SSB Experience Series: Recommended from 18SSB Allahabad TGC-122 : Part 1

Starting from Anand vihar (Delhi) Station on 19th Oct 2015, I took leave from my work, thanks to my Manager who approved me one, embarking on a journey which a hundred dreams of but only few get a chance to actually live it.

The train journey of 10 long Hours ended at Allahabad station. A fresh air welcomed me to Allahabad with open hands.
“Not a bad start,” I said to myself.

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Day 1:

A total of 260 candidates reported on the very first day for TGC 122 on the scheduled time 0600 hrs. At Allahabad 18 SSB board. Next we were asked to stand in a queue and the Board staff started with the initial level formalities by checking our original matric certificate, ID proof and TGC online application. The candidates having discrepancies in any of the IDs or forms were asked to correct it.
After the verification is done, we were separated on the basis of Fresher’s (who never appeared SSB), Fresher’s screened out (Who appeared SSB before but never make it up to conference i.e. screened out guys) and the third line for Repeaters (conference out candidates).

I was in Fresher’s screened out since I once appeared SSB in NSB Coimbatore for UES entry (But lucky me If God shuts one door, He opens another and I was standing again for the same opportunity, same goal with same dream).
We were allotted with a chest number, which is basically an alias for a candidate’s name. You are required to wear it till your stay in the board. You will not be called by your names but your chest number, I got chest number 101.

I was quiet nervous but yeah being from technical background OIR test ended out to be a cakewalk and I finished the test within the stipulated time. Next, the round was for PP and DT (Picture perception and Discussion test).It was clearly visible that the story was related to three police officers and one small boy sitting on an elephant in a park. I wrote the story within keeping the very important instructions in my mind given by Psych officer (Teachers open the doors, but you must enter by yourself since instructor clearly gave hint that your story should be related to the picture only and should contain past present and future of the situation which is been shown in the picture) I wrote a proper concise story with proper solution to the problem within given time.
My description of the story went like clockwork spot on and precise with a proper conclusion. And to my joy when the result came I was screened in and allotted with new chest number 15 for next level. In fact 30 of us were screened in for the next round (Conclusion what matters the most is how you are able to describe things in the given time .Written material doesn’t matter much if the description is nice and lucid). A major thing that happened and to which I reacted very calmly was, all guys were almost fighting for the conclusion by emphasizing on their own narrated stories but to this I acted smartly and was simply sitting and asking others to please one by one say your points, at first nobody was listening to me but somehow I managed to put forward my points in the way I wanted.

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Day 2

The Day2 was for the Psychological test (The Trailblazers).  No doubt it is the most important test. But I won’t write the whole process thing because I’m sure each one of you knows the basic ritual. I want to tell you what’s the basic decorum I followed; “Quality over quantity.”

In TAT I attempted all the stories well and in the blank slide I wrote about an inspirational event from my own life.
WAT, to my surprise, I attempted all 60 questions. It felt good. I was now a bit motivated that I can handle this exam. But, I was able to do only 36 SRTs as my sentences were too long, which shouldn’t have happened. But, as I already said, what matters is “Quality over quantity”. I was not being fake and wrote what came into my mind instantly.

Same day, I got my interview scheduled with the Deputy President. With a confident look on my face I entered the room. The IO asked me to sit. The distance between me and him being approximately 10 feet’s.

IO – Interviewing officer

IO: Akash from where you are coming (Looking into my piq form)

Me: sir Delhi

IO: Then what is this Siruseri chennai (Wrote my present working location)

ME: Sir presently I am working in syntel (Siruseri chennai) as software engineer.

IO: why not directly from Chennai to Allahabad

ME: Sir to collect my original documents and some other stuff from my home so I came via my hometown Delhi.

IO: Company name

Me: Syntel

IO: Salary

Me: CTC told and in hand, told exact figure matching my PIQ form

IO: what you do for your fitness?

ME: Told about swimming and exercise same what I wrote in my PIQ form hobbies section

IO: Do you read books?

Me: No sir

IO: Do you go to gym?

Me: yes sir

Io: How much you run?

Me: 3-4 Km on my cardio days only and 1 km every day following by weight lifting.

IO: Is there any trainer in your gym?

Me: yes sir

IO: You are trained under him?

Me: yes sir

IO: Tell me about yourself since your matric till date

Me: told everything in sequence how he asked

(IO asked question related to girlfriend, Do you have GF if yes what is her name? what do you like in her, what she likes in you what you want to improve in her, what she wants to improve in you)

IO: why your parents proud of you

Me: They proud of me for my responsible nature, My two times good academics in matric and graduation, My caring nature towards them, helping nature in all home activities with them whenever I am there with them.

IO: State in south which is not covered by coastal area

Me: After thinking a while………counted all coastal covered state in my mind I answered which one was left – Telangana

IO: eastern India 7 states and their capital

Me: told exactly right

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IO: Army ranks

Me: told

IO: tell me AF and navy ranks too

Me: told

IO: Insignia for Brigadier

Me: told

IO: Indian Nobel Prize winner

Me: told all

Io: why Malala got Nobel peace prize?

Me: told

IO: Difference between you and your sister (This was the common question asked to every candidate who was interviewed by the deputy president).

Me: no difference sir

IO: no, you have to tell me difference between you and your sister

Me: ok let me think… thoda socha and bola ..she is more Joyful and lively than me if I’m 100% she is 101%

IO: Tell me 3^rd also

Me: Sir I have never think of it and didn’t find such differences too since we grow up under the same shade.

IO : I am not saying did you think of it ever or there are such differences exist or not I am asking you to think right away, Or I accept it as you are not able to think it

Me: No sir it’s not like that

Io: then tell 3^rd

Me: Thinking for a while I gave one stupid answer sir she is married and I am unmarried: P

IO: wow now you will say she have long hair I have short

She is girl I am boy

Tell me something logical come on.

Me: sir she is more caring than me

IO: your best friend.

Me: told

IO: what you don’t like about him

Me: sir he doesn’t go to roam around outside for chill out on weekends.

IO: what your friend would like to improve in you.

ME: He must know better this sir

IO: I am asking you tell me

ME: he wanted me to drop my current job and appear for only defense since I am crazy about this.

IO: why army

Me: Defense dream, good pay, respect, disciplined and organized life what I like the most, professionalism, platform to represent your country

IO: Hypothetically if you won’t be allowed to join forces ever than what you will do?

Me: Will continue with my current job and will grow like a good leader for the organization as soon as possible.

IO: how much your brother is older to you?

Me: sir he is younger to me not older.

IO: oh ok then tell me how much younger.

ME: 4 years

IO: how much your sister is older to you?

Me: 3 years

IO: Shortcomings of your dad.

Me: Nothing he is perfect and god to me …….he spent around 60% of his income on me and my sibling’s education.

IO: Your weakness Akash?

Me: Sir would like to improve my communication skills and natural nervousness before any interview.

IO: But you have studied in very good school why your skills are weak.

Me: sir I got English education there not skills, Skills one need to set by own with day to day improvement and I am improving my communication skill day by day and still not satisfied so progress is in process.

IO:  ok thanks Akash nice to talk to you. All the best for next rounds.

ME: same here sir nice to meet you thanks.

Interview took around 40 minutes.

Wait there is lot more. The other days are still remaining that were fun indeed. Keep reading!!!

Click here for SSB Experience Series: Recommended from 18SSB Allahabad TGC-122 : Part 2 

About the Author: Akash Kumar is a CSE engineer working in software industry placed in Chennai. He got recommended in his second attempt, being screen out in first. Through this article he would like to help other defense aspirants to achieve their goal.