Myth : SSB’s do not Recommend Candidates who have undergone Coaching.

It is a common misconception that, SSBs do not prefer candidates who have undergone coaching. If that would be true, we would not have an unbeatable record of selections in the SSB Centres. Furthermore, to curtail the above, SSB Centres would have taken some guidelines prohibiting SSB Coaching or some kind of mechanism to find out whether the candidates have taken coaching in form of question in either PIQ or asking the Candidate directly by any assessor in tests/ tasks or Interview. However, no such question is either asked in PIQ or by any assessor in one form or another. To conclude, its safe to say that SSB centres do not have any objection in any form with candidates taking coaching.

Many candidates think that with bookish and hear-say knowledge, they can clear the SSB without any help. While this may be true for some gifted candidates, it is still recommended that a candidate undergo proper training and mentoring to prepare him for his upcoming SSB interview.

Advantages of Undergoing Training in Defence Academy.

Learn from the Experts.   In defence academy, you will be learning from defence experts who were selectors / assessors at one point of time with many years of experience. These experts will guide and mentor you for the task ahead not only in terms of methodology of conduct of tests, tasks and Personal Interview but what is expected from you.

Familiarity with the process.    Coaching can introduce candidates to the various tests and procedures involved in the SSB, reducing anxiety and increasing confidence on the day of the interview.

Skill Practice.   Coaching can provide opportunities to practice specific tasks like Obstacles, Group and Command Tasks, Progressive Tasks etc.

SSB Experience.    In defence academy, a candidate gets a real time complete experience of the SSB Methodology, the various tests, tasks and Personnel Interview process which not gives him confidence but boosts his morale. 

Peer to Peer Learning & Team Work.    In defence academy, a candidate competes and performs with other candidates in a group / batch in the various tests and tasks. As a result, he gets to familiarise with the competition he is like to face in the actual SSB.  Furthermore, the batch or group environment facilitates learnings from each other experiences and mistakes.

Team Work.    While performing, he understands the basics tenets of leadership and essence of team work. This exposure to large group of aspirants can be very helpful for a candidate wherein the nuances of teamwork is learnt and emergence of leader in a leaderless group.

Identifying Shortcomings.    During your training, you will be assessed on every aspect of the testing, shortcomings identified and measures to overcome the shortcomings.

Overcoming Fears.     In general, every candidate has some kind of fear or another in form of stage fright, public speaking, physical testing etc. At defence academies during real time tests and tasks, each candidate identifies his fears.  Role of Mentors is to confronts your  fears and suggest measures to overcome the same

Endurance Testing.    The physical conditions and competition prepare a candidate both physically and mentally for the 5-day gruelling testing at the SSB.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety.    Because of coaching, a candidate learns what is expected of him from the moment he steps into the SSB centre. This knowledge not only mentally prepares the candidates but also reduces his stress and anxiety during the actual SSB Interview.

Books Don’t Help.    Book certainly helps, but one cannot prepare for a practical on ground exam like SSB, just by reading books and practising alone in one’s setting. There are a large number of books in the market, which can be quite misleading at times. Furthermore, there a large number of tests and tasks in the SSB which are conducted in groups and require open ground with obstacles and calibrated settings. Furthermore, Practical on ground tests require practical on-ground training.

Recommendations.   Many candidates think that with bookish and hear-say knowledge, they can clear the SSB without any help. While this may be true for some gifted candidates, it is still recommended that a candidate undergo proper training and mentoring to prepare him for his upcoming SSB interview.

Emphasis on Genuineness.    Coaching does no harm, only good. However, select the institute with utmost care and diligence. To elaborate further, don’t go for Crash and Capsule courses because they do no good as SSB Interview is long drawn process and seven or ten-day course cannot significantly change or alter your personality besides practice on public speaking like lecturettes and Group Discussion and getting abreast with numerous topics of General Knowledge and Current Affairs takes considerable time.

Mentoring Vs Coaching.     The concept coaching would be appropriate for Written Exam part, where there is only one correct answer in the multiple-choice question paper. However, there are no correct or wrong answers in SSB Interview as the correct answer as response to the situation would depend upon your personality and would vary from candidate to candidate based on candidate’s Trainable and Socio Economic Quotient which are factors of Candidate’s age, gender, physical attributes, levels of education, exposure to environment – urban or rural, past experiences – good & difficult times, family background & parents educations etc, so the role of mentoring comes into play, where the mentor guides you to find the right approach and not the answers unlike the written exam.

Conclusion.   SSB coaching is very helpful for familiarizing the candidates with the methodology of conduct of tests and tasks in SSB interview process. It also helps in overcoming fears. gaining insight into one’s personality finding their shortcomings and measures to improve by guidance and mentorship from defence experts.

Coaching does no harm, Only Good.  

Jai Hind.