Doon Defence Academy has achieved an enviable and unbeatable record of success for imparting training for SSB interviews. DDA is the premier the oldest and the Best SSB coaching in India for officer level entry into the Armed Forces of India (Army, Navy and Air Force). DDA imparts training for the full tests conducted in the days, service selection Board Test, including interviews full outdoor and Psychological tests, Group Discussions etc including screening tests. The Academy has 20 years of experience in the field and has an unbeatable track record for success. DDA has the biggest obstacle training ground in India.
According to Mr. Sandeep Gupta Submariner-Indian Navy (Retd), the Founder/ Director of Doon Defence Academy experience, It is a common misconception that SSB’s do not perfect candidates who have undergone training, and many candidates think that with booking and here say Knowledge, they can clear the SSB Interview without any training. While this may be true for some gifted students. It is still recommended that a candidate undergoes proper training himself for the upcoming SSB Interview. Just like swimming riding a bicycle etc cannot be mastered by reading the rules and techniques in the book, the same way training for SSB Interview requires practical, and specialized training by experts. Self-training can only help in acquiring theoretical knowledge, but that alone is not sufficient. Without proper practical training and application, desired results cannot be achieved.
Dear SSB aspirants,
1. It gives me immense satisfaction to bring to you the most coveted SSB mentoring program to bring transformational change in your personality profile to meet the expectations of SSBs. The values, skills, tools and the task matrix deeply ingrained in you at DDA will poise you to deal with all SSB tasks effectively and vigorously.
2.The tasks of GTO, Psychology and Interview will be covered in sufficient depth to hone your skills and aptitude so as to succeed in joining the most prestigious officer training academies in the country. The rigorous and meticulous preparation will give you an edge that will be extraordinary. Our vision at DDA is to invest our time and knowledge in you in such quantum that your goal is well within your reach.
3.We expect all DDA diamonds to be mentally prepared for adventurous journey through SSB tasks that will transform you to match the very best officer profile of Indian Armed Forces and reach the mental, psychological and physical potential that you aspire and deserve. Exposure to wide range of co-curricular activities, sports and adventure excursions conducted by DDA enables you to hone your leadership skills, explore your interests and develop a well organised personality for a successful life.
4.We appreciate, respect and value your commitment to become the best of the best as part of most prestigious and respected armed forces in the world. The first step towards this worthy goal begins at DDA.
Best wishes and God Speed
SSB is acronym of the Service Selection Board is an organisation established to conduct interview & selection process of eligible candidates for becoming officers in Indian Army, Navy & Air Force. The service selection board evaluates the suitability of the candidates using a standardized protocol of evaluation system.
India has three types of “Defence Services” namely, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. These services are very prestigious and stand in high esteem. At the same time, they have maintained their pride and honour through defencing the nation whenever it found necessary. From past decades, there has been a trend in Defence Services i.e., more and more youth are getting attracted by the services and its charm of the posts available in Army, Navy and Air Force. These posts are filled by the exams conducted by UPSC i.e. Union Public Service Commission and the final selection of SSB i.e. Services Selection Board. It is an organization which is set up by the Ministry of Defence, India. To get into the service of Indian Army, aspirants should be at least 12th passed in case of NDA and graduate for other Defence Academies. To join Navy or Air Force one must be from science background, but for the administration and logistic branches of Navy or Air Force aspirants of any stream are eligible. Such aspirants are required to go through the entrance exam conducted by UPSC and interviews by SSB. The interview exercise conducted by SSB is mainly a psychological assessment of the personality of the candidate, to gauge his/her potential as a future officer in Indian Military. The tests conducted by the SSB aim at selecting individuals with OLQs (Officer Like Qualities).
The candidates who clear the entrance exam are called through the call letters to appear for SSB interview at different centres allotted to the candidates. Some candidates are recommended by Preliminary Interview Board (PIB) for Territorial Army and some candidates are recommended through direct entries. The call letters give the information to the candidate that when and where to report. On the day of arrival, you have to report to the Movement Control Office (MCO) at the railway station. Here, a representative of selection centre managing the reception, will receive you and direct you to a bus that will take you to the selection centre. Those who arrived late or by road, should proceed directly to the selection centre.
Points to Remember before Reporting
As the first time attender of SSB interview, there are certain things expected to do before reporting :
◆ First and foremost, keep in mind the complete procedure of SSB about what you are expected to do there.
◆ Secondly, do not forget any document, keep all necessary documents and a photocopy of the documents.
◆ Make arrangements for reservations, stay before the SSB day or after it also, as per your conditions.
◆ Make a list of things, clothing etc which you have to carry with yourself.
Candidates who will get the minimum required marks will be eligible for the SSB interview. Before appearing in the interview process, candidates are suggested to check out SSB Interview Pattern in order to increase their chances to clear it on the first attempt.
SSB Interview is a qualification examination held on the basis of Intelligence and Personality tests. It is a 5 Days long interview procedure. Herein candidates are expected to qualify for all the rounds to be performed in these 5 days. All the tasks are mandatory here. Candidates are allowed to give the SSB interviews Only once after qualifying for the written examination for different defence-related examinations.
In the following ways, the candidates are addressed and are given instructions at SSB.
Opening Address and Form Filling
The duty officer gives an introductory talk, explaining matters of administrative details, DOs and DONTs and code of conduct at selection centre. You are also required to complete documentation including verification of required certificates for age/educational qualifications. All candidates are allotted chest number for further testing. It is important to remember that you are not competing with other candidates. All of you will be assessed against a common standard of suitability and it is possible for everyone in the group to be recommended/not recommended.
Other than the day of arrival/reporting, the SSBs have a 5 days testing schedule. With these tests, they are not looking at your physical fitness. The tests are also geared to let them know more about various shades of your personality. The exact schedule of tests may be varied depending on the number of candidates to be tested and GTO tests may be done in a single day, if warranted.
General Instructions
The testing will last for 5 days, in two stages excluding the day of arrival. If you secure the minimum acceptable grading in all tests, you will be retained at this centre for another 3 to 4 days or even longer for your medical examination. Candidates will be administered the Stage 1 of the selection procedure on the next day of their arrival. Candidates failing to make the grade in Stage 1 will be returned back on the same day. Candidates recommended for Stage 2 only will be retained for further testing.
Documents
Candidates need to bring all educational certificates and marksheets commencing from class 10th to till date in original including provisional and degree certificate for graduate entry candidates. Two photostat copies of all marksheets, duly attested, should also be brought. Photo Identity Card of your school/college or Driving License/Passport or Voter Identity Card/Aadhar Card/UPSC admit card as a proof of identity.
Baggage
Candidates are advised to bring the following items
For Women Candidates
Two pairs of track suits or trousers/slacks (with appropriate tops/salwar kameez) Since these will be required for outdoor tasks, these should be loose enough to allow free movements, yet should not hamper movement through excessive looseness. A woollen sweater and balaclava during winter season is required.
For Sikh Candidates Only
Sikh candidates should bring Turban (Pagadi) for SSB interview at the centre.
The testing schedule of all five days in SSB interview is stated below :
On the reporting day, reaching at SSB area, the documentation and batch formation will be done on that day. Each candidate will be allotted a chest number and he will have to wear it throughout his stay in SSB.
1. OIR Test (Officer Intelligence Rating) : This will be the first exam of the SSB Interview, consisting of two booklets. This exam will include General Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Non-Verbal Ability, where candidates will be given 17 minutes for each booklet.
2. Picture Prescription Description Test : Followed by the OIR test, there will be Picture Prescription Description test which consists of story writing and description.
Candidates will be shown a picture for 30 Seconds and will be given around 3 Minutes to write a story description based on the picture. After writing, every candidates will have to narrate their story in turns.
3. Group Discussion : After story narration, there will be a GD round. Candidates will be divided into sub-groups of 12-15 members
At around 2 pm, the results of Day 1 Screening of SSB Interview are declared by calling out the chest numbers. The number of selections for Day 1 would be 30 out of 300 based on previous statistics. With this, Day 1 of SSB Interview ends.
On this day of SSB Interview, Psychological Tests are conducted to check the candidate’s mentality and suitability to become an Officer, through a series of projective tests. Candidates report to the Examination Hall at round 8 pm in the morning.
1. WAT (Word Association Test) : The first test of the day will be WAT. Candidates will be shown 60 words back to back. Each word stays on the screen for 15 seconds, during which the candidate is required to write a sentence which pops in their mind they see the word.
The candidates must do the same with 60 words without any pause in between.
2. TAT (Thematic Appreciation Test) : There will be 12 pictures shown (including a blank picture at last)
The pictures will be hazy and will lack in clarity, as they want to understand the candidates imagination and interpretations.
Each picture will be shown for 30 seconds and the candidate will be given 4 minutes 30 seconds to write a story based on the picture. Likewise, this process will continue every 5 minutes.
3. SRT (Situation Reaction Test) : A booklet which includes 60 situations will be given. Candidates are supposed to write a response to those situations. The time allotted will be 30 minutes.
4. PD (Personal Description) : Candidates are supposed to write a personal description based on opinions from parents, peers, enemies, etc, and also what they think to themselves and the qualities they would like to develop. Time allotted will be 15 minutes.
These 2 days will include Ground Task Obstacles (GTO) of the SSB Interview process. Remember, most of the tasks in the series are group tasks where you are required to support the group to the best of your ability and not compete with them in any manner.
1. GD : Group Discussion on two topics, mostly current affairs.
2. GPE (Group Planning Exercise) : Each candidate has to formulate a plan for the specified problem.
Later, group members are required to discuss the problem and come up with a common plan with consensus. Then one of the group members has to explain the common plan with the help of a pointer and map.
3. Lecturette : This test is conducted to judge the personality of the candidate.
All candidates are seated in a single row according to the chest numbers allotted to them. On a table, a few cards are kept. Group Testing Officer will instruct the first candidate of the group to pick up any one of the cards.
In the card, there will be 3 topics and 3 minutes will be given to the candidate to prepare to deliver a lecture.
4. PGT (Progressive Group Task) : Candidates are required to cross obstacles with the help of supporting materials like rope, plank, wood log etc. Certain rules are imposed at the start of the task.
5. Snake race / Group Obstacle Race : This is a fun task in the stressful SSB Interview process. All group members are competing with other groups. Members will hold a snake like rope and are required to cross certain obstacles with the rope.
6. HGT (Half Group Task) : It is same as FGT, but the groups are divided in half. So, candidates have a better shot at demonstrating their potential.
7. Command Task : Candidates will be Commander in this task of the SSB Interview. The candidate is required to cross obstacles with the help of 2 – 3 subordinates. The candidates can choose 2 – 3 candidates from their own group based on who they think will help them clear the obstacles.
8. IOT (Individual Obstacles) : Candidates are required to attempt 10 obstacles individually. Each obstacle consists of certain points from 1 to 10.
9. FGT (Full Group Task) : All Candidates need to carry a dummy load or a stretcher from start line to finish line. This the last chance for candidates to show their potential.
1. PI (Personal Interview) : The personal interview plays a crucial role in the assessment of the candidate during the SSB Interview and it is used to decide whether the candidate should be recommended or not.
Candidates should remember that one wrong move can tarnish their image and reduce their chances of getting recommended.
2. Conference : Each candidates faces all SSB Board members and will be asked a few general questions like how was your stay or what did you learn from this entire SSB Interview experience.
Conference is the last step in the SSB Interview process in deciding whether or not to recommend you to become an officer in Indian Defence Forces. All assessors collectively decide the candidates suitability.
Some candidates, those who are on the cusp of being recommended may face certain decisive questions. It continues for hardly 1 – 2 minutes.
All the candidates who are recommended have to then clear the medical test which will be conducted a few days later. After clearing the medical test, candidates are given a letter of recommendation from the SSB Board. That’s the entire 5 days SSB Interview procedure that you should prepare extensively for.
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