NDA-Experience

# What is Services Selection Board (SSB) and its testing procedure?

Services Selection Board is an organization which conducts a 5-day testing procedure for selection process of officers in Indian defence forces- Army, Navy and Air-force through a series of test -Psychological tests ,Personal interview and the Group tasks referred as SSB interview. It's has merely 3.6 percent selection rate.

# How was my journey from NDA written exam to SSB interview?

I wrote NDA-143 exam in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh in April 2019 ,the paper was divided into two sections - 10+2 level Mathematics and General ability, the exam went pretty well and I was sure that would clear the written cutoff .As expected, within a week of written result declaration I got a call letter for SSB Interview through mail. During registration on portal I had filled my first service preference as Army so I was allotted SSB Centre Allahabad for 18/8/2019-22/8/2019 batch.

# How did I travel to SSB Allahabad and how was the journey?

On 15th august I did my bag-pack, 2 pair formal shirts and pants, SSB call letter, 10+2 educational documents, white sports T-shirts, shorts and other essential s.

I set on journey in TRIVENI EXPRESS on 16/8/19 morning at 0800 hours from Tanakpur Railways station with my father. The journey was too comfortable and enjoyable as it was AC-III tier. The scenes were very beautiful but uneven during the journey, somewhere it was raining heavily, on the other places it was a burning sun.

During the discussion about SSB Interview with a passenger sitting next to us, I met Tanuj Bisht, a fellow candidate going for SSB from Pantnagar Uttarakhand, this was his second attempt, we became good friends and came to know a lot about each others' background and preparation strategy.

Finally at 2200 hours the train reached the Allahabad Junction, the station was well painted with famous scenes of Allahabad culture such as Sangam. We were feeling tired, so after having dinner at nearby dhaba, we went on a search for good hotels but they were costly as per their condition .So finally we decided to stay in Railways dormitory as it was well managed, hygienic and available at affordable rates.

Next morning, at 0900 hours we left the dormitory after filling our details. We did our breakfast at a nearby restaurant. Then we reported at MCO*, and waited there for 2 hours, within this time many other candidates also reached that place and we were having short interaction with them. Finally at 1200 hours, a JCO* reached that place and after a brief introduction, we were told to load our luggage in army bus, we did as instructed.

The way to SSB Interview Centre was very exciting, we saw military tanks, martyred officers' statues inside the campus and that things have a fresh print on my memory even today. After reaching and unloading our luggage, we were made to stand in queue, divided into two groups of 50 each and after documentation and filling details for TA- Travelling allowance and then we were taken to SSB boards' mess for lunch.

The management and food was very good. After this allocation was done and luckily we both were allocated same 18 -SSB Board. We took our luggage to allotted room and took a deep sleep as schedule made us tired as like never before.

 Abbreviations:

*JCO - Junior Commissioned Officer.

*MCO - Movement Control Office.

*Note -Time mentioned is in 24 hours format.