SSB Interview

SSB interview in Ambala

(A) The Indian Armed forces have a reputation of being one of the finest in the world and offers a very challenging and attractive career for Indian youth, both MEN and WOMEN. The Indian Armed Forces, after induction imparts required training to ensure that the individual becomes fully capable of handling difficult and complex situations that arise in operational and administrative spheres.

A brief description of works of all three forces of the ARMED FORCES :

(1) THE INDIAN ARMY

(a) The Indian Army is responsible for defending the territorial integrity of the country against all external aggression and internal disturbances. During the war Indian Army is responsible for protecting the nation against external aggression, whereas, during peace time also it provides aid to civil authorities during natural calamities and helps in maintenance of law and order when required.

(b) The Indian Army is mainly divided into combat arms and services. The combat arms are THE INFANTRY, THE ARTILLERY, THE ARMOURED CORPS, THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS and THE CORPS OF SIGNALS. Whereas services include ARMY SERVICE CORPS,ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS, ARMY POSTAL SERVICES, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS, ARMY EDUCATION CORPS and ARMY INTELLIGENCE CORPS and so on. The latter provides logistics support to the fighting arms. Combat arms are responsible for actual combat, whereas service ensures continuous flow of required ordnance including food & clothing for men, varied vehicles, tanks, arms and ammunition.

(2) THE INDIAN AIR FORCE

(a) The Indian Air Force is responsible for the air defense of the country, ensuring both offensive and defensive roles. It is a responsible for the air defense of vital installation of strategic importance to the country.

(b) The Indian Air Force has three main branches:

  1.  Flying Branch : The flying branch includes fighter pilots who fly combat or fighter planes carrying ammunition and missiles; transport pilots who fly planes which carry men and materials, and helicopter pilots who provide air support to a moving army, or are used for para-dropping men and supplies.
  2. Technical Branch : The technical branch gives engineering support and is responsible for the engineering equipment and weapons systems of the Indian Air Force.
  3. Ground Duty Operations(GDO) Branch : The GDO branch includes all the departments that provide logistical, meteorological, educational and administrative support to the flying and technical branches.
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(3) THE INDIAN NAVY

(a) The Indian navy is responsible for defending the extensive coastline of the country in times of war and peace. It is also responsible for safeguarding our maritime interests including defense of off shore oil and gas installations, coastal shipping and fisheries rights, and to protect the vital trade links.

(b) The Indian Navy has three main branches:

  1. Executive Branch : This Branch manages the Navy’s warships and submarines as instruments of tactical warfare.
  2. Engineering Branch : The Engineering branch is responsible for the maintenance and service of engineering equipment, the propulsion systems on board the ships including electrical and electronic systems, weapon systems, missiles, radar and radio communication systems.
  3. Education Branch : The Education branch  ensures that the officers and men are updated in their technical knowledge and tactics.

(B) SSB INTERVIEW

The SERVICE SELECTION 

BOARDS(SSB)set up by the Ministry of Defense, undertakes the SSB Interview to evaluate prospective candidates for recruitment in the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

SSB is a six day interview compromising number of tests  which are designed to assess the candidates personality and intelligence. The assessment scientifically analyses each candidate’s potential and compatibility for commissioning into the Armed Forces of India.

Candidates who are cleared with UPSC conducted written exam or recommended by Preliminary Interview Board(PIB) in case of Territorial Army, as well as those shortlisted Direct Entries are called through call letters to appear for SSB(Allahabad/Bangalore/Varanasi/Bhopal/Dehradun/Mysore/Coimbatore/Visakhapatnam/Gandhinagar) at the center allotted to the candidate.

SSB IS ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT FIT AND NOT THE BEST FIT.

(C) TEST PROCEDURE IN SSB

The testing in the SSB is done in two stages namely Stage 1 & Stage 2. Candidates who clear stage 1 are qualified for stage 2 testing. Stage 1 is a day affair whereas Stage two compromises 4 – 5 days.

Glance at detailed procedure:

  • Day of Reporting

Candidates are received at the station by an officer(s) of the board and then taken to the selection center. After the candidates are settled in, an opening address  takes place where an officer of the board briefs the candidates about their stay of next 5-6 days at the center. Document verification takes place where the original documents of the candidate are verified.

  • Day 1(Screening Tests-Stage 1)

Day starts with the screening tests in which candidates are given Intelligence Tests(verbal & non verbal) proceeding with the PPDT(picture perception and description test) in which a slide (hazy or clear) is shown for 30 seconds; the candidate has to observe it very carefully and in nect one minute has to write a story on the main theme of the slide shown.

Once the story is part is over, the second part follows with the GROUP DISCUSSION on their respective stories of PPDT.

  • Day 2(Psychological Tests)
  1. Thematic Apperception Test(TAT) : Commonly knows as Picture Story writing. Candidates are shown 12 images(including 1 blank) and they need to write a story on each in 4 minutes. The time limit is imposed to gauge the natural response of the candidate.
  2. Word Association Test(WAT) : 60 words are displayed in front of the candidates for 15 seconds each and the candidates need to write down a sentence which comes to their mind on seeing the word.
  3. Situation Reaction Test(SRT) : Applications to various unknown situations are assessed . 60 situations are given, each to be tackled in 30 seconds. write specific two/three actions that could be taken for each situation.
  4. Self-Description Test(SD) : A variation of this like description from the point of view of parents, teachers, colleagues, neighbors, etc. Total 15 minutes are given to write the responses.
 
  • Day 3 & Day 4 (GTO Tasks)

The following tests are conducted are as follows:

         1. Group Discussion

         2. Group Planning Excersice

         3. Progressive Group Tasks

         4. Half Group Tasks

         5. Individual Obstacles

         6. Group Obstacles Race or Snake Race

         7. Command Task

         8. Lecturette

         9. Final Group Task

Note : INTERVIEWS ARE HELD DURING AFTERNOON /EVENING HOURS ON 2/3/4 th DAY.

  • Day 5 (Conference)

On the final day, all the assessors sit together and discuss on demonstrated performance of the candidate. The Candidate is required to appear before the complete board of examiners composed of President, Deputy President, all the Psychologists, all the GTOs and Technical Officer.After the board meeting of every candidate is over, THE RESULT IS DECLARED.