Recommendation Journey

*My SSB journey* Hi all, I am Pravesh Bharadwaj, recently recommended from 17 SSB Bangalore (CDS OTA) *Written exams journey* My journey of getting into the defence forces began way back when I was in 12th. I gave the NDA exam twice and could not even clear the written, Filled form for TES entry but could not clear the cutoff (I scored 85.8% i.e 429/500 marks in 12th and cutoff for TES was 86% i.e. 430/500) After that I got admission in govt. Engg college UIT RGPV Bhopal, opted for Automobile engineering. I had scored just 68% till 6th sem and 70% till 8th sem. So all the direct entries like TGC,SSC tech were again closed as the cut-off for mech goes higher than what I had scored So now, the only chances I had were from written entries like CDS,AFCAT When in final year, I started preparing for written exams like. In my first attempt of AFCAT, I could not clear the cutoff by 5 marks! But here I understood the pattern of AFCAT and thereafter have cleared 4 AFCATs till now. But CDS was always tough for me. I could mot clear it for 3 times in a row (always got stuck in GS section). So now, no IMA too. Later with the correct approach, I cleared CDS twice. *SSB INTERVIEWS JOURNEY* The very first SSB of my life was scheduled on 24th September 2018 at AFSB Varanasi. As I was done with my graduation in June, I had ample of time for preparing for SSB. I got to know about various tests, prepared for each test (TAT,WAT,SRT) All the GTO tasks, Interview questions, gave mock interview to my brother. I was very confident of getting recommended. Why? Because I had prepared almost everything! What else is there to prepare for. So I started train journey from Bhopal to Varanasi, was thinking of the things I would do after getting recommended. OIR went well, PPDT went well, my story was good. We were outside waiting for results, I was thinking about the Psych tests to be conducted in the evening. Results were announced for phase 1 and guess what!! I GOT SCREENED OUT. I did not know how to react, I hadn't anticipated it, I felt like crying!! Key learning - Do not daydream, don't indulge yourself thinking only about the outcome After that I prepared for screening, appeared for SSB on 3dec in AFSB Dehradun, got screened in, but conference out. Started working in an IT company for which I hsd got placed in my final year and kept my preparations continued 3rd SSB - 30th June to 4th July 2019 at 33SSB Bhopal for Navy, got conference out. Was made to wait before conference and was asked various questions inside also.This time I was border line. I knew I had fucked it up in the conference. I analysed my performance, worked upon the shortcomings, appeared for ssb just 4days later on 8th july 2019 at AFSB Gandhinagar, got screened out again in my 4th attempt! 5th attempt - NSB Vizag from 6th nov to 10th nov. Psych went Good, interview went good, but I knew I had done poor in outdoor GTO. All the tasks involving Balli and Plank! They were like a nightmare for me. Could not understand the concept behind it! But that attempt made me realise where exactly I need to work upon. I had apx 15 days for my next SSB. I spent all these days preparing only for Plank and balli tasks on YouTube. 6th Attempt - My first SSB for ARMY, I had to clear CDS 1-2019 to get here. 17 SSB Bangalore. As it was CDD entryi had heard that screening part would be easy as compared to other entries. Day 1 - Screening 58 reported and 27 got screened in. Day 2 - Psych I had practised for psych, and it always went really good. The tips from my brother always helped me here. I was in touch of it through Eagles group on whatsapp. Daily tasks of TAT,WAT,SRT on the group helped me. My interview was scheduled on the same the day after the psych. I was chest number 2 so had to wait outside while chest number 1 was in. I gave the interview to Deputy President and one additional interviewing officer. My interview went smooth, answered all the questions. Day 3,4 - GTO tasks. This time I remained calm and ideas really striked. Calmness helped me in all the GTO tasks. Those Plank and Balli tasks which were a nightmare for me seemed easy now!! All the GTO tasks went smooth. Stayed calm and cool like MS Dhoni 😄. Day 5 - Conference Again, was made to wait for apx 15 mins outside. This was happening to me for the second time. But this time I knew my recommendation is in my hands, If i do well in conference then I'm in. So I calmed myself down by humming a song (Yun hi chala chal raahi ) Entered the conference room with a confident smile. Wished the commandant of Selection centre south Bangalore in loud and confident voice and the conference began. Deputy commandant of the selection centre south (possibly president of 17ssb)started asking me questions. Q - So Pravesh, how was your stay here? A - Stay was comfortable sir Q - Did you enjoy it? A - Yes sir, I enjoyed it very much sir Q - Did you go out? A - Yes sir, we went to various places nearby (named the roads like brigade road, MG road) Q - Okay Pravesh, so you have mentioned three games in your PIQ (Volleyball, Cricket, Football). Suppose you get selected, which game would you like to play with other medical candidates? (I was thinking in my head "yess!! He is giving me a chance. My recommendation is in my hands now. I better not fuck it up this time") A - Sir I would like to play volleyball Q- Okay. Suppose I ask you to organise a match between us the Accesors and you the medicals candidates, how would you organise the match? A- Sir I would buy volleyball,net, install poles, do all the markings, assign a refree and organise the match Q- Where would you buy the ball from? A- Sir from outside shop, or else if it is available in canteen then I would buy it from canteen Q- how will you manage the expenses? A- Sir we the candidates will contribute and divide the expenses among ourselves Q- what if other candidates do not wish to pay? A- Sir volleyball isn't costly, I will buy it from my money and we will play Q- Okay, suppose we will pay for all the things but what if other candidates are not willing to play volleyball? A- I will convince them sir Q- How will you convince them? A- sir I'll convince them by saying we do not have our mobile phones also, so it would be a good time pass to play game, we will surely enjoy it and have fun and do not get bored Q- but Pravesh they are saying that let's Play basketball as we already have a basketball court in place. A- I will convince them to play volleyball sir Q- how will you convince them? A- Sir, I'll say that basketball is game that requires skill, volleyball is relatively easy. I'll teach them the techniques in 10mins and then we are good to go Q- but they are still not willing to play volleyball. They say that the weather of Bangalore is unexpected, we will get ourselves dirty by playing volleyball in mud, what will you do then? A- sir I'll say to them that if it's raining, then there are high chances of getting slip and injuring ourselves on the hard court of basketball. No such issue with volleyball. Hence I'll convince them to play volleyball. Q- what if they are still not convinced? What will you do then? A - sir I'll tell them that only 5 players can play basketball, whereas 6 can play volleyball. Or if it is an informal match, more than 6 can play volleyball. Hence I'll convince them to play volleyball. The officer nodded and even said "Good point Pravesh". What if they are still not convinced?? Me after giving almost all the possible answers said with a wide smile " Sir , I'll ask them if they have a better plan. If not, then we'll play volleyball" Q- what did you learn in these 5 days? A- Sir I leaned to be calm and that helped me a lot Q- okay Pravesh. How was your performance this time? A- sir , this has been my best performance till date Q- why do you think so? A- Sir my physch always went well, interview always went well, i lacked in outdoor GTO in my previous attempts but this time I did well in that too by staying calm. Like earlier when ideas did not strike, I used to get panicked. But this time I stayed calm and ideas came automatically in PGT, HGT and in my command task the plank did not fit in one go, I looked around and found another solution and completed the task. Q- what different approach did you have in this attempt? A- sir my approach was simple. Focus on one task at a time and do not think about other tasks. Like for physch, my focus was on it and once it got completed I stopped thinking about it no matter it went good or bad. Same approach for interview and each amd every task of GTO. (Officer was done with his questions but had a last one for me) Q- So Pravesh, that match that we were talking about earlier. Who do you think will win? We the Accesors or you the candidates?? A- (with full confidence) sir, we will give our best and try to beat you Q- so you think you would beat us?? A- YES Sir! Officer- okay Pravesh, it was nice interacting with you, all the best for your results. Me - Thank you sir, have a great day ahead! After coming out from the room, I knew I hadn't fucked it up this time. This was my best conference. I had a feeling that I might make it this time. After waiting for almost 1.5 hours, the lady psychologist came with the results. She gave her closing speech and started announcing the results. Chest number 2 - Pravesh Bharadwaj!!!!!!! I was extremely delighted!!!! Was waiting for this moment forba very very long time. Three more names were announced after me. The psychologist left. Everyone started congratulating me, gave tight hugs...l was crying! Had waited for this moment for so long!!! As soon as I got my phone, I called home, asked my mother to put the phone on speaker so that she and my brother could hear it together. and said "Recommend hogya". I cannot explain the happiness in words. The happiness you get by making your family happy is out of this world!!!! The journey wasn't easy. But I am extremely lucky to have the right guidance of my brother Prabal Bharadwaj. His SSB experience and guidance made me get recommended. I would also like to thank Akshay Mattur for his constant support and motivation. To keep telling this lazy ass😂 to get up and work! Special thanks to Flying Officer Ayush Manaduli for his constant help despite his busy schedule. And most important, my Mother who always kept saying in all my failures "koi baat nahi, is se seekho k kya galti ki, sudhaar karo, mehnat karo, aur select ho jaao" My biggest strength throughout this journey was the support of my family! I hope this long story wasn't boring.😄 JAI HIND 🇮🇳