SSB : Experience of a Life time

Dated : 19 June 2013

I reached  at 12pm on Railway Station of Banglore from where we had to go to the SSB centre by a Bus . There were 7 more friends from NITH in our batch. At 2.45 the bus reached there and we were dropped at centre by 3.30. There were 180-200 guys and we started filling the PIQ forms as well as the allowances form. After completing , we were given Chest Numbers , mine was 33 and we were sent to the Rooms. Rooms were really great and were 8 candidates per room. so that was the starting day

DAY 1 : We woke up at 5 and collected outside the mess by 6 am . Then we were taken to Testing room for our first test named Screening Test . Firstly , we had two tests named Verbal and Non verbal Reasoning . They were quite simple and was able to attempt all as there was no negative marking . Then we were shown an Image which was not clearly visible and we had to write a story on that as well as characters position , age and mood. We were given 3 minutes for that. After story writing we were sent and were called for Group Discussion after an hour. In GD,  we were asked to Narrate our stories one by one and after that we had to conclude a single story . Discussion was not that good as all were trying to prove their points at the same time .After that we had our Lunch and the result was announced after an hour. 86 were screened in. We were given new chest numbers and the others were sent back to the Railway Station. Now , my chest number was 74.  

DAY 2 : Next day again , we woke up at 5 and collected outside mess by 6am , then we were taken to the same  Test Room for Psych test .It includes TAT , WAT , SRT , SD . 

TAT (Thematic Appreciation Test) : We were shown 12 slides and we had to write stories on them in 3 minutes each , last slide was blank so we could write any story of our choice. 

WAT (Word Association Test) : In this test we were shown 60 words one by one and we had to write a line  that comes first in our mind in 10 seconds. It was quite simple and I attempted all of them.

SRT (Situation Reaction Test) : In this , there were 60 situations in the booklet and we had to write our reaction for each. This was the tough one just because only 20 minutes were given for 60 situations but still was able to complete 57-58 .

SD (Self Description) : Here we had to write the answers of some questions related to us like : What your Parents think about you ? What your Friends think about you ? What your Teachers think about you ? What you think about yourself  ? What are you weaknesses and how you are improving them? . I was prepared for these so there was no problem answering these questions.

DAY 3 : This day , we were having  GTO tasks , we collected outside mess at 6am and then we were divided into groups of 8 each. We had Two group Discussions,  one on the topic IMPORTING WEAPONS FROM RUSSIA  and second was WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT BIOTECHNOLOGY OR IT SECTOR ?. After 5 minutes discussion on both we were shown a Chart on which some pictures were made ,on the basis of that picture one situation/problem was given and we had to write a solution for that . After writing , then we had to come on a single solution. After these tasks we were sent to the main ground , where  firstly we were given some group tasks and then we had a Snake race. After Snake race we had Lecturrate where we had to speak on a topic for 3 minutes .My topic was "SUCCESS OF IPL" and I concluded topic  before time. Then we were sent for Individual tasks where I completed 8-9 obstacles out of 10, a Command task and Final Group task , and it went very well. 

DAY 4 :  This was the Day of Personal Interview and seriously , the most deciding factor in SSB Recommendation . I was the last to be Interviewed. My Interview completed in One and Half hour . It was the best part of whole SSB . He asked me Personal questions , technical questions , GK questions and questions related to NCC and my Hobbies . I was able to answer almost all the questions.

DAY 5 : The day of Judgement arrived , we were given new chest numbers and in a formal dress we entered conference room one by one . It took only 1-2 minutes for one candidate and all completed in 4-5 hours . After lunch , the result was announced . As my chest number was announced , what I can say " One of the best moments in whole Life ". So ,there  I was standing with a New chest number +10 , with all other recommended candidates.

Next Day we left to Mysore for PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test) , after qualifying that we returned to Bangalore for Medicals . Seriously speaking , medical for Pilot entry is tough one and many of us were not able to qualify that. It took 4-5 days to complete whole medical process. After medicals I returned back but with a lot of memories and new friends , Now I am waiting for Call letter  :) 

Personal Interview at SSB Banglore - My Experience

It was the third day at SSB Banglore , we were completed with our Psych Test as well as the GTO tasks , now it was our  PI (personal interview) that left for the last day before Conference . As according to many experts , Interview is the most deciding part in someone's recommendation so all were very nervous . I was the last to be Interviewed among 86 who qualified first round . At 6 PM on the last day my name was announced and I was there standing outside President's room for my turn . So I entered the room with a file of all my documents in my hand .I was little bit nervous as there were lot of scary stories I was told from my childhood about SSB interview .
As I entered the room President said " Ashish Chauhan , have a seat ". After placing  my documents file on President's table I sat on the chair in front of the Interviewer.

"So Ashish , tell me from where you are ? " here the first question came
"Sir , I am from Hamirpur , Himachal Pradesh"
"Ok , tell me two kinds of people who should not come to Hamirpur "
After a pause of 2-3 seconds I said
"Sir , the persons who expect Malls , Big building , high Internet facilities , those should not come to Hamirpur and guys who are not a good Judge of Beauty should not come there" He started smiling.

"Now tell me about your Education , where you studied , your percentage , where you are studying now , what your parents think about you , what your teachers and friends think about you , what you think about yourself , your strengths and weakness and finally how you are improving your weaknesses ?"

At this moment , had to remember the sequence of questions and their order. I answered all the questions very well .
Then he asked me "Why do you want to join Indian Navy as you are from NIT , and you will get a good job from there "
I was well prepared for this question as this was asked from all the candidates.

Then he asked questions about NCC like "From which wing you are ? How many camps you have attended ? Which rifle you had used ? What is the range of that Rifle ? Tell me the names of target ? 3 techniques of swimming ? Number of sails in D K whaler ? How a ship works ? How to communicate in Sea ? Name all the Morse codes ? etc"
As I am NCC  'C' certificate holder , so was knowing all the answers.

Then he moved towards General Knowledge questions "Tell names of 3 countries in Africa , North America  South America and Australia . Where is Black , Yellow , Red and Dead sea and why they are named like that ? From where moon rises? Why moon rotate around earth ? Tell me the formula of Gravitational force?
Why Sun Stands still ? "

After that he moved on to PIQ (Personal Inquiry Questionnaire) and asked me about my Hobbies and questions related to them like : Tell me Difference between SLR camera and Digital Camera ? What is Exposure time and Shutter Speed ? First movie of India ? How that was captured ? How pinhole camera work ? What is the height of Badminton net ? Dimensions of badminton court ? and some questions about designing

So , the interview lasted for one and half hour and he was quite happy , reason may be my interview went well or I was the last candidate to be Interviewed :)
It was very nice experience and One advice to future aspirants "Never Get Nervous During Interview because Interviewer always try to Check the Patience"