Difference Between SSB AFSB and NSB. Many candidates get confused between what is the difference between AFSB and SSB. For starters, you can consider that SSB and NSB are one and the same thing because they follow more or less the same procedure of selection. Though AFSB also follows the same procedure of selection, yet there is a little difference between how these procedures are carried out. One thing which is assured is that you need to possess the same kind of qualities in order to get selected in either of them. Let us see how these are different:
- The names: SSB stands for Service Selection Boards, these boards are meant for selecting candidates for Army and sometimes navy too. There are selection centers which have more than one board, all the Army boards fall under some or the other selection center, and two navy boards too are under the selection center. NSB is the name given to the standalone board of Navy. NSB stands for Naval Selection Board. AFSB is the abbreviation for Air Force Selection Board. There are in total five Air Fore Selection Boards, they are standalone selection boards for Air Force.
- Types of entries: In this section I’ll be telling you SSB for which entry is likely to be conducted in which board. In NSB generally the SSB for 10+2 B.Tech Cadet Entry is held, however, some naval direct entry SSB’s might also be conducted. In SSB’s entries for CDSE (for whom first preference is Army/Navy), 10+2 Technical Entry, NDA Entry (for whom first preference is Army/Navy), all Army specific entries and naval direct entries (in Navy board of SSB Selection Center), is held. In AFSB primarily SSB’s for AFCAT Entry, NCC entry for Air Force, NDA and CDSE (for those who give first preference as IAF) is conducted.
- Number of days spent at SSB: Generally for all boards the time is six days.
- Testing days: In SSB and NSB the reporting time is sometimes in morning or sometimes in evening, generally the first day, the day on which the candidate arrives is counted as day 0, and the procedure of testing begins the next day. In AFSB generally the reporting time is morning, and if it is morning the procedure of testing begins on the same day. However, if the reporting time is afternoon, the procedure might begin from the next day onwards.
- Based on the tests: The test and their procedure is totally the same in all the boards, be it SSB, NSB or AFSB. However, the time when the test is conducted might differ. For instance in AFSB the interviews start the next day after the psychological testing (in most cases) and in SSB, the interviews may start the same day itself. Similarly in AFSB you generally get a day off, when there is no test planned for the group. In AFSB you get a detailed information about the upcoming schedule, put up on the notice board, in SSB’s you are generally informed by the CHM.
- Batches: In AFSB and NSB there is always one batch at a time who are under testing, however in SSB’s multiples batches may be present at the same times, in the selection center premises. So this means that in AFSB there will be for example one AFCAT batch under testing and when the six days get over for them, the next batch arrives. In SSB selection centers there may be a batch of NDA, Women Entry as well as CDSE, all assigned to different board, but present together, due to multiple number of SSB boards in the selection center.
- PABT: If there are batches in SSB in whom they need to take PABT for any candidate (Example: Pilot/Observer entry of Navy) then after they are recommended they are sent to the nearest AFSB, as PABT is exclusive to AFSBs’). For AFSB candidates, the PABT might be conducted either on the second day (AFCAT Entry) or after recommendation, sixth day (NDA/CDSE Entry).
- Other tasks: There is not much difference between other tasks, except for the Individual Obstacle Course. In AFSBs’ we have different obstacle and in SSB and NSB we have different. You can read about this more on: https://ssbcrack.com/2013/09/individual-obstacles-in-army-airforce-ssb.html.
