Hello everyone!!! I am PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA and have secured AIR-16(IMA) in CDS 1 2020 exam. Got recommended from 18 SSB Allahabad in my second attempt. The journey until the recommendation has really been very interesting and full of learnings. Starting with my background, My father is a JCO in the Indian Army and my mother is a home-maker. I have done my schooling in various places with my father’s transfer. Having been grown up in an Army environment and studied in multiple Army Schools of the country, I was very impressed with the Army lifestyle and wanted to make my career in the same field. The stars on the uniform invited me to discharge my whole potential to wear that dream uniform.

So, the journey of preparation for the NDA Exam started right from my 10^th standard but was unable to pass the written exam. All of my NDA attempts were exhausted and at last, I got an SSB call for Navy B. Tech entry at NSB Coimbatore, but was screened out there.

Getting screened out in your first attempt creates a psychological impact on your perception of the SSB. You question your ability once, whether you can crack it, do you have it in you, and all that. But, SSB is all about improving yourself in your further attempts, I had figured out that I had 2 years left for my CDS entry, and I started improving myself from them irrespective of SSB requirements. I sat down, self-analysed my mistakes made in my first attempt, found my demerits and started working on myself. I forgot about SSB and I had only 1 target, and that was “to become the best version of myself”. I believed that SSB is a personality test, and if you are good in your life, then SSB is just a part of that.

When I was in my final year of graduation, I started preparing for the CDS exam. I just focused on my strong portions more, as they fetch me maximum marks, and prepared other portions according to the need of the exam. I practised with multiple previous year papers and mock tests and analysed my performance after every mock test. I appeared for CDS 1 2020 exam and cleared the exam on my first attempt. I was shortlisted for IMA. I then started preparation for SSB too. I made a check-list of all the OLQs and honestly ticked those OLQs which I really had. I found that I was lacking in communication skill and Confidence. So, I joined Spoken English classes near me, where I got multiple opportunities to speak and improve my speaking skills and confidence. After a month, I was confident about my speaking skills too.

I took the help of my mother for a Personal Interview as our parents have seen us grow. They know our merits and demerits.

It’s my strong recommendation to discuss the PI questions with your parents too and modify your answers accordingly.

This is my main advice to those who opt for coachings. See, getting guidance for SSB is not bad, but improving your OLQs should be your first priority. If you have time, then you can go with coaching, but if have limited time, better you put your efforts to improve your weak areas first and polish your strong areas. Like how I chose to join a spoken English class instead of going to a coaching academy.

Coming to my SSB, it was on 11^th Oct 2020, and I was allowed SCE Allahabad. As it was quite a peak time of COVID-19, it was risky to travel, but with all precautions, I went to the centre.

26 reported, out of which 12 were screened in. I did well this time in screening and was satisfied with my performance. I was given Chest No. 5.

On Day 2, we had a Psychology test. I did 12 TAT, 59 WAT and 46 SRT. I had prepared my SD well in advance. So, overall, my Psych test went up to my expectations.

My interview was scheduled for the same day after Lunch. I had two interviewers in my PI, and it went for around 50-55 minutes. They asked me some basic questions about my education, family, and friends. There were questions on my previous attempts, GK questions, the arm I want to join, some SRTs, my hobbies and interests. The first interviewer was nice and gentle, whereas the second one put a lot of pressure on me. They cross-questioned a lot. I tried my best to give the best possible answers I could.

Overall, the PI went OKAYish. I was little concerned about PI.

Coming to Day 3( GTO-I), we had 2 rounds of GDs. I tried to give the best points in GD. I initiated in both the GDs, listened well to others. Our group was very cooperative, and we didn’t discover any fish market situation in our GDs. GPE, PGT, HGT, GOR went very well. In Lecturette, I got: Cloning, Ethics in Media, Nepotism in Politics & T-20 cricket, and I chose the second one, and gave a nice speech.

Then, came the 4^th Day(GTO-II), I did all the obstacles in IO. Got bomb-diffused in Command Task. GTO exerted little pressure on me. He made both of my subordinates dead, and told me to complete the task alone :). I was called by all the group members in CT as a subordinate.

Now, finally, Conference Day came, and we were asked to report at the Hall at 9 AM.

All of us got ready. Many of us were nervous and concerned about the result. Then we decided to have a stress-booster group dance. We all gathered in one room, played Bhojpuri songs and danced the worst we could. We enjoyed a lot. We all dressed up for the Conference. One by one, candidates were called. I had a wait time of around 20 minutes before I was called in for the Conference. I was asked only basic questions regarding stay and suggestion.

At last, an officer came in with the results. We were seated in the hall but instead of announcing the results, he did a prank.

He came in, and arrogantly said,” You guys have come here to become officers. You have cleared the UPSC exam, but some of you don’t know to fill their Roll numbers correctly. This is how you will become officers???? “

He asked Chest No.1 to stand up and tell his Roll No. . Then he asked Chest No. 5(Me) to do the same followed by Chest No. 8 and Chest No. 11. We were standing and he asked us the reason for filling the wrong Roll No.s. We were shocked a bit and said to correct the Roll no.s .

Then, after seeing our tensed face, he said,” Congratulations Gentlemen!! you are in”

We four were shocked for a while. Everyone started congratulating us, and still, I was unable to believe that I had made it. We 4(Anshul Tiwari, Rajneesh Singh Kushwah, Shivam Sehgal and Me) started to jump there with excitement.

I was dying to tell the results to my parents. After a while, got time to switch on our phones.

And instantly, called my Father, he asked in a very low voice, and I replied,”Papa, Ho gaya!!”. My father was in the unit and he started crying there and replied,” Thank You Beta”.

That was the first “thank you” I received from my father, and that was the best reply for me till today. I called my mom too, and she was super happy. Everyone in the family celebrated the moment.

So, at last I would like to say that if you are determined towards your aim, then you will surely achieve success, provided do hard-work on the right-track!!

I really enjoyed this journey, and wish all of you best-of-luck for your upcoming SSBs.

Be Natural!!!   and  Be yourself!!!   

SATSHRIAKAL! HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME IS GURJEET SINGH CHAHAL, I GOT RECOMMENDED FOR TES-44 IN MY FIRST ATTEMPT, Since my family has been serving the nation for 4 generations and now I am fortunate enough to be the fifth generation to serve this exciting and noble services, I especially had a special attraction towards TES entry, since I was always luring for science techy things and wanted Btech along with army, so there was no better option than TES.

Since I got 91.4 in class 12, I was pretty sure that will I’d make myself into the SSB merit list, so I started practising for screening right after my result and preparing for NDA written exam simultaneously, so at first, I couldn’t write good stories, but I made my speed so good that I could write 100 words easily in 4 minutes. Which gradually gave me the advantage of writing with ease in screening and psychology tests. In September I got my call letter and I got 7 November as my SSB date in Bhopal, I was lucky enough to get a pretty lot of time for preparing for SSB, I ordered books for SSB Interview “Let’s Crack SSB Interview” and Psychology book “Breaking the Code of SSB Psychology” of SSBCrack and others was by Maj. Ravindran, both the books helped in getting me an overlook of the psychology test and a little bit of interview, since I have been a very active student in my schooling years, and took part in many oratory activities and competition so speaking in English and speaking in public was never a problem.

So soon I mustered up for my preparation of ssb, for GD and interview I started reading the newspaper on regular basis and did mirror practice with a stopwatch for screening so that I could have a very specific and concise answer, and for GTO only the group tasks were tricky, so I started watching various youtube videos and made rough maps for the syndicate solution for the immediate and simultaneous response those really helped me a lot in excelling my group tasks; and then comes the conference of my SSB all those 5 days went so fast but still whomever I met there at SSB now has a lifetime bond with me, and then just had a small crisp conference and then the results when I heard my chest no.

I got thrilled with joy, that was the movement of the day and since it was on Choti Diwali it made my Diwali a memorable one, At last, I would like to conclude that SSB is itself a very memorable experience in one’s life and if you go with the flow with full preparation so one can stop you from getting a plus sign at your chest no.

JAI HIND

Hello Everyone, my name is Vipul Kant Gaur, I am from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. I have been recommended from 17 SSB, Bangalore for IMA(DE)- 150. I was S/O thrice & recommended in the 4th attempt and got AIR- 12 in IMA & AIR-6 in INA. My journey began in 2016 when I gave my first SSB for NDA. I wasn’t well prepared and was screened out. then came TES and I was screened in but had to withdraw on the same day due to health concerns. After the incident, I was so devastated that I couldn’t gather the courage to face another SSB. Hence, I decided to complete my Graduation in Mechanical Engineering and later appeared for AFCAT and CDS. Exams went well and I received the call letter for AFCAT SSB. I was terrified to think of what I will do if I fail even here. I saw my fear taking the shape of my reality as I was screened out once again.

This was the final nail in the coffin, and I went into a slumber, a deep state of disappointment and regrets. My father couldn’t bear this and so he started taking me on runs, He would walk with me on the way back and tried hard to cheer me up. His constant faith in me encouraged me to get back on my feet. I started working out again and lost the required weight. Soon, I received the call letter for CDS SSB again. The center was in Bangalore, and my first thought was that I shouldn’t go so far just to fail again. But thankfully, I went and I started loving the city ever since.

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my chest number being called and there was this thumping inside my heart that I made it, but my mind wasn’t sure. It’s the best thing one can feel, that surge of excitement and the sense of achievement. I looked back at my failures and I realized that it was all worth it.

It wasn’t an easy path as I belong to a completely civilian background. I did not go to Sainik school or RIMC and I wasn’t even part of the NCC. But as they say, ‘There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.’

I never went through any coaching, because I understood that SSB is majorly about your personality and how you project yourself rather than how much you know.

I prepared for SSB even while preparing for the written exam, I used to practice TAT and WAT while practicing for the English section. I started reading newspapers regularly and analyzed the news daily with my father and my peers to broaden the horizon of my knowledge and perspective. I inculcated a planned and disciplined attitude towards my lifestyle that helped me a lot. I also believe that the most important thing to do while you’re preparing is to know yourself thoroughly. Introspection is the key to success. when you develop your mind to identify your own mistakes and take necessary actions to rectify them, you will see yourself growing and succeeding in life.

So for the whole process, I firstly prepared for screening by writing stories on more than 10 pictures every day. I wrote 2 or 3 stories on every picture to widen my imagination and to gather my thoughts properly. For the OIR Test, I solved over 50 sets of verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.

For the trickiest and super important psychology tests, I practiced and persevered. I wrote a lot of stories, got them reviewed by a lot of people to improve little by little. For SRT, I tried to put myself in rather difficult situations and then think of diverse solutions for a single problem on the go.

For the interview, my engineering degree and experience in management that I learned during my internships, helped a lot. I promised myself to not make anything up, just be real and try to have a conversation with the IO rather than him asking questions and me answering. It’s rather good, to be honest, clear, concise, and confident than being something you’re not.

For GTO, working out helped a lot as it made me more confident in my physical abilities. I improved my speaking and presentation skills. Reading and discussing the newspaper daily helped a lot as I was familiar with the GD topics and it brought out clarity and confidence. In GPE, the key is to be concise, thinking out of the box, and thinking of contributing to the group, and come to a viable, realistic, and achievable plan.

In SSB, every day possesses a different type of challenge and test of your overall personality. Listen carefully to every instruction, work with your group, be modest and always don a smile, even in difficult situations. Try and make friends, listen to their stories, and above everything else, enjoy the process. It’s going to be a life-changing experience.

And ask yourself……Do you have IT in you?

Jai Hind.