MY EXPERIENCE IN SSB INTERVIEW FOR INDIAN NAVY !
DAY ZERO:
We reached yashwantpura main station at 5:30 hrs on 26th January amidst no hallucination for republic day seeming much of the interest of north Indians only. Anyhow we got a decent room in hotel at “kotton pet” near bank of Mysore at moderate rents. While priyank goyal decided to sleep at room, me n gaurav kotaida (priyank n gaurav being other accompanies for interview with me)decided to explore our first experiences in the India’s biggest metro and have a feel of republic day at army HQ of nation. Visited vishwasriya technological & industrial museum, cubbonpark,vidhan sabha bhawan (only place where we found the tricolor hoisted in Bangalore) and then finally reached a place more of our interest , birds arena, commercial street in evening with full of fantasies of branded showrooms and chicks. Its known here that when u throw a pebble upon air falling down it will either hit a dog or an IT professionals, such is the number of IT pro.here.We returned to hotel by 9 :30 pm and had uttapam ,cooked deliciously from a road side vendor having ice cream after a walk in return to hotel room.Next day we had to report to 12 SSB at 3 pm, while we visited more places in city before that time since morning like ISKON temple.
DAY ONE:
2:30 PM, 12 SSB candidates labeled Bus arrived Bangalore city main station.A military peroson started with loud scolding ”Jaldi karo Bus mein saaaman dalo aapna apna”,”Jagah na mile toh khade hi jana padega, 70 admioon ki bus hai , tum aaye ho 100 se zyaada” !I felt like the testing started for individual from this point itself, but it was fun with students hailing from all parts of country like Bhuj, vishakapatnam, cochin, agartala , jammu, Bhopal, Chennai, ernakullum Chhatisgarh and all prefinal year and final year engineering students , everyone has a story to recite about their Boring teachers and college fun.Upon reaching the SSB again scolding started “Jaldi karo aur wahan shade ke niche bath jaao”.Filling forms for personal Details and travel charges reimbursement form and other announcements and undertakings form. This form filling procedure itself judges your ability as an officer hoe appropriate you are in filling your personal details. Mind it candidates have doubts in filling these personal forms as well.Briefing from the SSB hostel warden, SHM who is a hard military dressed man shouting all the time on disciplinary actions of the heavy attendance of candidates on first day(100+).Mind it he will brief you a very comfortable stay but your are not intended for comfort here at SSB for next 4 days of stay.We were free after these formalities for some hours before 6 PM the closing time of SSB after which candidates are not allowed to move out.
DAY 2:
Morning 5 AM , hostel warden with a huge kettle of Tea on hand shouts ”Utho, Chai peeyo, paani chalu hai, jaldi jaldi taiyar ho jaao” No movement from students, “AAre bhai UUTHo”…. Shouts again!! After crow bath and all night insomnia due to bed bugs all over in 12 SSB Barrack beds , had simple and light breakfast with bread toast jam and butter with a glass of milk and Boiled eggs for Non veggies.We had 3 continuous tests, 45 Que each 25 minutes, testing quantitative skills, English and intelligence and general perception tests.Next we had to under go Psychological test which consist 60 SRT, situation reaction tests in 45 minutes, where we have to give how we would react to a particular situation mentioned in the question. Situations are very common but the reaction differ largely among students and it’s a test of psychology taken by psychology scientist and no chances of bluffing is there of any sort, remember it’s not the test of you English.Next is 60 WRT, word reaction test, a word is projected for 5 sec on screen and have to write a first meaningful sentence that comes in mind watching that word that comes in intervals of 10 sec, 4 words per minute and 60 words continuously.After so many questions and testing you are almost Fade up and ur energy levels are deteriorating since morning wake up call at 5 AM , arranging water for basic amenities and reaching testing arena at 7, testing start at 8 AM and now at 11 pm you are completely off after 120 aptitude question 120 SRT and WRT .Next stage in rounds starts of a PPT i.e. picture perception test to test and write a story on the basis of your perception. Picture displayed for 15 sec and is very blurred and unclear image; write a story in next 10 minutes on it.And I must say One can cheat with others but can not HIDE/CHEAT himself from his own self and that’s how SSB people judge you.Next you have GD session and stress on General etiquettes, body language and your imagination being aggressive and positive is rewarded any negative thinking and destructive mindset can be clearly spotted by interviewing body from your story and its recitation during GD. Loud , aggressive and Clear mindset with sound energy levels and confidence wins.
ALL IS A TEST OF YOUR IMAGINATION, THINKING, ENERGY LEVELS, PRESENCE OF MIND AND PSYCHOLOGY.
One pm we had lunch and soon results were announced for first stage of selection. All the procedures and way of conduct is purely military disciplined and well managed. Upon calling my chest number I had to speak loud standing on a white square box in front as ”Devesh Agrawal first July Eighty five” clearly showing energy level and mind set of the candidate.
Unselected candidates had been dropped to railway station by SSB bus. we were free after this and could roam in city and we did it daily at commercial street , garuna and central mall.
DAY 3:
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| Chest No 42 : First Round Selected ones , Goes into the record books of 12 SSB Banglore |
Some had interview and some had ground tests.
Personal interview question are from your family background, your records and school from 10th to 12th and your entire engineering career, your activities , you hobbies and extra curricular achievements are counted heavily here. Knowledge of current political and social affairs, and ones personal view on a global issue like global warming, terrorism etc. are asked. Thus a sound knowledge, good communication skills, basic body language, energy level and officer like etiquettes are highly sought in interview that lasts anywhere around 30-45 minutes upon satisfaction of the interviewer to judge you fully. They don’t want to miss out any deserving candidate.
DAY 4:
Ground tests include military planning and discussion where in a small operation layout to combat enemies if shown and a discussion is to be done and group is required to come to a particular conclusion. GD on two general topics for 10 minutes is conducted one after other. Next we had to deliver a lecture on a small topic given instantly preparing for 5 minutes and speaking for 5 minutes.ALL these things are done in groups of 7-10.Next we had obstacle passing and other tests using “Balli” , “Patta ” and “Load” based on simple principle of Leaver and fulcrum. They are meant to gauge the leadership qualities and communication skills among a group.Same tests dividing it in subgroups are meant to have a closer watch at the individual. A sound energy level and presence of mind showing good leadership qualities can be a good cause of your selection. Last is individual obstacles like high jump , road jump, double ditch jump, and tarjan jump that tests the individual qualities like hard work and fitness levels.For another long tiring day of continuous ground tests one needs to be mentally alert and Physicaly fit and High on eneygy levels at any point of time in a day.
DAY 5:
Results of the candidates being referred to army, navy and air force for induction to its services by SSB are announced after small conference , a formal visit to all the interviewing officers like Vice president, psychologist, ground test in charge and other members sit and collectively decide about referring a candidate for induction to armed services.I was conference out on final day and I was very happy to have witnessed this best and satisfying testing procedures, out of last 45 candidates left after first phase , 9 were recommended and they all deserved it I believe.A SSB conference out candidate is not so that he is not appropriate for anything in life, its just that the required quality that they sought in you to be a officer in elite Indian armed forces is either not present in you or you failed to show it. We have next chance again to apply in response to advert. And to show the required potential as they say.For recommended students have to undergo strict medical fitness test and merit list to be commissioned in armed forces.
I am happy to have undergone a genuine testing procedure as a guest of Indian government and to know my potential with candidates coming from all parts of the country and I know working upon with my first experience at SSB I can materialize it to a good Rank in armed forces but to live up some other’s dreams one has to sacrifice with something and decision is entirely dependent on an individual if he would live a life in pride for his nation and its service or as a civilian for his family.
A CANDIDATE COULD HAVE MISSED DELIVERING A QUALITY IN HIMSELF BUT SSB COULD NOT MISS ANY QUALITY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THERE SERVICE AND IS SHOWN BY YOU IN 4 DAYS OF JUDGEMENT.
DEVESH AGRAWAL
