Got Recommended in the first Attempt by 17 SSB – K.Srivathsan

Here is the success story of K.Srivathsan who got recommended in his first attempt for OTA 101 course. This article is written by him to help Defense aspirants so that they can get the first-hand experience of SSB Interview.

THE JOURNEY

My journey of joining the elite services of India started when I was doing my third year of graduation. I gave CDS-I 2014 and cleared it in my first attempt. But I was aware that the real journey is yet to begin.

PREPARATION

Firstly I had no clear idea about the SSB Interview process. So I had to refer a lot of websites like SSBGuru, SSBCRACK read many articles of recommended candidates etc. The simple thing was that one had to clear the first day to get into the real game. So I started to work on the Intelligence Test. I worked hard with the help of ‘VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL REASONING’ by R.S. Aggarwal. I assure you aspirants, that will help you definitely in your Day-1. I went through the recent information of all the armed forces.

THE REAL JOURNEY

My interview dates came and fortunately, I got the Bangalore Centre as my travelling time to the centre would be around 6hrs only. As I was late, I had to report to the Centre directly. I expected a crowd there. They had called 125 candidates but luckily and surprisingly only 35 were present and many of them were fresher. The team had screened outs, conference outs; merit outs and some of them were to give their last attempt. Though we were 35, I knew that it was not going to be as easy as that.

DAY-1

We were asked to report at 7.00 a.m. We were taken to a hall; we were briefed about the Day-1 process. First was PPDT. An image was shown and fortunately, it was clear. I was able to write a nice story on that. But be aware candidates, the real game starts in the Discussion Session. Everyone will try to give their points but don’t give up. Just maintain your temper and try to convince others by giving the right points. I want to say that being calm doesn’t mean that you’ve to remain silent. As I’ve told earlier, people who misunderstood about being ‘calm’ were screened out. 19 were screened in.

DAY-2

Never take Psychological Tests as just like that as they portray the ‘YOU’ in you. One may get easily trapped and may get conference out due to the lack of right psychology that is needed in the armed forces for an Officer. WAT, TAT, SRT and SD should reflect the ‘YOU’. Just be yourself in the tests and you’ll get through.

DAY-3

The first round was GD. We avoided a market situation as our group had a good understanding and we never quarrelled. Straight opposite to that, GPE was quite messy and we didn’t conclude. PGT was bit easy and we were all cooperative and gave our ideas calmly. No one dominated there. We used all the members and crossed the obstacles. Same with HGT. In the Group Obstacle Race, we showed our spirit and helped one another to climb the walls and to cross the net and our team finished it first.

DAY-4

First, we had IO. I was able to finish only nine obstacles as I fell down. If you ever fall down just go ahead and don’t worry about getting wounded. In fact, you’re trying to get into the armed forces. I wasn’t happy with my performance in Command Task as the GTO asked me, ”Talk to a Commander. Speak loudly.” Lecturette was just another easy talk. I chose ‘Equal rights to women’. FGT was not that difficult but at the end of the 4th day, I wasn’t so confident and happy.

INTERVIEW

I was lucky enough as it went for only 15 mins. For other candidates, it was a minimum of 1 hr. only 2 were to be interviewed on the 4th day. Within 15 mins the Interviewing Officer took everything out from me. It was more factual about the army like rank structure, commands, and HQs, weapons etc. In fact, they were the only means to convey to him that I had got a real passion for the army. But still, as I told before at the end of 4th day, I was not feeling ok.

DAY-5 THE CONFERENCE

All of us were excited about the Conference. My turn came. The moment I entered the hall where nearly 15 Officers were sitting in uniform, I felt a bit nervous but I didn’t show it. My IO spoke to me and asked about the Arms and Services in the army. The President asked about my college friends and tested my psychology. It hardly went for 2 mins.

Finally, we all were asked to sit in a hall. I didn’t have much confidence that I would get recommended. An officer of the rank of Lt. Col. Came and asked us to try again if we had failed to make it. My chest no. was 8 and it was the first number to be called out and I still remember the golden moments of standing with bloated chest and my friends clapping at us four ‘recommended’ candidates.

KNACKS

1. Be you. Identify what makes you unique. Tell that to the Interviewer.
2. Don’t praise yourself unnecessarily to the Interviewer. At the same time never try to earn his mercy.
3. In the Psych.tests, it not about how many words, stories, situations you finish. It’s about how you give it. Be precise, positive, effective and logical.
4. Never try to dominate the discussions and never be submissive. Wait for your turn. Give right points at right time.
5. In the IO, don’t hesitate while negotiating the obstacles. Be a soldier from the heart. Try to finish it in one go.
6. Prepare as much as you can relating the armed forces. They’ll come handy during the interview and maybe in the Conference.
7. Maintain a good physique. It’ll help you in IO and Group Obstacle Race.
8. Finally, be a soldier in the aspects of punctuality, decency, dressing sense, grooming, behaviour, walk, talk and surely you’ll get recommended.
9. At the same time don’t try to act like the one which you’re not. Else, you’ll get caught.

MEDICALS

Medicals went for 4 days and I cleared it too. I’m waiting for the Merit List for 101st Course of OTA to finish my journey. My heartiest wishes to all the Defence Services aspirants.

P.S.– K.Srivathsan’s name also featured in the Merit list for 101 OTA course and currently he is under training at OTA. SSBGuru.com wishes him all the best for his training and a bright future ahead.