Page 114 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

My Target Service Selection Board (SSB)

In the command task each candidate has two roles to perform one is commander and other is
subordinate.

1. Role as a commander: this is the only time when you and the GTO will be all alone on the

ground. He may ask you questions relating to your introduction, PIQ or performance.
Answering him confidently will make a good impression. He also shakes hand with candidate.

He talks to candidate about what he is doing these days, about preparation of SSB, weakness;
family. But the talk will be short. He explains all structures and helping material, and asks you
to call two sub ordinates from your group. As soon as your subordinates reach, your time starts
and you can move to attend the task.

2. Role as a sub ordinate: here you need to be alert when candidates call your chest number
you need to be quick and reach to the task. You are also under observation; you must obey all

the orders of commander. Do not speak to commander when he speaks to you. You are
supposed to leave an impression of being an effective subordinate.
3. Important aspects of command task:

o Command task is pre-selected and different for almost every candidate.
o A good candidate will be given a difficult command task.
o GTO not only spends more time with good candidate but also asks him for more and

more ideas. Whenever GTO ask you for more ideas, or give you penalty during command
task. Do not take stress and be happy that it is the best time to show your skills.
o Your subordinates should be the one who are doing good in GTO tests.

o Always have your reasons ready for choice of particular candidates, officer always asks
reasons for your choices.
o Always brief your subordinates about your task and your idea to attend the task don’t

directly start working just after they reach you. Explain them idea and then move with
them to tackle the task.

Take this task as an opportunity as you also get idea from this test

how you performed in eyes of GTO. If you are interrogated here for
more and more ideas it is good for you. GTO sometime tells
candidate only 1 minute left while candidates have just started the

task, this is to test you under certain constraints, and if it happens to
you then take it as an opportunity and show your best performance
there.