Fighters…!!! Ssup..!!
This blog is about life and an experience at SSB Centers. the story of trials made, experience gained, and lessons learned. the ones struggle to make dream come true and still nowhere. This is not about the Defence Forces but how far you can go behind your dreams. This is for those who have attended the SSBs at least once in lifetime or want to attend in future...!!!
This blog is about life and an experience at SSB Centers. the story of trials made, experience gained, and lessons learned. the ones struggle to make dream come true and still nowhere. This is not about the Defence Forces but how far you can go behind your dreams. This is for those who have attended the SSBs at least once in lifetime or want to attend in future...!!!
Its was started with Chilly winter Morning when i reached ALLAHBAD
on 26 OCT 2012 to Attend TGC 116 Entry . I reached railway station by early
morning 0400 Hours as we were ask to report at station by 0600 hours. And like
always hello-hi-greetings and same old stories of Freshers-Repeaters. Apprx 800cadets were called-up to attend
the interview. By 0545hours SSB
officials (BUS) were there to escort us from station and were sent to SSB
Selection center. As we reached there We all were
told to have breakfast in 3 minutes, before arriving of next SSB Bus.
The halvadar was“oye sheti karo.. raula na paao
oye!! 3 Minute me sab logo ka breakfast ho jana chaiye” that time I was
like “saala, Maggie bhi 2 min me banata nhi…ghanta
3 min me breakfast hoga…and jisne breakfast kiya unki balle, baki sab nithalle”
This is my 7th attempt of SSB, previously i got out 6 times in Conference Round
and once in Medical.
There were around 286 cadets in 14SSB batch. After documentation we all were allotted chest numbers. Mine was chest number 285 (orange color). Soon after allotment of chest number around 25-30 cadets were sent back immediately because of no opening for their resp. branches for TGC 116 entry (Information and technology, Computer Science engineering & Bio Technology).
Day
0 (Screening Test)
SCREENING TEST so by 0715 hours the test started after a small recapitulation
or sample test of 1 minute. Intelligence Test started. We provided with 2
booklets of 50 questions each and were asked to answer each booklet in 13
minutes. Soon after or within a minute after small introductory speech on
PPDT(Picture Perception Discussion Test) the picture were shown. The picture is
shown to us was black&white ( two boys talking to each other in cabin .. and behind
them there is one men standing with tie an suit ). In PPDT a cadet has
to make a Positive story in less than a minutes and write it down on answer
sheet in 4minutes 30 seconds. PPDT is all about speed and working under stressed situation
so that your very first thought can be recorded. Now Picture is totally
clear and different stories were made by different cadets acc. to their
creativity and perception. Discussion Test was about to start in couple of
minutes. As soon the Picture Perception
Test got over, everyone was like “maa-behen
toh ab hone wali hai” “ saaley dekh toh saare officers kaise marane baithe h
humari” “yaar, last time iss officer ne waat lagayi thi humare batch ki” and
the most common and you know this “yaar, suno sabko bolne ka chance milna
chaiye. Koi raula nhi dalega, discussion increasing order me hoga”. Separate
batches were made for Group Discussion. As we all were repeaters so 25 cadets per batch for repeaters and 15 cadets per batch for fresher`s. By 0805hours we
got call for our batch. Everything was setup. After set of instructions
followed by narration of individual stories made by cadets in Picture
perception Test the discussion started. The discussion was so noisy and rowdy
that officer was forced to divided our batch in 2 groups of 12-13. First group
had good and healthy discussion with when it came to my group no doubt it was
again noisy and with full of un-productive and useless ideas, I mean in short
wasn`t that good. Discussion got over in15 minutes and we all were asked to
remain in campus. So by 0830 hours we were free. We all were done with our
bests. At 12noon we were asked to lunch and to get assembled in Parking lot of
officer`s Mess for results. By 1400
hours our results were announced the officers started announcing the chest
numbers of shortlisted cadets. all 600 eyes and ears on officers for their
resp. chest numbers. So only 38 cadets from 300
cadets were shortlisted. I was happy for me. I made it but felt left and alone at the same time for my
friends that I had made in last 6 hours. I was the only one to get
screened in my 25cadets group. And we all were congratulated by our batch
officers, new chest numbers were allotted with PIQ(Personal Info.
Questionnaire). Now chest no.18.
Instructions were given to be in SSB
hall by 0600 hours for next selection procedures.
Then
SSB Official took our mobile phones as we are not allowed to keep any during
selection procedure and if anybody gets caught “woh toh apne boria-bistar
k saath station pahunch jaata tha”
Entered the campus. New rooms, new roommates.(Daman, Sohail, Mayur, Ravinder,
Stefen and me ). After filling of PiQ`s, Sabhi k jabaan par ek ki cheej “kal jaldi uthna hai, chalo so jao” lekin neend aane ka naam le tab na.. !! after introduction and we started
discussing our opinion on selections procedures followed in SSB and next day
exams and so on…
Daman(Chandigarh): will get through SSB(something
somewhere that intuition) package of all OLQs.
Sohail(J&K): Bit diplomatic and defensive. Used to talk in facts and figures.
Mayur(Delhi): Pervert but good in Automobiles“
Ravinder(Punjab): Typical Punjabi, Dil khush isaan..!!
Stefen(Kerala): A perfect south indian.!!! No hindi nothing..!!
Me: A jerk and day dreamer.!!
Me: A jerk and day dreamer.!!
discussion session
ended in couple of hours
Day
1 (Psychological Test)
Next day, Sohail Khan shooked us up by 0445 hours. So from bed to bathroom it again took us quarter a time and the moment we entered the bathroom, all the toilets and bathrooms were engaged so no room for us. We all were standing outside with water deeped toothbrushes. Mayur and Ravinder got pissed off “ saala agar sab aise bathroom me baithne lage toh hogaya humara exam” and they planned a trick to `em out. Mayur started shouting in bathroom “Emergency call hai, President ne sabki ko documents leke bulaya hai ground me, jo nhi ayega uska interview nhi hoga ” retard ravinder was busy in beating the doors of toilets and bathroom, yelling on them to come outside right now. The pottiers were out in a minute they were in their rooms and we all were potting inside”. By 0545 we all were done with our bathroom stuffs & Mayur was cursing SSB for not providing hot water he was like “if they ask me for any complaints and suggestion in conference round, kasam udaan challe ki mei bolunga muje select mat karo.. par paani toh garam supply karo”. After having breakfast we assembled in 14SSB hall. After a small introductory speech by Psychic the Psychological exam started. So the Psychological exam consists of again 4 different exam which are TAT (Thematic App Test) , WAT (Word App Test) , SRT (Situation Reaction test) and the most important Self Description Test). This test is only meant to record the very first thought of cadet, its creativity, its mentality, its level of thinking, way of thinking and way of taking things mentally and physically. Believe me you don`t want to take this, because you have to attend all this 4 tests with no single minute gap. This slows down your approach to your creativity and imagination but more than this it kills your hands. After the exam when I noticed my palm it was like pale white something like no blood flowing in and thro` it. Hand were paining like hell. This is what they want. They want you to respond under highly stressed condition”.
TAT: This test consist
of 11 Pictures followed by one blank slide. always make stories on social issue
or OLQ`s (recommend) but make sure that when you make a story don’t use or
mention the good qualities of your hero or don’t praise your hero too much
again and again, it should come out automatically after reading your story. This test is very tiring not physically but mentally. And it is preferred that
you choose the age of your hero to be between 20/26, not too old and not
too young. He should be of your age. And about blank slide your story should be
related to last slide or to any earlier slides. Mugging up stories from book
will not hel & work. Believe me if u did good in psychology u clear the half of the
test.
WAT: in this you have to make positive sentences outta words(Positive
or negative).
SRT: In this test a cadet is required to react to particular
situations. To excel this stage just put yourself into that situation as if you
are facing that problem and just answer the situation. That’s it problem
solved..!!! again you should have good knowledge of social things.
Self Description Test: this is where you can praise yourself and the field too where you are allowed to cheat!! kidding!! The main plus point of this test is
you know the question “About yourself by your friends point of view, by your
teacher/colleague point of view, by your parent point of view, and by your
point of view followed by Plus and Negative points about you and the effort to
reduce them” now what all you want now??. You know the questions. Just practice
hard on them, rewrite them and excel in it, and rewrite them in exam too.. any
problem!!! :) :)
Day 2(Interviewing Officer):
This is very very much important for you. This is the where you meet President/Vice-President in an isolated room with that entire rapid fire questions. Because he has everything about you. the PIQ ,the Psychological result, Self description test. IO sees you to check and confirm your human behavior. Be careful Please don’t lie to IO. He will catch you in seconds. Don’t believe me??
This is very very much important for you. This is the where you meet President/Vice-President in an isolated room with that entire rapid fire questions. Because he has everything about you. the PIQ ,the Psychological result, Self description test. IO sees you to check and confirm your human behavior. Be careful Please don’t lie to IO. He will catch you in seconds. Don’t believe me??
Me: Shall I come in Sir?
IO: Yes Mr Nitish, please come in
and have a seat.
Me: Thank you Sir!!
IO: so how was your Psychological
exam and GD? And what was your topic for GD? heard you were bit aggressive
during your GD`s.
Me: Psychological exam were good,
but I was unable to complete SRT`s! my GD topic was on social life “Women
-Money-Wealth-which is important?”
and “AFSPA-is it necessary?”yes
sir it went in bit aggressive mode but we had very healthy discussion.
IO: So what you chose? and why?
Me: sir I chose wealth. As wealth is
basic commodity that everybody lives for!!
IO: so anybody from your group for
Women? and against AFSPA? What they said?
Me: yes sir !! chest number 22 “Stefen”. He said if women is
there in life. It give satisfaction for basic need for humans sexual life and
also he quoted” har kamyaab aadmi k piche ek aurat ka haath hota hai” and many
more things. And chest number 21 “Sohail Khan” was against it. He quoted that “ Indian army people
rage and rape the women in J&K and kill them on the name of AFSPA!! (IO was smiling… and when chest number 22 was
called for IO he was crossed checked and fired by many question.. and chest no
22 was very much pissed on me..be
aware of cross checking and he called chest number 21 a traitor )
(then rapid fire question on my family,
interests, my life, my friends, my teachers, my enemies, my neighbors)
IO: ok!! Nitish!! So you have
mentioned in your PIQ that you take tuitions?
(actually I used to take tuition in
early days but for sake of writing and to make my PIQ attractive I wrote I take
tuitions!! And I lied here )
Me: yes sir!! (I again lied)
IO: so for which class you take tuition?
Me: sir, 9th, 10th,
11th 12th !! (I lied)
IO: so what you teach them ?
Me : sir, Mathematics!! (I lied)
IO: can you name some chapters from
it?
Me: sir,(with small break of 8-10
seconds) Algebra-Cartesians, Trigonometry and Quadratics. (I was totally un aware of this and I was
lying again and again.)
IO: so what is the strength of your
tuition class?
Me: sir 8 !! (first I planned to say
4 but number 4 is bit smaller and will not sound good so to make it attractive
I lied to 8)
IO: can you name them ? (You would be saying, i could have taken your friends name but believe me under stress and you go blank over their you just concentrate on IO that’s
it. )
Me: I took random names Ram, Sohan,
Mohan, and few (I still don’t remember the remaining names) but I gave him all 8 names.
IO: ohhk Nitish!!…and he changed the topic..!!!
this was
the funniest moment during my IO on which we both laughed.
IO: so you are an engineer!! So Mr.
Engineer Any girlfriend made or were in any relationship?
Me: no sir!!
IO: Ohh!! that was straight forward
answer..!! so Nitish that means you don’t have any
manly feeling?? (IO laughed).
(after discussing on my personal
life, i was interviewed for more half and hour!!)
IO: so Nitish. We had very healthy
Discussion. Thank you, you may go now!!
(I was about to leave the room)
IO: Nitish!! I forgot to note down
your tuition students name!! can you name them again?
(It was
something like opponent scores a goal in few last seconds. I only remembered few.)
Me: sir, Ram, Mohan Sohan and I got
stucked!! That’s it
IO: he smiled and asked me to
leave!!!
So
if you are still planning to lie, and then be prepare for the KhudKhushi!!
If you attending SSB via Technical
Entry make sure that you know about your branch and basic questions like
Radars, Battle Tanks, Sonar, and so on. And about general awareness make sure
that you know about ( Indo-China , Indo-Pak , Indo-US, Indo-Russian Relationship
and current issues. New technology introduced in Armed Forces, Weapons and
Systems, Social Issues in India and so on.
Reached
to room fully tired. I was sharing my experience with roommates about my
assassination in IO room.
Day
3(OutDoor Activities):
Half the outdoor activities were got over on day 2, the remaining
Door activities started. Everything went smoothly Group task, Final Group task,
Command task, Hurdles, Snake Race)
During Hurdles Test very shocking incident happened..
Our
GT Officer gave some set of instructions and asked us to shout out loud the favorite actress name on
a rail (Just to check the stability on small width rail) and to continue the test. So when the Sohail Khan entered and climed the
rails he said “sir, I don’t have any
favorite Actress!!”
and with no time GTO “Then
go and get it from pakisthan”
so be aware when you make a quote on Indian army. If you have any doubts about Defense forces then why you wanna join it?
Done
with everything…Next day Conference Round…!!! Fingers crossed..!!! one step
behind to enjoy the Olive Greens..!!!
Day4 (Conference Round):
We
all got up early by 0500 hours. After breakfast. We all were called for
conference round one by one to the round table room where all the IO, GTO,
Psychic with others selection committee. conference
started at early by 8:00 clock and end after half n hour, hardly max 45 seconds
for each cadet. After having lunch, we gathered in hall for the main
results. All cadets were dying for the results but all wanted to be announced in their favor.
Nobody wants to get conf out and why will they?? All cadets were like who will
get recommend this time.with no time an officer greeted us by saying “so
fighters, nervous for results??” we all shouted “ yes, sir!!” so after giving
the common motivational speech on idol characters Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam, Rahul
Dravid. He ended the speech by “ Keep
fighting, fighters!!” Announcement of results started. All eyes on Chest
numbers.. Chest Number 8. Chest Number 16 (Our Group mate Daman!! And it
reminded me of 3 Idiots scene when Ranchoddas(Amir Khan) Top The exam .) That’s
it..!!! allass!!! I was Conference Out again.!!!. And that’s was the lesson I learned this time. well the freshers were all broken
and into tears, and as I was a repeaters no heart feeling “I will try it again
next time. no matter what!!”
I m
still missing the life at SSB, it was good and awesome. That life without
mobile phones was f**king awesome..!!!! missing my crew!!!
