of the Indian Army to perform at levels of excellence under the most trying of circumstances.” Further acknowledging the efforts of this otherwise small but potent corps, the ADG PI goes on say “The premier Institute of physical training in the Indian Army, has shown seamless transition incorporating modern fitness methods over decades.”
Engineering graduates who are willing to join the Indian army as an officer can apply for the TGC 131 technical entry from 16 Oct 2019 onwards. Applications are invited from unmarried Male Engineering Graduates for 131st Technical Graduate Course (commencing in Jul 2020 at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun) for permanent commission in the Indian Army.
Nationality: A candidate must be unmarried male and must either be : (i) A citizen of India, or (ii) a subject of Bhutan, or (iii) a subject of Nepal, or (iv) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or (v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by Government of India. Certificate of eligibility will however not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal. A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary will attach such certificate along with the application.
Age Limit: 20 to 27 years as on 01 Jul 2020. (Candidates born between 02 Jul 1993 and 01 Jul 2000, both dates inclusive). Note. The date of birth entered in the Matriculation/ Secondary School Examination certificate or an equivalent examination certificate only is accepted by this office. No other document relating to age will be accepted and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.
Educational Qualification for Applying: Candidates who have passed the requisite Engineering Degree course or are in the final year of Engineering Degree course are eligible to apply. The candidate studying in the final year of Engg degree course should be able to submit proof of passing by 01 Jul 2020 and produce the Engg Degree Certificate within 12 weeks from the date of commencement of training at IMA. Such candidates will be inducted on Additional Bond Basis for recovery of the cost of training at IMA as notified from time to time as well as stipend and pay & allowances paid.
Important Note: Candidates must note that for induction to Pre Commission Training Academy, after final selection, the minimum educational qualification is passing BE/B.Tech degree in the Engineering streams as notified below at Para 3. Therefore, to become eligible for induction into TGC-131 course at IMA, Dehradun, candidates studying in final year of engineering must ensure that he submits the proof of his passing Engg degree exam by 01 Jul 2020 to Directorate General of Recruiting, failing which his candidature will be cancelled.
TGC 131 Vacancies
Note 1. These vacancies are tentative and may be changed depending on organizational requirements.
Note 2. Recommended candidates of TGC-131st course (Jul 2020) whose merit is not within the number of allotted vacancies of respective Engineering streams, may be offered to join SSC(Tech) course (Oct 2020), subject to meeting all other eligibility conditions.
Type of Commission
Grant of Commission: Selected candidates will be granted Short Service Commission on probation in the rank of Lt from the date of commencement of the course or the date of reporting at IMA, whichever is later and will be entitled to full pay and allowances admissible to Lt during training period. Pay & allowances will be paid after successful completion of training.
Permanent Commission: On successful completion of training cadets will be granted Permanent Commission in the Army in the rank of Lt.
Ante Date Seniority: One year ante date seniority from the date of commission will be granted to Engineering Graduates of TGC Entry in the rank of Lt.
Applications will only be accepted online on website “www.joinindianarmy.nic.in”. Click on ‘Officer Entry Apply/Login’ and then click ‘Registration’. Fill the online registration form after reading the instructions carefully. After getting registered, click on ‘Apply Online’ under Dashboard. A page ‘Officers Selection – Eligibility’ will open. Then click ‘Apply’ shown against Technical Graduate Course. A page ‘Application Form’ will open. Read the instructions carefully and click ‘Continue’ to fill details as required under various segments. Personal information, Communication details, Education details and details of previous SSB. ‘Save & Continue’ each time before you go to the next segment. After filling details on the last segment, you will move to a page ‘Summary of your information’ wherein you can check and edit the entries already made. Then click on ‘Submit Now’ only after carefully ascertaining that the correct details have been filled in. Candidates must click ‘Submit Now’ each time they open the application for editing. The candidates are required to take out two copies of their application having Roll Number, 30 minutes after final closure of online application on last day.
TGC 131 Selection Procedure
Shortlisting of Applications. Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) reserves the right to shortlist applications and to fix cutoff percentage of marks for each Engineering discipline/stream (cumulatively obtained upto 6th semester for Engg Degree course/ 2nd semester for M Sc. Computer science/ 8th semester for Architecture) without assigning any reason. After shortlisting of applications, the centre allotment will be intimated to the candidate via their email. After allotment of Selection Centre, candidates will have to login to the website and select their SSB dates which are available on a first come first served basis, upto a specified date as will be intimated on the website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
Only shortlisted eligible candidates depending on the cutoff percentage will be interviewed at one of the Selection Centres viz. Allahabad (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bangalore (Karnataka) and Kapurthala (Punjab) by Psychologist, Group Testing Officer and Interviewing Officer. Call Up letter for SSB interview will be issued by respective Selection Centres through candidate’s registered e-mail id and SMS only. Allotment of Selection Centre is at the discretion of DG Rtg, IHQ MoD (Army) and NO request for changes are entertained in this regard.
Candidates will be put through two stage selection procedure at the SSB. Those who clear Stage I will go to Stage II. Those who fail in Stage I will be returned on the same day. Duration of SSB interviews is five days, and details of the same are available at official website of Dte Gen of Rtg www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. This will be followed by a medical examination of the candidates who get recommended after Stage II.
Candidates recommended by the SSB and declared medically fit, will be issued Joining Letter for training in the order of merit, depending on the number of vacancies available, subject to meeting all eligibility criteria.
ONLINE APPLICATION WILL OPEN ON 16 OCT 2019 AT 1200 HRS AND WILL BE CLOSED ON 14 NOV 2019 AT 1200 HRS.
Hey, my name is KARTIK LAKHE, a guy from the heart of our country, Nagpur, Maharashtra (to be more specific, a typical Marathi guy), I belong to a completely civilian background and always had a dream to break this tradition and be the first officer in my entire family. I recently cracked the SSB interview in 3rd attempt from 33 ssb Bhopal (NDA 143) which was my last attempt too, After 2 consecutive conference out (33 Bhopal and 24 Bangalore), I realized there was something that was going wrong, I just figured out where I went wrong by self-evaluation and tried to eradicate those mistakes, all it takes is determination and consistent dedicated efforts to be successful (you all won’t believe, I have practised about 300 TAT stories!!).
I reported on 18th of AUGUST 2019 outside Bhopal jn. Platform no. 6, since I was a repeater of 33 ssb, so, it was nothing new for me, so I was expecting around 50 reported candidates but in actual it was 71!. The bus came and took all of us to the selection centre, sultania infantry lines, Bhopal, then the basic documents checkup started, and after which we were alloted our accommodations! The next day was the screening, since I was a “screened-in” candidate for TES-41 and was screened in, in 40 out of 390, so I was kind of free regarding screening, because in NDA entry screening is comparatively easy, so did the OIR well and had a great PPDT as I had practised it many times.
The calling out of screened in candidates started and 35 of us got screened in out of 71. It was a great feeling because of a step ahead towards the dream of that “+” sign!
From the next morning, the psych tests were to be conducted, I made new friends and had a great time with them, in the psych tests, I did all 12 TAT, all 60 WAT and 56 SRT, after which I was satisfied for my work!
After the psych tests, I came to know that my
personal interview was on the same day after 2 hours, I was kinda stressed but
yeah, then relaxed myself, went for the interview. My interview was taken by
the deputy president of 33 ssb, he was a very nice person, the interview lasted
for about 1.2 hrs and I had a great conversation with him, then the only
thought in my mind was to do good in GTO because that is all I have in my hands
right now!
I woke up early the next day and got ready for the GTO day 1. I took everyone from the centre to the GTO ground because I was a 33 Bhopal repeater and knew everything about it, so the GTO tasks went well, we were able to solve all 4 PGTs, and all 35 were divided into 4 subgroups and I was a part of 1st group. Again I was satisfied for my deeds in GTO day 1 and went back to centre and relaxed for a while, the next day was our GTO 2 with only 2 tasks left that were the IO and FGT, since I am a footballer, so I had good physical fitness and stamina, so I did 15 IOs without any problem.
We were free by 11.00 that day and we had planned to go outside and visit Bhopal and went outside because the next day I might be going back home! So enjoyed a lot that day with TGC entry seniors.
The next day was the conference! And it is
really a scary thing for everyone (only repeaters will understand this).
So the closing address was conducted and after
which the conference started, my chest number was 10, so my turn came, I went
inside and was asked to sit down with some normal questions about the stay,
performance, food and where did I visited in last 5 days, I answered them
properly and after which I was asked to leave, the last thing I said was,
“have a good day sir!” And left the conference hall, we had a lunch
break after which the results were to be announced!
Because of tension, I didn’t eat anything and went for the final results, we all settled down in the hall, and the officer came to announce the final result, he started telling the chest number of successful candidates, my adrenaline level was at its top and just then he said “chest number 10” and from that particular moment, my life changed!!
I bet, once you will feel that moment, you can’t even imagine how it feels!
So that was my experience that literally
changed my life forever!
Even I have faced worst scenarios in my past that you all can’t even imagine, all I’ll advise, just go on trying without any hesitation and see how things change!
Never ever depend on luck, it can make things
worse, just dominate your hard work over luck, because of this, I never got
screened out!
Just don’t think about the results, just go on
doing well and enjoying each and every test in the SSB.
Once you clear this process, you will realize
how perfect and beautiful the selection system is, even in the country of 1.29
billion people, it still works efficiently to give future officers. The Indian
armed forces is still a department in India of which we all are proud of.
Everything will go right, be positive and go
on!
At last,
” It’s not you, who chooses the uniform,
It’s the uniform that chooses you!! ” All the best to everyone
With our hectic schedules in this bustling mundane life, it might be difficult to find time to think about who we are, our strengths and weaknesses, our drives and personalities, our habits and values. Besides, many of us just aren’t inclined to spend much time on self-reflection.
Lack of personal feedback from the outside world (family, friends/colleagues, boss etc.) can end in a pretty low level of self-awareness. That’s unfortunate because self-awareness is an essential first step toward maximizing personality traits and skill development. Self-awareness can improve our judgment and help us identify opportunities for professional development and personal growth.
As a matter of fact, the Self Description Test (SDT) in SSBs requires you to give honest opinions about yourself, from the point of view of your parents, teachers, friends, subordinates, colleagues, and your own feedback. And it is absolutely imperative to have a proper self-awareness before taking this test because the psychologist is curious to know whether you are aware of your strengths, weaknesses, qualities, shortcomings, etc. or not, so only to determine your temperament, selfdom and the vision you carry for yourself.
For this test, you need to have feedback and opinions collected from your family, friends, colleagues, employers beforehand. Getting direct feedback can be difficult. People want to make other people feel good (for the most part), and often times asking someone directly for their genuine opinions, we do not always get that honesty we are looking for. Even when personal feedback is presented to us, we’re not always open to it, because honest feedback isn’t always flattering! 😉
While it’s great to hear about things our acquaintances think you are good at, it’s way more useful to hear about some of the areas that you could improve. Let’s discuss few steps to get strong, unbiased feedback from our associations.
Create a mindset for yourself that feedback is a gift: First of all, get this in your mind right away that if you can’t take constructive criticism positively, you are on the sure path of loserdom! All feedback conversations have one simple goal: to help us grow in our self-awareness and be more successful. The truth is that one cannot change you as a person without your consent. We can only give you information that will be helpful. From there it is up to you to decide. This takes the pressure off the giver and the receiver of the feedback. If you have open, trusting relationships with your family, friends, employers, etc. you tend to receive more valid, accurate assessment of your personality.
A powerful exercise designed to give you reliable and unbiased feedback as a person can be like the one discussed below where we have a few questions that are required to be answered:
What am I good at
What am I not so good at
What three adjectives describe my best traits
What three adjectives describe my worst traits
What role do I play in people’s lives
What improvements I must incorporate request your friends, family, peers to give a response. Ask for brutal harshness but then celebrate it. Compare the consistency of the feedback from person to person. This will give you an analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. If your friends tell you the same thing as your boss/coworkers that means your problem areas permeate in one direction wherein you need to make considerable efforts to improve. 2. Ensure that all feedback starts with strengths: Strengths help us to be successful. Ask the feedback giver what helps you be successful in achieving the results you have achieved so far and how can you continue it or what motivates you to do well in life. You may be tempted to spend less time on strengths but take it as seriously as the other points. Don’t let humility get in the way of really knowing yourself and your impact. Moreover, it allows you to motivate yourself and manage your stress better, helps you with your intuitive decision making, and helps you to lead and motivate others more effectively. 3. Dig deep for examples of behaviors: Ask the feedback giver for context. Don’t settle for “you’re a good communicator”. Ask probing questions like, “When did you see me doing that well OR Why do you think I am a good communicator?”. Equally, don’t settle for “You need to develop more leadership presence”. Ask “What behaviors do you see in others that are examples of good leadership presence and which I don’t presumably possess?” Do your best to be curious rather than defensive. This will also be beneficial for your interview because the Interviewing Officer has already read your Self-description and PIQ just before your interview session and he would definitely be curious to probe further to know the underlying truths. So it’s better to be well prepared and have all covered! 4. Get feedback from your boss, peers/colleagues, coworkers, teachers to create a 360-degree feedback loop. Get feedback from anyone who you have ever worked with and impacted, the teachers who taught you the most recent, your friends and other acquaintances who are close to you. Just meet them informally and get their input, not a cumbersome task at all. 5. Already identify a problem or lacking area and take some (even small) action on it before asking for advice: Before asking for other’s opinions, first, note down your own thoughts and opinions about yourself. 6. Acknowledge: One of the most important steps in the feedback process is responding appropriately. Not all suggestions you receive will be helpful or even relevant but if you stand any chance of continuing an honest feedback loop, you’ll have to make sure that you acknowledge other’s efforts in helping you with your appraisal without getting critical of who said what and embracing it willingly.The information shared above may not be new to you. What’s next is up to you. What’s at stake for you is your career and growth. Be realistic and impartial in your conclusions.
