One Year Later – My NCC Journey Begins

Hello everyone! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls—I hope all of you are doing great.

So today marks exactly one year since my first SSB. As I shared in my last blog, I was almost shattered when the conference results were announced. But that very day, I made myself a promise—

Within the next four years, I will transform myself, build the qualities of an officer, and never face the same rejection again.

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The NCC Decision

I was lucky to have made some amazing seniors who guided me about joining NCC. But a big doubt lingered—Will it be worth it? Will I even make it through the selection?

SSB had given me experiences, but also left behind self-doubt. One night at around 01:00 hrs, I had a two-hour conversation with a very close friend and senior. By the end of it, all my fears, insecurities, and questions were gone. I had made up my mind: whatever happens, I am going to join NCC.

And honestly, any remaining doubts were quickly cleared by my NCC friends.

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Recruitment Days

By September, recruitment started for different wings across colleges. One day I came to know that the Air Wing recruitment was happening the very next morning at a college around 14 km from KIIT.

So, without wasting a second, I grabbed two friends, took an auto, and reached on time. Around 35–40 candidates had reported. Seniors took our details, made us wait a few hours, and then told us we’d be giving a written test that same day.

The paper had 50 questions on current affairs, defence, history, and geography. Honestly, I was nervous because we didn’t know how many seats were available. But there was this one senior who believed in me more than I believed in myself—and I didn’t want to let that faith down.

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Physicals & Drill

Day two began early. We reported at 07:20 hrs and jumped straight into warmups. Since we hadn’t eaten breakfast, I felt dizzy at first, but then came the main task—an 800–1200m run in 3–4 minutes. I gathered myself, had a sip of water, and gave it my all. Managed to finish within the time.

After document verification, we were tested on basic drill movements. Tough, but manageable.

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The Interview

Day three was the big one—the interview. Seniors hinted that my written and physicals had gone well, so my confidence was up.

The panel had two IAF officers and the ANO of the college. They asked the basics—introduction, why NCC, and even the classic “country first or family?” type of question. The vibe was supportive, and I came out smiling.

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Results & A New Beginning

Two days later, out of nowhere, the results were announced in the evening. I scanned the list nervously and there it was—my name.

That moment? Pure happiness. For some, this may seem small. But for me, it was everything—it felt like the kickstart to my defence journey.

I’ve seen failures: from not clearing NDA written to getting conference-out in SSB. But I’ve also seen myself rise again. And I promise you this—

This is the point where the downfall ends. From here, it’s only growth, dedication, and chasing the uniform.

I don’t know what challenges life has in store. But one thing is certain—I’ll keep giving my best, everywhere, every time.

The journey has just begun. Let’s walk it together.

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By –
Saksham

My First SSB: 33 SSB Bhopal

So ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, let’s dive straight into my SSB journey. By the end of this blog, you’ll know whether I got screened out or whether I got recommended.

Day 0 – Arrival at Bhopal

On the 24th of October 2022, I boarded a flight to Bhopal. It was Diwali night, and the whole of India, including Bhopal, was covered in lights. The excitement of the festival, mixed with the nervousness of what awaited me, made it unforgettable.

I booked a place to stay, had my dinner, and prepared myself mentally for the next morning. We had been asked to report at 05:00 hrs on 25th October in front of the Bhopal Military Station gate.

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Day 1 – Screening In

By 06:00 hrs, a bus picked us up and took us through the glorious gates of SSB Bhopal. We left our luggage in a common room, rushed to have breakfast, and got our documents verified—all within a matter of minutes.

Soon, chest numbers were allotted. That’s when reality hit me: 253 candidates had reported.

The process began with two OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) tests, basically logical and verbal reasoning questions. Next came the PPDT (Picture Perception and Description Test)—a picture flashed for 15 seconds, and we had to write a story in 3 minutes.

Nervous yet excited, I did my best. After that, we were divided into groups of 10 for the group discussion round. All three assessors—the IO (Interviewing Officer), GTO (Group Testing Officer), and Psychologist—sat in the room.

The discussion quickly turned into a fish market. Still, I, along with two other candidates, tried to calm things down, gave meaningful points, and requested others to speak one by one. I felt the assessors noticed this.

After lunch, the results were announced. Chest numbers were called out in random order. Two from my group were already in, so I had almost lost hope. And then I heard it:

“Chest number 141 – Saksham Mahajan.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. The IO repeated it, and I stepped forward, confirmed my details, and was given a new chest number – 20. Out of 253, only 34 were screened in.

My happiness knew no bounds. I immediately informed my parents and friends—I wasn’t going home that day. After more document verification till 19:30 hrs, we had dinner and called it a day.

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Day 2 – Psychology Tests

We woke up at 04:00 hrs, had breakfast, and were assembled for a group photograph. By 06:45 hrs, the psychology tests began.

Time pressure was immense. These tests really bring out your true character. By 11:00 hrs, the session ended. Some were called for interviews, while the rest of us were free.

Here’s the funny part: around 16:00 hrs, an announcement was made—“No one is allowed to stay back in the dorm. Go and play a sport.”

I grabbed a basketball, and soon a heated match began between TES candidates and Navy candidates. During one rebound, I was pushed to the ground, scraping my knees and elbows. The doctor gave me painkillers, but the timing couldn’t have been worse—my GTO tasks were the next day, and my knees weren’t even folding properly.

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Day 3 & 4 – GTO & Interview

The next two days were for GTO tasks. We woke up early, had breakfast, and rushed to the GTO ground. The officer briefed us about the tasks, and then the real action began. Despite the bruises, I gave my best.

Day 3 was also my Interview day. Wearing my neatly pressed formals, I waited nervously for my turn. Sitting outside the IO’s office for almost 40 minutes felt like an eternity.

When I finally walked in, my nerves settled a bit—the IO was a very polite officer. We had a long conversation, and I feel I did fairly well.

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Day 5 – Conference & Results

Then came the final day—the Conference. This is where it’s decided: recommendation or rejection.

For the first time, we saw all the officers in full uniform, with their medals and ranks shining. Each candidate was called in one by one. Inside, we were asked about our stay, suggestions, and a few personal questions.

At 15:00 hrs, the results were announced. Out of 253 candidates on Day 1, only 34 had been screened in, and out of them, just 5 were recommended (4 repeaters and 1 fresher).

As chest numbers were being announced, my heart kept hoping. But mine never came.

I was conference out.

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The Aftermath

At that moment, I was shattered. It felt like all my dreams, all my efforts, had collapsed in a single blow. But that’s the life of a defense aspirant. It takes resilience, sacrifice, and an unbreakable spirit.

Even though I wasn’t recommended, the SSB experience at Bhopal taught me lessons for life. I made new friends, understood my weak points, and gained insights I’ll carry forward forever.

This was just my first step in the long journey towards the uniform. And trust me, the fire inside only grew stronger.

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By –
Saksham Mahajan