My First ever SSB Interview!!!

One of my very sweet friend gave me an idea to share my experience of Service Selection Board Interviews i.e. SSB interview with all of you.

SSB interview is for Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard, to select good and capable officer for their respective organization. They are looking for true leaders, who can lead men of their forces. Selection rate on an average is 1 out of 81. There is no corruption involved in selecting future officers.

Structure of SSB for Indian Air Force is as followed:

Stage I

Screening Test: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Test followed by Picture Perception and Discussion Test. (Conducted at Day 1)

Stage II

Psychology Test (Day 1)

Group tasks and Interview (Day 2)

Group tasks or Interview (Day 3)

Group tasks or Interview (Day 4)

Group tasks or interview followed by Conference and declaration of result (Day 5)

NOTE: For each group, group task will be for only two days, and after that they may get an off day.

Now as you must have got some idea that what is SSB interview all about, so let me start sharing my first ever experience of SSB, which totally changed my life.

I was 4 years old when I decided that my dream career is armed forces: Indian army or Indian Air Force or Indian Navy. In 2005 when Indian Coast Guard got recognition of armed forces, it automatically got added in my career list.

In 2009 I applied for Indian Air Force, I cleared Engineering Knowledge Test, and got call for my first ever SSB. I had obtained NCC 'C' certificate, and in NCC, we are trained to be future officer, so I did not opt for coaching program. I prepared from SSB interview books of different publication. My entry was of University Entry Scheme, UES-2010. My SSB center was Mysore and I had to report on 6th October 2009.

DAY 1

SCREENING & PSYCHOLOGY EXAM

At 0700hrs I reported at Mysore Railway Station with other 148 candidates, from where after identity check, we were taken to selection center. They checked our marks sheet, call-up letter, identity proof, and allotted us chest numbers which was our new identity. There was a verbal and non-verbal test followed by Picture Perception and Discussion Test. There were two question papers, 40 questions each, and for each 40 question there was only 17 minutes allotted. I find it difficult and out of those 40X2=80 questions, I did 64 questions.

I was not happy with performance; I knew if I want to get screened in, I have to do well in the next test which was picture perception and discussion test. 

In picture perception and discussion test, psychologist shows a picture on large screen for about 30 secs, after which candidate will get 3-4 minutes to write the story on that picture. After completion of stories, candidates will be divided in groups, and there will be discussion on that picture, in which candidates have to first narrate their story, then after discussing with group, have to arrive on a common story.

I did not complete my story within time, and was nervous and slow while narrating it, but I had fire inside, I hate it to go back home on the first day itself, and during group discussion I raised my confidence. Few candidates agreed to my story, adding spice to my confidence.

After lunch around 1600hrs, result was announced. I was nervous, first SSB, my father had lot of hope with me. Out of 149 candidates, only 81 were selected to compete in the II phase, rest of 68 candidates went back home on the same day. I was one of those 81 candidates.

I felt relaxed as I achieved my first goal. They asked selected candidates to take off their luggage from truck, and allotted us our rooms, for next 4 days.

In evening at 1800Hrs, first test of II phase started. It was psychology test. Most of the people hate this test, as it gives you lot of stress. And that day, we all were under lot of pressure, as we didn't rest properly. Air Force selection is like a pressure cooker, they test under lot of pressure.

First test was Thematic Appreciation Test, in which candidates had to write stories on 12 different pictures, and for each picture they allotted us time of 3 minutes. I read in book that, they give 4 minutes, but they gave me a shock, as I was not prepared for it. I was slow in completing stories within allotted time but some how I completed it.

Next test in psychology was word association test, in which we had to make sentences on 60 words, and for each word 15 secs were allotted to us and for this test only 15 minutes. They used to display words on screen for 15 secs and in that time, we had to think and form sentences on it. I had done lot of practice on it, and thank fully I completed all 60 words.

The next was Situation Reaction test. In this test, 60 situations are given to us, on which we had to give our reaction on paper in writing, and time allotted was 30 minutes. I was slow once again, and did only 48 out of 60. After this test I was tired, not able to concentrate.

Last test of the night was Self description test. In 15 minutes, we had to write, opinions of parents, teachers, friends, own opinion, and thing which I want to improve. Everyone prepares it in advance, and I did same thing, so I completed it within time.

After these entire tests, every one of us was tired. Our test ended at 2200hrs in night. No one had energy to interact with their new group mates. After finishing dinner at mess, everyone noted their allotted interviews date and time, and went off to bed. My interview was on Day 4, which was my off day. And my interviewer was Board President of rank of Group Captain. 

DAY 2

In morning we all woke up at 5, got freshen up. There was very low temperature in Mysore that time. Despite of danger of becoming ill, i took bath. I never ate breakfast at 0600 hrs in morning, but its Indian Air Force, discipline is must, and for the first time I ate my breakfast so early in morning. At 0730 hrs we all reported in front of testing hall, where our duty selection officer, briefed about the day. Then we went inside a room, where chairs were arranged in semi circle position. We all were in white T-Shirt and white shorts, wearing white canvas shoes. Our Group Testing Officer entered and introduced himself. He gave us two topics one by one, and asked to choose one and start discussing on it. My group mates chose a topic, which I didn't want. But I didn't show my disagreement to them. We started discussion, I kept my points, I had good knowledge about the topic, I did not indulge in any fights. Similarly, there was ND group discussion in which GTO himself gave a topic. I was happy with topic as it was of my interest; I again kept my temperament, and was satisfied with my performance in group discussion.

After group discussion, there was group planning exercise, in which GTO explained us about a situation, in which we had to discuss, and had to arrive on a conclusion plan to solve the challenges. First we had to write our plan on papers, and then we had to discuss it. In discussion everyone agreed to my plan, and I felt it was a cake walk. But real challenge was ahead.

After these indoor tasks, GTO took us on ground, where obstacles were made up of wood. First outdoor task was progressive group task, in which there were four phases of obstacles, which we all had to cross as a group, and a bucket as a load was given to us, which we had to carry till finishing line. In first phase, I took initiative and by implementing ideas with help of group members, we crossed the first phase.  In 2nd phase, I don't have any idea that what happened to my group mates, but everyone was keen to be in highlight, and started fighting. Our ideas didn't work, and with some concessions given by GTO we crossed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th phase. Now, we had lot of conflict in our group. 

After this 2nd test was half group task in which our group of 9 was divided into two groups of 4 and 5 members each. This time i got chance to showcase my skills of leadership. My group easily completed the half group task, and my idea too worked, but I was very nervous during that.

I had heard that there is no snake race in air force selections, but they gave my shock, by testing in snake race. In snake race, I was tired, and was not at all excited, which was my mistake, as it showed that, I was not interested. 

After Snake race there was Lecturate as the last test of the day, none of my group mate were able to deliver a lecture of 3 minutes, as I had preparation, I easily spoke for 3 minutes, and my lecture was impressive too. At 1300hrs our day ended.

Outfit for group task

In my group, 6 members were from same city, and they formed their own separate group, and they isolated me. There was one guy, who joined their group, and one liked to be isolated. My group treated me as foreign element. Due to this, I made new friends, and most of them were from outside of the group. Vivek Kumar Shrotrai and Shashwat Singh were two guys, who had similar frequency with me, and we became good friends. We used to discuss lot of things about Air Force, and used to laugh about our college life.

DAY 3

For our group it was last day of Group testing. It started by command task. My chest number was two, and my group testing officer called me first. He gave me the most difficult task of all, which gave me indications that I am performing well in group testing. He had long talk with me, before explaining my command task. In a command task, one candidate is commander, and he has to select two helpers from his group. I was commander, and i selected chest number 3 and chest number 9. Due to their performances so far I selected them. Initially I didn't know how to start, but once I started, I reached finish line soon. Then my group testing officer raised my difficulty level, by asking me to imagine a structure which was colored white, to be now as yellow. Yellow means, now i can't keep helping material on that structure, he also put pressure on me by repeatedly reminding me that I am losing time. But I gracefully completed my command task.

Chest number 55 and Chest number 2

As there was a group inside my group which already isolated me, they didn't call me to be their helper. If no one is calling you, that mean, you are not good in influencing people, and knowing this fact, I planned with chest number 9 that I will call him, and he will call me. And he did. I was called only once. I felt very disappointed with it.

After command task, we had individual obstacle test, in which we had to cross 10 obstacles in 3 minutes, and depending on the points of obstacles, we will get points. I did 6 out of 10. I felt it was not bad, but also not impressive.

Last day of the task was final group task, in which for the last time, the whole group will perform the task, and as we did in progressive group task, again our ideas were not working, and everyone was fighting to be in limelight.

I was not disappointed with the whole performance in group task, as I knew that I had performed above average.

In night I, Shashwat and Vivek sat, and prepared for interview. They both were repeaters, means they had previously attended the SSB interview, but were not selected. They shared their experiences with me, and I shared what I knew. We prepared till 11 in night, then they went to sleep, and I kept preparing current affairs part till 3 in morning, the biggest mistake I made.

DAY 4

In morning at 0900hrs my interview was scheduled. I wore my special formal dress for interview. I reached their at testing hall at 0845hrs, from where a person escorted me to my interviewer. He asked me to wait in a room. I waited there for 20 minutes. I was watching outside window, a very pretty girl learning to ride car. After 20 minutes, they called me inside room of interviewer. My interviewer was board president of the board. I was nervous. Interview started by rapid fire, where he fired 15 questions at a time. I answered only 12, he asked me other 3 one by one. He asked me several question related to my personal life. I was very nervous and lost fluency of my language, which made me more nervous. My interview was about just 45 minutes. 
We all three were done with our interviews in morning. We discussed about it, cracked jokes, and started dreaming about to be an officer, as we were confident that we will make it.

Vivek Kumar Shrotrai (Left), Shashwat Singh (Center), Rahul Singh Bharadwaj (Right)

DAY 5

It was 10th October 2009. It was my birthday. My parents wished me in morning, and prayed for my selection. It was the sweetest day, as it was result day; my destiny was going to get decided that too on my birthday. We played basket ball in morning, while other groups were busy in there group task and interviews. We reported to testing hall at 1300hrs, where we were briefed about the day. Conference started at 1430hrs, and my chest number was 2, so I didn't wait too long. My conference was quite short, only formal questions, like what I am doing in Hyderabad, how was the food, any suggestions. In conference around 20 officers were sitting inside the hall, and one officer was asking me the questions, and all other were staring at me like I am some criminal. I had heard before that, such kinds of questions are for those candidates who are either easily selected or completely rejected, and depending on my performance I was confident that I am in.

Conference for 81 candidates started at 1430hrs, and got finished at 2000 hrs, it was about 6 hours long waiting for the result. In between I informed my parents about conference. After a conference we were made to sit in testing hall, and our duty selection officer arrived and announced the result. Only 8 were selected to be an officer in Indian Air force out of 149 candidates who reported on center. My buddy Vivek Kumar Shrotrai was one of those 8 and I and Shashwat got rejected. Shashwat was son of a Group Captain, his dad was an officer in Indian Air Force, and he knew board president from before. I am telling you all this, to keep a proof in front of you all that, there is no partiality for selection of officers in Indian Armed officers, its 100% clean.

We all took our bags and uploaded in truck, I was shocked, and wanted to cry, but I controlled my emotion. Air Force was in my blood, I was passionate about it, but I got rejection. 

When I reached Hyderabad, and my father received me. For the first time, I saw tears in my father’s eyes. He wanted to see his son as an officer, but his son did not perform. I disappointed my dad. My dad gave me a tight hug. I didn't cry, but from inside, I was crying.

Reason for my rejection was bad performance in Psychology and Interview. For selection all the three assessors should agree, and if any one has objection, then trust me rejection is for sure. And in my case two of them had objection.

This was start of endless journey. A journey to achieve dreams. I am not a quitter, and I was not ready to quit. I discussed about my performance with my father, and started improving flaws which were there in my personality. 

Live For Nothing
or
Die For Something