Day 3&4 : GTO Tasks

There are multiple tasks that are conducted on ground under the GTO. They are :

1) GD

2) GPE

3) PGT

4) HGT

5) IO

6) Command task

7) Snake race

8) Lecturette

9) FGT

The GTO is spread over a span of two days so you will has about nine rounds with the GTO where he will be evaluating you. Also the tasks are designed to test the 15 OLQ's in all together different pattern and different way, so one need to see what these rounds are all about. Lets see the details of all the rounds:

1) Group Discussion : There will be 2 GD's in the very beginning based on any of the social issues and current happenings. Its a simple discussion and the timings vary on the officer and the conduct shown by the aspirants during the discussion. Usually 20 minutes each are given for the discussion.

GD in progress at GTO day 1

2) Group Planning Exercise: There will be a map model shown to the aspirants which will be explained by the assessors . Also a narrative will be given to each aspirant so that they can understand the happenings told by the GTO officer properly. Five minutes are given to the aspirants to read the narrative done by the officer for the clear understanding. It is then expected that all the aspirants will write their individual plan to solve the problem as explained by the officer in their individual answer sheet in about 10 minutes and then the GD starts within the group to look for a common solution of the problem. the GD might go for 15-20 minutes.

GTO narrating the GPE map

3) Progressive Group Task: Above tasks that were conducted were the internal task. Now the first outdoor task starts which is PGT. Here a set of four obstacles will be provided to the aspirants in course which needs to be solved in about 40 - 50 minutes. There will be structure , load and helping matrial provided to the group. The task grows in toughness as one progresses to the next stage. The technique and the color rule for GTO can be looked in detail in the various articles published on the blog.

Full group dedicatedly moving in PGT

4) Half Group Task: It has the similar nature as that of PGT and the group is provided with only one obstacle along with the load and helping material. The only difference is the group is divided into two sub groups here. Here one sub group will perform at the instance while other sub group will not be allowed to watch their performance. Each sub group will be provided with 15-20 minutes of time for performing the task and completing it.

HGT in progress

5) Group obstacle race or Snake race:  Here a snake like load is given to the group and all groups compete with each other carrying the load against a set of six obstacles. Lot of energy is needed for this round.

Full josh shown by aspirants in obstacles in snake race

6) Lecturette: This is one of the two individual task which is performed by the aspirant. Here every one need to deliver a short talk to the group. Three minutes are given by the officer to select and prepare a topic from a card which might have several topics while three minutes are given for presenting on the same topic. 

Get ready to give the lecturette

7) Individual obstacles: A course of 10 obstacles is in front of aspirants in this round which needs to be crossed in just three minutes. This is also an individual round where the aspirant can cross obstacles and if completed with all the ten, can again repeat if time permits. Each obstacle is numbered from one to ten denoting the points that each obstacle carries.

Cross with confidence in IO

8) Command Task: This is also a round where individual performance is monitored as here each one is made a commander one by one and can take help of two subordinates. One obstacle is given of similar nature as that of PGT and it needs to be completed in about 10-15 minutes with the help of subordinates.

Commander crossing the obstacles along with subordinates

9) Final group Task: FGT is last in the series of GTO and one obstacle of similar nature as in PGT is provided with a time period of 15-20 minutes. Whole group is united again and perform their last bit here.

The last task  is FGT for GTO -day 2

The GTO session is conducted for two days and the order of round can be changed depending upon the availability of the ground. Proper briefing, debriefing is given by the officer and aspirants are expected to hear all the rules and regulations properly os that best efforts can be given.