There are various terms defence aspirants often hear, such as ‘He has been recommended by SSB,’ ‘She received a recommendation from SSB,’ and many more related phrases. Those who are well familiar with the selection process of the officers of the Indian Armed Forces can easily relate to these terms. They understand what these terms actually mean and the importance of being recommended by SSB. However, those who are new to these terms might find it difficult to understand. To help them understand the actual meaning, we have come up with a comprehensive blog. In this blog, we will discuss the meaning of being recommended by SSB and also its other main aspects with regard to the Indian Armed Forces.

Understand the Officer-cadre Selections

In India, if someone wishes to join the armed forces such as the Army, Navy, or Air Force in an officer-cadre, getting a recommendation from SSB is a must.

SSB refers to the Services Selection Board. It is an organization under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It recommends young aspirants for officer-cadre roles in the Indian Armed Forces. In simple words, when a candidate qualifies the written phase of many defence exams such as NDA, CDS, AFCAT, etc., he or she reports for the next round, which is called the SSB interview.

This interview is a 5-day long process and it takes place under the supervision of the Services Selection Board. I hope now everything is clear to you. This board evaluates candidates for 5 days on various aspects of their personality and then recommends a select few for officer-cadre roles, as we have already discussed.

SSB vs AFSB vs NSB

There are various Services Selection Boards (SSBs) across India. Some of these boards are for the selection of candidates for the Army, some for the Air Force, and some for the Navy. For Army boards, we usually call them the Services Selection Board (SSB). For the Air Force, we call them the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB), and for the Navy, we call them the Naval Selection Board (NSB). In general, whenever a defence aspirant goes for an interview, no matter whether he is going to appear for the Army, Air Force, or Navy, he usually calls it an SSB interview. This term is very common among defence aspirants who are preparing to join the armed forces as officers.

After receiving a recommendation from the SSB, the recommended candidates go through a medical examination. After the completion of all these procedures, the exam conducting body releases the merit list, and the selected candidates join their respective training academies for rigorous training before they actually join the armed forces. For officer cadre training, there are various training academies in India. Some popular ones are the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Indian Naval Academy (INA).

Dictionary Meanings of “Recommend”

When we search for the dictionary meaning of the word “recommend,” we find several definitions as given below. Let us understand the meaning of each and how they are related to the recommendations by the Services Selection Board (SSB).

Advised or suggested as good or suitable:

When it comes to the Services Selection Board (SSB), a candidate who is “recommended” has undergone a comprehensive evaluation process, including various tests and interviews. This recommendation indicates that the board advises the candidate as good or suitable for a role in the armed forces. It suggests that the candidate possesses the necessary qualities, such as leadership, intelligence, and physical fitness, which are essential for an armed forces officer.

Put forward (someone or something) with approval as being suitable for a particular purpose or role:

Being recommended by the SSB means the candidate is put forward with approval for a specific role within the armed forces. This approval refers to the ability of the candidate to meet the high standards set by the armed forces. It implies that the candidate has demonstrated the skills, aptitude, and potential required for military service and is thus considered suitable for the responsibilities and challenges that come with the role.

Comment or entrust someone or something to (someone):

When the SSB recommends a candidate, it also involves a level of commendation and trust. The board commends the candidate’s performance and character. It indicates that they are worthy of being entrusted with the duties of the armed forces. This recommendation is a mark of confidence in the candidate’s ability to uphold the values and commitments of the armed forces. It ensures that they are well-prepared to contribute effectively to the security of the nation.

SSB Interview Selection Procedure

Let us know in detail about the SSB selection procedure. The below pointers will help you understand the various tests in the officer-cadre selection of the Indian Armed Forces.

STAGE-I Testing: Screening

• Verbal and Non-Verbal Test
• Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT)

STAGE-II Testing

• Psychology Tests
• Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks
• Personal Interview
• Conference 

The psychology tests comprise four main sections:

1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
2. Word Association Test (WAT)
3. Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
4. Self-Description Test (SD)

The GTO tasks comprise nine main sections:

1. Group Discussion (GD)
2. Group Planning Exercise (GPE) or Military Planning Exercise (MPE)
3. Progressive Group Task (PGT)
4. Snake Race / Group Obstacle Race
5. Individual Lecturette (IO)
6. Half Group Task (HGT)
7. Individual Obstacles
8. Command Task
9. Final Group Task (FGT)

How to Prepare for the SSB Interview?

In the selection of officers for the Indian Armed Forces, both the academic and personality profiles of candidates play an effective role. However, some candidates focus solely on the written phase and ignore the importance of the SSB interview. Hence, they fail in the SSB interview and do not receive a recommendation to join the armed forces as an officer. It is a hard truth that unless you get a recommendation from the SSB, you can’t join the armed forces in the officer-cadre. It calls for rigorous preparation and strategy to clear the SSB interview. The right mentorship is essential to understand the complexities of the SSB interview procedure and secure a recommendation.

If you are preparing for the SSB interview and looking for guidance under the mentorship of an elite SSB panel, consider joining Centurion Defence Academy. With the highest selection rate in the armed forces and producing 3-4 officers per week, Centurion Defence Academy stands out as the best SSB coaching institute in India. To know more about the offline centers of Centurion in Lucknow and Dehradun and to get to know more about the 21-day SSB course, just call +91 9795977776 / +91 9795977779.