Page 120 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

My Target Service Selection Board (SSB)

Everything, about the unit/squadron the person works in.
Details about the aircraft/ship if associated.

You’ll be asked anything and everything related to the organization if you have your sibling or
parents in it.

Does it help?

As mentioned above, you are expected to know a few things about the organization you are going to
join. It shows that you are dedicated to join it and that you are sincere in your attempt. Whereas lack
of any knowledge shows that you are very casual about your attempt. If you are working and still
manage to get hold of a few information about the forces then that will definitely help you, as it’ll cast
a good impression that you are hardworking and found time out of your busy schedule to read about
the forces. Of course this will never form the basis of your selection, but it might form a basis of your
rejection, if you do not know anything. SSB is a collective test, the results depend on the collective
result of the small tasks which form a part of the whole testing. Interview is a major part of it and you
can be tricked around this part if you have not prepared well for it, in the interview.

For those of you having a defence background, you are expected to know a great deal, as you have
been living in that environment since childhood. If you fail to answer then that shows your lack of
awareness about your surroundings. So in order to be fully assured of your success, why not
prepare well for it in advance. After all if defence is your aim, you’ll not like to leave any stone
unturned to join it.

SSB Questions Related To Defence

Personal Interview in a SSB is the most important factor in the selection of a candidate. PI cannot be
predicted and the IO can ask you questions from any field. When it comes to the technical portion
then these questions are very basic in nature and somehow they are related to defence and science.
IO never goes in much deeper detail, but if you say that it is your childhood dream then IO will ask
you anything.

Some of these frequent asked questions at SSB are:
Q. How a Helicopter flies and what is the use of second rotor?

Ans: Rotor blades have an airfoil shape, like the wings of an aircraft. So as the rotor turns, the air
flows more over the top of the blades than does it below. This creates enough lift for flights.
Second rotor rotates vertically or nearly vertically. The tail rotor’s position and distance from the
center of gravity allow it to develop thrust in an opposite direction of the main rotor’s rotation to
counter the torque effect created by main rotor. It prevents the chopper from spinning out of control.
If it is not present, then the chopper will spin on its axis.

Q. What is RADAR?

Ans: RADAR stands of Radio Detection and Ranging. It is a system which uses radio-waves to
determine the range, altitude, direction or sped of objects. It can be used to detect aircrafts, ships,
missiles, vehicles, weather formations and terrain as well.

Transmitter emits radio waves called radio signals in predetermined directions. When these come
into contact with an object they are usually reflected or scattered in many directions and these
signals are reflected back towards the transmitter which makes the radar work. Time difference
between transmission of signal and reception of signals helps to calculate the distance.