After flunking SSB,group keeps up the fight

“The whole concept started when Lt Colonel K S Jaggi,colonel AQ of TA,Grp HQ started guiding us for SSB in July 2010. It has been about a year and the number of members went on increasing. Many who joined have failed SSB after attempting twice,thrice or even more,but still,here,through mutual discussion and sessions,we develop capabilities to crack SSB interviews,” said Onkar Singh,38,manager with an IT Company who has appeared SSB five times.

Every Sunday,between 11 am and 2 pm,the group,18-20 of them on an average,meet at TA,Grp HQ and organise interactive sessions and confidence-building exercises. The group feels there is poor awareness among people about the Indian armed forces. “We started SSB Aspirants,Pune,on a popular networking site to reach out to maximum people,” said L K Singh Chauhan,32,who has appeared for the SSB twice.

The efforts to reach out seems to have worked as the group today has members from Ahmednagar,Satara,Kolhapur,Mumbai and even Hyderabad. Usha Ranavare,24,the first and the only woman member who aspires to join the regular Army will appear for her SSB on July 11. “I come from a defence background. I joined the group recently. With inputs from members,I am sure I will make this time,” said Ranavare.

More TA test centres

With increasing response to Territorial Army,the TA,Grp HQ,Southern Command has for the first time increased number of centres for the PIB test for TA to three from one. On August 7,925 candidates will appear from Bangalore,Jaipur and Pune.