Jai Hind to all the readers of this article. My name is Abhishek Dattatray Pawar, hailing from Maharashtra. I am thrilled to share that I recently succeeded in my first attempt at the SSB interview at 18 SSB Prayagraj, through the CDS OTA entry. This achievement was particularly notable as it was my first attempt at the written exam as well.

My journey to this success is somewhat unconventional compared to other defence aspirants. Post my graduation in 2020, my focus was primarily on preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE).

However, I found the CDS exam to be relatively more straightforward compared to the UPSC Prelims, which enabled me to clear it without any specialized preparation. The challenge, though, was the short span of 20 days I had for SSB preparation, as it immediately followed my UPSC mains exam.

Opting to prepare for the SSB independently, without the assistance of coaching, I relied on resources like SSBCrackExams to understand the process. I was intrigued by the many stories I had heard about the SSB and was eager to immerse myself in this unique experience. Throughout the process, I maintained a composed and confident demeanor.

Interestingly, I leveraged my CSE preparation in the psychological tests and remained authentic in the interviews, avoiding any embellishments about my capabilities or experiences. Despite having an average score in the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Group Tasks (GT), my candidness in the interviews and psychological tests played a pivotal role in my recommendation.

For instance, when asked to choose between civil and defense services, I unhesitatingly stated my preference for civil services – a stance I maintained consistently, even during the conference stage. This honesty, I believe, was instrumental in my selection.

My experience underscores an important lesson: in the SSB, confidence and honesty are as crucial, if not more, than mere preparation. The ability to demonstrate the necessary Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs) authentically is key, as these are qualities that cannot be feigned and are keenly observed by the officers.