SSB Bhopal

                                     SSB Bhopal - "The Experience of Life"

Being a Solider is a matter of pride, and leading the soldiers is the dream of brave and Intelligent youths, I am the one among such million youngsters who wants to join Indian armed forces as officers. For officers entry one has to clear written exam UPSC CDS/NDA/AFCAT or specialized core eligibility to appear the the toughest and longest 5 days interview process known as SSB, in this test the candidates are tested on various parameters to check their physical, mental, social, ability. 

In September 2023, I got interview letter from SSB Prayagraj for army and SSB Bhopal for Navy, I was confused weather to go for it or not as I was 10 Kg under Weight, but since there was 42+20 days medical extension so finally I decided to go for 33 NAVY SSB Bhopal. 

Reporting time was 6 AM morning, and I was 2 hours late, Armed forces is known for their discipline, but that was the day when luck was in my side, private vehicles are not allowed inside the army cant area still, the Soldiers ordered the auto driver to leave me SSB campus. It was beautiful green area officers were playing Golf and pleasant music was attracting the mind to feel something great, I entered the SSB Campus, the cadets were going for the after the breakfast, the JCO  allowed me after documentation he send me to take breakfast as soon as possible.

Two test were there for screening the best minds, Officers Intelligence Test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test, During the entire SSB test your Identity is your Chest Number, in screening test my chest no was 27,  In picture perception test I wrote the story on theme Rural Development that got selected by all the cadets for final conclusion and hence I dominated the PPDT test. 

Results came after an hour and I was one among the 15 selected cadets for SSB test and got updated chest no 25. The rooms were allotted to us everything was well organized, we were treated by the staff like an officer, we went for Lunch, I had heard that the food of SSB Bhopal is too delicious, and it was exactly same, the food was fantastic. 

After Lunch we were called for the documentation and orientation of the SSB, it took the entire day, our electronic gadgets were submitted, at evening we explored beautiful SSB campus, it's motivation hall, Internet library, indoor sports. We took the dinner and it was the time to get familiar with new amazing friends who came from all across the country,  I didn't seen the smart, intelligent and funny people like them. Next day phycology test was scheduled, for that we have to report to test hall at 5:00 AM, so we all slept by 10PM. 

Day 2: We all get up and ready early in the morning, we took the tea and went to the mesh for  breakfast, after which we had a photoshoot and then 5 consecutive tests, Thematic Apperception Test [TAT], Word Association Test [WAT], Situation Reaction Test [SRT], Self Description Test [ SD], a massive speed, reasoning, and focus it took, between these tests we took a snacks break, after the test we got Personal Interview[PI] schedule , and I got first slot 11:45AM to 12:30, I got 15 minutes to get ready for it with documents, I entered waiting room 15 minutes prior, my body was completely cold, I was shivering, my heartbeat was very high, I took a liter of water but didn't get normal, so I stand and started watching posters on wall and took newspaper, now I was feeling little bit comfortable, I was called inside the interview room, I sit approximately 5 meters away from the IO, as conversation started I was feeling completely normal, he asked about my academic history, achievements,  Information Technology, my current job profile, proficiency in technology and questions related to Navy, he was well aware from my native place, as per his familiarity I guesses he also belongs to the nearby place, he questioned even about sweet store Mohan Peda, a Buddhist temple (meditation center) at nearby Ganga River, he was very supportive towards me even he guided me for the further rounds which was against to the policy. The interview last for 74 minutes which exceeds the ideal interview time. I took the lunch and now I was free for the entire day, at night after dinner we went for movie  "12th Fail", it was their own(army) their own theater, there were only SSB candidates and families of officers, we had a lot of fun and motivation.

Day 3&4: GTO: After breakfast we reached to GTO ground, there was total of 9 tests in these two days:-

1. Group Discussion (GD) (2 GD, one consist of 2 topics for a choice, one was without choice)
2. GPE or MPE group/military planning exercise:-  (A situation was given, based upon which we had to find the best possible plan to tackle the situation, and then discussion upon it)
3. Progressive group task (PGT) :n
4. Snake race
5. Lecturette: 
6. Half group task(HGT)
7. Individual obstacles :- There were total 10 tasks (different in different entries) and time bound is 3 minutes,  https://youtu.be/yGhxTWS24bs?si=QW123JwkFsOXwX4Z
8. Command task
9. Final Group Task (FGT)