Hello My name is Abhishek Tiwari. 1^st attempt: Screened out, 2^nd attempt: Screened out, 3^rd attempt: Screened in, Recommended, Medically fit, Merit in with rank 15. My third SSB: Date-02 Mar 24 at 21 SSB, SSC Bhopal for ACC-129 entry. This was my first SSB for army. I was allotted chest no. 39.

Day 1: OIR was bit tough and i was able to complete all the OIR on time in both the paper. I had practised all the 20 sets of SSBCRACK OIR.

PP&DT: With all the learnings, i tried to made a story which would impact the society at large. I was very much satisfied with my story. I was lucky that my batch got approx 20 mins before the GD. So in that time i revised my story and practiced narration at least 20 times in my head. My chance for narration came and I delivered a very butter flow narration and i was very very happy. Now when GD started, i tried to contribute rather than participation. Fish market situation was there but i was very clear in my head that at least i would not be the part of the fish market.

My story and I was selected for Group story and for conclusion respectively. This time i was hopeful ki Is bar to ho hi jaunga Screened In. After waiting for odd an hour, an Assessor with his folder came and he delivered a motivational speech and started calling out chest number. My chest number was the fourth one which he spelled. I got SCREENED IN and literally I had tears, i got screened out twice earlier and this time I at least made to Stage II, this thing was a big achievement for me.

I was allotted chest no.4 for stage II. In the afternoon after our lunch, we were given a set of PIQ forms and other small documents to fill and when I went to submit my PIQ form to a JCO there, he was very happy with my handwriting and said ki tumhara to aese hi ho jaega. After this I interacted with the boys and made friends and did small talks.

Day2: Psychology test

TAT: I was able to write all the stories on time and i wrote all the stories keeping the lessons in my mind. I wrote hurdles only when it was shown.

WAT: I was able to write around 55 sentences.

SRT: i was able to write 39 SRT. Here even the assessor told that quality matters, quantity doesn’t. However anything around 40 is acceptable

SDT: I was able to finish this within the stipulated time. I had already prepared it before coming to SSB. I wrote that only. I never used any adjectives. Always write an example to justify the adjective which u want to use.

So in this way Psychology test ended and I was happy with my performance. I was knowing that psychologist would recommend me on the basis of my dossier. After this we were given a small break of around 20 mins and later on i was told that I was having my Interview on the same day and i was the 4th one to go for Interview and was having some odd 2 hrs. So i went straight to my room and freshen myself. Went through my notes and calmed my adrenaline.

Personal Interview: My IO was the president of 21 SSB . A brigadier by the rank and he seemed very strict. He never smiled for once in the interview. He started asking questions and I replied to them in a satisfactory manner. I am mentioning few of the questions.

1. what have u done since morning?
2. Who is the chief of army and airforce?
3. Who is responsible for country’s air defence?
4. What is my trade and what duties do i do?
5. How many squadrons are there in airforce?
6. 2–3 sets of CIQs
7. Neighbouring counties and capital(i couldn’t answer this question as i went blank, he asked me that i don’t know to which I replied that i do know but at that moment I was not able to recollect)
8. Why did I join the forces?
9. Why do i wish to be an officer?
10. What are the qualities i would like to develop?
11. Why don’t i play football or volleyball?

My personal interview lasted for approximately 25 mins. When i came out, I couldn’t understand that what had happened. Because my Interview lasted for very less time and i was doubtful about my performance. Later on I started thinking and now I was sure in my head that my performance in the interview had been good. So I relaxed myself.

After this we were given liberty to visit the Bhopal. I went out with the friends I made there and enjoyed the DB mall and at upper lake.

Day 3: GTO 1

Our GTO was a very smart and handsome looking chap. Since it was march, a bit of cold was there and we all in our shorts were shivering. But anyway our tests started

GD: I was able to speak multiple times in both the GD. I didn’t let myself to be part of the fish market. In GD 2, boys were speaking on different subjects altogether 2–3 times, i reminded them and brought the light on the issue. Overall I was happy till now.

GPE: Since it was cold out there, our fingers weren’t at their efficient strength. However I was able to write the solution on time. Now it was the time for GD. Few of the champs who couldn’t do well in GD 1&2, they turned desperate and scene was completely chaos. I calmed few of them and spoke 2–3 times. Once he was done, GTO sir asked us that if we wanted to add any point. Three of us raised our voice including me, chest no 9 and me gave a point each and chest no 3 added a point which he had repeated so many a time in the GD, our GTO sir got bit angered and slammed him by saying that i have heard this point gentleman.

GOR: This test was very interesting and my adrenaline was at its peak. I even fall once but I enjoyed and stood up and continued. Our group won the race by completing far ahead than any other group.

PGT, HGT: I was able to give ideas in all the tasks.

LECTURETTE: As soon as my turn came, i picked a card and went into the background to prepare for my topic. My topics were My ideal person, india- afghanistan relation, agnipath scheme, depletion of ozone layer. I decided to go with agnipath scheme. I spoke on that scheme, i used my voice modulation, Reading newspaper helped me. I shared my personal experience. And now in my head, i was praying that time to end and it ended soon without me committing any mistake. I was happy with my performance.

This way our GTO 1 ended and i was at a happy end

Day 4: GTO 2

INDIVIDUAL OBSTACLES: Since it was a service entry, expectations were high from us. It was making me nervous because i had not focused on my fitness because of time crunches. However i ended up doing 7 obstacles. Most of from my group did 14–15 obstacles. But i was not worried a lot because it is said that it doesn’t affect much. But terms and conditions do apply here as well

COMMAND TAST: I was called once as a subordinate. And i was the second last to perform command task. He initially tried to know about me and i told him that i face time crunches because of such a hectic schedule of duty. My problems were bit moderate and i solved 3 problems in that set. In the third problem, he asked me to complete quickly and I completed that within 5 secs. I was happy with my performance in this test too.

FGT: I again kept on giving ideas and the structure was a bit tough.

In this way, our GTO 2 ended. Till now i was very happy with my performance. But i was not so concerned about my result.

Day 5: Conference

Since I was having chest no 4, i was called on the fourth number and i was asked that how army life is different from airforce life, give 3 points. I made a very good point and then i was blank. In the conference I asked for time to think and then I replied to them. Then they asked me about my stay and all. They asked me to leave. I stood, saluted smartly and marched out of the room. My conference lasted for 2 mins and waiting period was less than 1 min. Now i was nervous that whether i am in or out, there is no doubt case. Everyone was coming out in 2–2 mins. Seeing this i got more scare. I calmed myself and had tea and samosa.

After 1 hour, we were asked to wait in the testing hall. A smart Lt. Col entered the room, he was our psychologist. He made few good points and started spelling chest number and the spelled chest number had to raise and spell their name. He called Fourteen, Sixteen. At this brief moment, I thought ki Gadi fourteen se hi start hui hai and now it was time to pack up but but gadi hui reverse and he spelled chest number five, my heart started beating faster. And then he called FOUR, everything went haizy in front of me for 3–4 secs. I stood up shaking and spelled my name. Yes I was RECOMMENDED in my third attempt.