How to prepare for Day 3&4 for SSB: Group Task preparation l Crack SSB Tips

How to prepare for Day 3&4 for SSB: Group Task preparation:-
     The Group Task is conducted on the third and fourth day of the process.  The aims of these are to find the ability of the candidate to work in a group as leader and a participant.  Also to find the individual stamina’s of the candidate.

     The Group Tasks are supervised by a GTO are usually in the rank of major or squadron leader .

He supervises and guides the candidates for two days and allots marks for each candidate by analyzing various qualities by mapping with the psychological report by the psychologist.

These are conducted are
(i) Group Discussion.(G.D) - Indoor Task
(ii) Group Planning Exercise or Military Planning Exercise.(G.P.E or M.P.E)- Indoor Task
(iii) Progressive Group Task.(P.G.T) -Outdoor Task
(iv) Half Group Task. (H.G.T) -Outdoor Task
(v) Individual Obstacles (I.O)-Outdoor Task
(vi) Command Task. (C.T) -Outdoor Task
(vii) Snake Race or Group Obstacle Race.-Outdoor Task
(viii) Individual Lecturete. - Indoor Task
(xi) Final Group Task (F.G.T)-Outdoor Task.

First let we see about group discussion elaborately:-

In group tasks, the GD is the first and important task of the Group Task process.  As this shows many of our OLQ to the GTO.
Usually two GD's are held at a stretch.  The topic given for the first GD will have three options to select    and the topic given for the second GD is compulsory one.
                  The group is divided in 8 or 12 or 12 based on the order of the chest numbers.

The GD's will be held at a stretch with a little time gap.

Three options are given for the first G.D and the candidates have to chose one from that.  In this scenario the candidates have to discuss within themselves to choose the topic which most of them are agree.  After telling the chosen topic to the GTO, he gives time to think about the topic for few minutes(usually 3 to 4 minutes).  Then after that he orders the candidates to start the discussion.(The war begins).
After the finishing of the first G.D. the G.T.O gives 2 minutes gap and gives the second topic which is compulsory topic.
The time give to think about this topic is only 3 to 4 minutes and he starts to observe the group.
The duration of both the G.D will be 10,15 or 20 minutes.

     What GTO expect in GD?
      First for a good human with good qualities, he should be able to put his points in front of others or in a group.  This is what expected in defense officers also, since he should command his man at normal time or at the time of war.  So he should be clear in expressing his thoughts and give good points at discussion even under pressure.  For all these sakes, GD is conducted.

The GTO expects things such as
Communication Skills.
Listening to the group members point.
Leadership and Coordination with the group members (Heart)
Expressing one self truthfully in the group.
Depth of Knowledge in the given topics.
Sharing of knowledge to the group members
Running the group parallel to the given point.

Group Discussion Preparation:-
     For the effective communication skill, try to talk a lot to your friends regarding various national issues or any other favorite topic with your group of friends in English.  By this you will improve communication skill gradually.  Usually candidates stammer at group discussion while getting vocabulary for a particular word and while using tense forms.  Practice a lot to acquire good English grammatical knowledge.  Also try to see debates, conversations in National news channels such as NDTV, CNBC, CNN IBN etc.  So that you can get more points and knowledge over the issues.

My piece of advice, in discovery channel now days the programs are broadcasted in local language such as Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.  So while seeing such program, translate those local mother tongue languages to English such that you will be able to get more vocabulary and sentence formation by practice.

Listening to the group members point:-

     Talking with group of friends by listening to their eye is a basic quality.  Since by psychology, the liars, negative thinkers can’t able to maintain a proper eye contact.  So while talking to your friends, superiors or seniors just try to have a smiling face eye contact so that, if you practice this continuously you will get positive points to discuss.  It’s true.  Like that while others talking in group discussion , just observe to their points keenly. This shows your observing capacity also it gives more point to talk at that instant.  So practice to listen to others keenly and sharply to perform well in GD.

     In case if you found your group of friends, in colleges, offices involves in any discussion and debate then volunteer yourself and try to put your valuable point.  After this analyze that whether you points were respected, whether your points added essence to the topic, whether you stood center of the topic etc.  By this you can able to analyze your position in the group.

     Another important quality of the GD is you should be able to give solutions for the issues.  This is the important quality of an army officer.  Such that if you are seeing a debate in a news channel, then try to give your own solution in your mind.  If you practice well this thing then it will more easy for you guyz.  Since in  GD, if two or three members are revolving around a particular point as debate, then you can give a solution for their issue.  If you give like that then you will be the centre of attraction.  It gives a good positive credit to  you.
Like this practice well friends then G.D will be a cake walk for you.

Preparation for Military Planning Exercise or Group Planning Exercise (M.P.E  or G.P.E):-

     M.P.E. is held after the G.D.  In MPE the candidates are given different tough situations where he has to won over all the situations by using their group of friends and materials around them.
In this the candidate has to think them as a leader. 

     The example situation is: - If you and a group of five friends are going from Chennai to kanchipuam in Electric train at morning 8 am.  The distance between the two cities is 60 kms.  The train is moving at a speed of 60kms per hour and now crossed 10 kms. You all people are going to collect your final year project CD from project centre at 10.30 am.  Today afternoon 2 pm is the submission session for your project team in college.  After crossing ten kilometers, a little village came near Chennai named koilur which is surrounded by two sides with river with fishing boats, the train stopped with an announcement that rail track is flooded by river water.  Suddenly you are hearing a sound of women.  While moving to that compartment you saw a person is heavily injured in head and unconscious.  While investigating to that women she is saying that, they were attacked by some robbers and they robbed their gold jewels of their daughter's marriage and ran into the bushes.  The place train stopped was so remote with bushy forest on both sides of the track.  What you will do?

Solution:-
First analyze the number of problems and time available to solve those.
Give priority to solve the problem.
After giving the priority, divide your group members to each problem and allocate a time limit for each problem to solve.
Assemble at one place after solving the problems and march ahead to your task to finish it also.
In these situations the problems are:-

1) One person got injured heavily.
2) Catch the robbers.
3) Complaint to the railway police.
4) Go to the project center in time.

Time management: - Train speed - 60 kms.
Distance crossed - 10 kms...--> {one minute is one km, so 60 mins is 60 kms}
So remaining time is 50 minutes in normal schedule.
If the train has crossed ten kms by starting at 8 am with speed 60 kms, now the time may be 8.10 am.

Ok we come to the Priority of the problem:-

P1 - First aid to the injured person and console the shouting/crying lady.
P2 – Giving complaint to the railway police about theft
P3 - Take the person to hospital.
P4 - Finding source for road transport since rail way is blocked.
P5 - Reaching the project center in time.

Resource available:-

1) 5 persons of friends.
2) A village near by walk able distance if we cross the river road facility is available in koilur.

Action Plan:-

i) Since there are 5 persons including you, allocate two of them to give first aid to the injured person.
ii) Send two of them to see the status of the river bank where the train just now crossed to check, how to reach that other bank of village to seek medical help for the injured with the help of the fishing boats and to ask detail about road transport from koilur to Chennai.
iii) You are the remaining person, so go to the train engine part, and ask the driver about rail road condition and make complaint to the railway police about theft of jewels.
iv) After finishing all assemble at your compartment.(All these can be done by 10 mins, so now time is 8.22 am. Since there is10 mins for action and 2 mins for planning. )
v) So after assembling there by asking about the situations around to the friends proceed up with further action.

Action:-

Bring the railway police to register complain with that lady.(approx 10 mins) --> Time now is 8.32 am

Take the injured person to the river bank near the bridge where rail stopped nearby.(5 mins) à Time now is 8.37 am

Place him in the fishing boat and sail across the river along with your group.(8 mins) à Time now is 8.45 am

Arrange him the medical help in the near by hospital. (15 mins) àTime now is 9.00 am

Hire a private vehicle or bus to rush to the project centre to collection it in time. (Max 1 hour) à Time now is 10.00 am

Return to the college as early as possible to submit the report.

Preparation for Group Tasks such as PGT, HGT, CT, FGT :-
These tasks are held after the GPE or MPE.  The preparations for all these tasks are same, since all these tasks are similar to each other.  So some basic ideas, implementation techniques for these tasks will help you to perform well.
i) P.G.T. – Progressive Group Task.
ii) H.G.T. – Half Group Task.
iii) C.T. – Command Task.
iv) F.G.T. - Final Group Task.

i)P.G.T. – Progressive Group Task:-
PGT is about set of obstacles in ground in a specified area in that you and your team members should cross each obstacle defined by set of rules.  Also while crossing those obstacles we should carry a load.  To cross those obstacles, some helping materials are given by the G.T.O.  i.e. Balli (wooden log), Plank, and rope to tie these. The difficulty of the task increases from one obstacle to another in a progressive manner.  So it is named as Progressive Group Task.

ii)H.G.T. – Half Group Task:-
HGT is similar to PGT, but the difference is that the group is divided into two sets.  i.e. If your group contains totally 10 persons, then it is divided into 5 of two groups.  Like this the GTO will see the performance of the candidates in close. The rules are same for this like PGT.

iii)C.T. – Command Task:-
The Command Task is held before the F.G.T.  The aim of this task is to find the commanding capability of the candidate.  The candidates are allowed to choose two members from the group.  The candidate should extract work from his group by giving instruction based on that task.  I.e. He is the allotted as theleader.

iv) F.G.T. – Final Group Task:-
F.G.T is similar to P.G.T.  The rules are also same.  But the difference is that in PGT series of tasks are held, while in FGT only one task is held in which the whole group is participated.  So it is a final chance for every candidate to show their full talent.

Rules for PGT, HGT, CT, and FGT:-
         The obstacles are painted in three colors namely
·        White
·        Black
·        Red

Each one describes one rule.                           
White: - Both the candidate and the helping materials can touch the obstacle at this region.
Black: - Only the candidate can touch the obstacle in this region and not the helping materials.
Red   : - Both the candidate and helping material should not touch the obstacles.

Out of bound area:-
         The areas in the P.G.T., F.G.T., H.G.T., C.T., which should not be touched are called as out of bound areas.  These areas include the mud surfaces inside the task area and some color codes as described above.

     In these tasks, we have to use the helping materials to cross the obstacle, So to use the helping materials such as balli, plank, rope.  Use different ideas in implementing them to the obstacle.  Such that, you have to find multiple solutions to solve.  Also if have the capability to give multiple solutions, then your group tend to follow you. Then you will be the leader.

     To get multiple ideas, just be thorough with basic physics applications i.e. real life applications such Fulcrum, Cantilever etc.

     Since the G.T.O expects the candidates to be a knowledge person and not as monkey.  It is possible to cross those obstacles with simple tying to different positions in trial and error method.  But he expects to solve that as a “smart worker”.

Things to follow at P.G.T, F.G.T., C.T., H.G.T:-
a) Never look at the G.T.O while doing the tasks.
b) Be yourself as I stated earlier in the G.D itself.
c) Give a good idea to the group if you don’t know any idea just help the idea givers truthfully.
d) Never violate the rules it is the basic of G.T.O tasks, and in case if you violate the rule, just repeat the task.
e) Be an active participant in the team by giving your full cooperation.
f) Be positive in your views i.e. take consideration about other member ideas if it is finer than yours.

Preparation for Individual Lecturette:-

     The individual lecturette is to find the speaking ability of the candidate.  In this, a card is given to the candidate which consists of three topics.  Out of that one should be chosen by the candidate to give lecture.  The time given for the preparation of individual lecture is 3 mins.  The time to give lecture to the group is also 3 mins.
      The best way to prepare for the Individual Lecture is to stand before the mirror and practice by self.  If you do like this, then you can realize how your face and body are changing while giving the lecture.  So that you can change by yourself about your mistakes.
Also to get more points in that short time, read more books and see more news channels and lectures.  So that you can able to get more points in that short span of time.

Preparation for Individual Obstacles and Snake Race:-
     The aim of Preparation for individual obstacle and snake race is for Physical Stamina.
     They will see physical stamina and fearlessness in Individual Obstacles.  Also in Snake Race they will see our selfishness participation in group, rule following, team spirit etc.

Snake Race:-
     Snake race or Group Obstacle race is held after the command task.  In this the group is given a material called as Snake made up of jute, thick clothes which are usually some what weight.  The length of the snake is 6-8 feet in length.

The obstacles to be crossed in Snake Race are
1. Spider web
2. Parallel big size iron pipe painted with white, red alternatively, the candidate has to cross it without touching the red lines and bend his body such that making the letter ‘S’.
3. 10 feet wall.
4. Crossing parallel walls – In between these walls, a pipe is laid to cross.

Be prepared to mud up your white dress.  Don’t hesitate to mud it up.

Individual Obstacles:-

     The individual obstacles are followed after the H.G.T.  The aim of the individual obstacles is to show the candidates stamina level, their endurance, their boldness, their courage and several factors.
There are several obstacles with different difficulty.