Individual Obstacles

Individual Obstacles (I.O): -
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 level allocated with each marks. The number painted near the obstacles denotes the marks allocated for the obstacles.
The total number of obstacles is 10 and the time limit to cross those obstacles is 3 minutes. The total marks are 55.
i.e. 1+2+3456+7+8+9+10 = 55.
The obstacle with highest level of difficulty scores the maximum of 10. Also the obstacle with lowest level of difficulty scores the minimum of 1.


Explanation by G.T.O and scenario of Individual Obstacles:-
In this G.T.O take his group of candidates to all the obstacles and tell the rules to follow in every one. By this time the candidate should think from his mind i.e. which task should be done first to last based on their location and their difficulty level.

Also don’t violate the rules in the individual obstacles, in case if you violate just repeat the tasks.
Then the candidates are advised to sit in a bench and not to see the individual obstacle ground.


Rules at Individual Obstacles:-
The G.T.O calls the first candidate (based on chest numbers) and orders him to ready for the task. If he blows the whistle the first candidate will start to do the task. At his 2.30 minute out of his 3 minutes, he gives another short whistle which is the sign for the candidate who is doing obstacle as time is going to end and also to the next person to come and stand ready for the task.
If you complete all the ten obstacles with in the time (3 minutes), you are allowed to re do the process. But you are not allowed to repeat the same tasks again and again.


Different types of Obstacles:-
a) Commando walk
b) Double ditch jump
c) Tarzan swing
d) Balanced walk
e) Jumping over drum winded by thorny wires
f) Step by Step jump
g) Jumping over the screen(high jump)
h) Burma bridge
i) Hanging the rope after jumping from the ladder
j) Rope climbing

Commando walk:-
Commando walk is to walk around a lean wooden block which will be in a height of over 10 feet. See the picture for clarification. We have to walk in this by shouting our favorite name or any war cry(based on GTO advice). Usually the plank of the commando walk shakes when we start to walk over that, if you walk with patience and concentration then we can easily cross the task.



Double Ditch jump:-
Double Ditch jump is about, we have to run fast and hand over the rope tightly so that we should cross the first ditch which is 6 ft long and land in the ground after that we should leave the rope and again cross the ditch by jumping over 4 ft in length. See the picture for clarification.


Tarzan Swing:-
The candidate should go to some height (8 to 10 ft) with a help of a ladder. Then the helpers will give the rope to us and we should swing from the height to the soft ground (sand). i.e. There is one red line and the candidate should not land his body within that red line while swing from that height. See the picture for clarification.



Balanced Walk:-
Balanced walk is nothing but two plans which looks so shined with varnish but with little wooden scrapings for grip. This looks in a zig zag manner. The candidate should cross over this without landing his leg in the ground. See picture for clarification.

Jumping over drum winded by thorny wires:-
This consists of a red painted horizontal drum which is usually 6 ft in length for boys and 3 ft in length or ladies. The candidate has to run and jump this drum without touching it. The surface of the drum is usually covered with thorn like iron structures (But nothing to worry friends). See the picture for clarification.

Step by Step jump:-
This is platform of height nearly 8 feet. The candidate has to climb up to this platform with the help of the ladder and jump to another platform which is in the height of 4 feet. Then after this he should jump into a soft surface (sand). See picture for clarification.

Jumping over the screen (high jump):-
This looks difficult but don’t get tensed please. This looks like screen over a stand and the candidate has run over the inclined plank and jump over this without touching the screen. See picture for clarification.

Burma bridge:-
The Burma bridge and rope climbing is used in various selection process such as police and Para military forces. This is parallel ropes tied between two iron pillars. The candidate has to climb up on a iron ladder to reach the top of the bridge. The best thing is don’t look down while crossing; concentrate well and cross the bridge by holding to the ropes. See picture for clarification.

Hanging the rope after jumping from the ladder:-
This is similar to the Tarzan swing but the difference is in Tarzan swing after reaching the platform by climbing the ladder, the helper will give the rope to swing. But here, we have to climb up in ladder to reach the platform and jump over (3-4 feet’s) to hold the rope then we should climb down. See the picture for clarification.

Rope climbing:-
  This is the usual and we have to climb up in a thick rope and then get down.



Important things in Individual Obstacles:-


a) Never violate the rules, if this happened please repeat the task immediately.
b) Never look at the G.T.O while waiting for while doing the tasks.
c) Have a good physique by doing simple exercises such as running, pull ups and push ups. If you do all these then you will perform well in individual tasks.
d) Don’t show fear in your face or hesitation to do any tasks. Dare to do, you are a soldier keep that in mind

Snake Race

Snake Race or Group Obstacle 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.



Rules for holding the Snake:-
The whole group has to hold the snake through out the Race. Also there is some exclusion such as while crossing the obstacle, minimum three candidates should hold the snake.

Also, if the group starts to hold the snake at hip region, then through out the race it should hold the snake at hip region only. Else if the group starts to hold the snake in their shoulder at their starting means, it should hold it at should till the end of the race only. (This rule varies from board to board).
They should never keep the snake down on ground.
There is also some out of bound areas in the obstacles such as, some region in the obstacle is painted with red color. While doing the task the candidate should not touch the out of bound region.
Also the group should not move from one obstacle to the another without even a single member of the group. The group should wait with the snake until all the guys reach the snake to hold.


War Cry:-
The G.T.O gives a option to the candidates to choose a war cry. A war cry is nothing but a short inspirational quote used at the time of doing some missionary tasks.

E.g.:- ‘VANDE MATARAM’, ‘JAI HIND’, ‘BHARAT MATHA KE JAI’ etc.


Expectation of the G.T.O from the candidates in Snake Race:-
1. The candidate should not violate the rule.
2. He should help his team members.
3. He should give his hand for the weak to climb the high wall.
4. He should not worry to make his white clothes to mud.
5. He should keep his group in front of him rather than putting the self.
6. He should able to keep an eye over every individual by not violating rules and also the self so that the group moves ahead without any minus marks.

Obstacles in Group Race or Snake Race:-
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.
See the pictures for more clarification.

Command Task

 Command Task. (C.T):-

  Every army officer should be commanding in his order and action. For this a ground task is conducted called as command task. Here the candidate is the leader and he should choose two candidates from his group as sub-ordinates.The purpose of command task is to check the commanding ability of the candidate.
Its main purposes are:

1. To check the thinking ability of the candidate.
2. To check whether the candidate knows the ability of each member of his group individually.
3. To check if candidate is capable of using right person at right place as per the ability of his members.
4. To check if the candidate is capable of delivering his plan and thoughts to his subordinates in effective way and same as the GTO.
5. To check if the commander is able to encourage his men whenever required.

Rules in Command Task:-

a) The GTO called the candidates in a random manner only, then he will have a small pep talk.

b) Then he will take him to the Task area and explain about rules and ask to candidates as which person you are choosing.

What the G.T.O expects from the candidate are

a) Whether the candidate his good in his command by giving proper ideas to solve the problem.

b) Whether he is extracting the work well from his sub-ordinates.

c) While choosing the sub-ordinates, whether the candidate is choosing the weak member of strong member of the group. (i.e. he finds, that the candidate has the ability to analyze about the group)

d) Whether the candidate finds out multiple solutions for the task.

e) Whether he is speedy in his decisions and ideas.

f) Whether he is having any hesitations in executing his plan after deciding it already.

Important points for Command Task:-

Look to G.T.O instructions carefully. This is important one throughout the G.T.O tasks.

Choose the correct person as sub-ordinates, since if you have to cross the obstacle with heavy load means, choose a person in your group who can able to carry the load easily and choose another person who is small i.e. can able to tie , ropes, planks easily.

Try to avoid asking ideas from the sub-ordinates, since in this scenario you are the leader and commander.

 Also if you were in a position of subordinate don't talk or give ideas to the commander unless the G.T.O tells to do so.

lets have a step wise view.

• The GTO will call u from the waiting room and will have a little talk with you.Actually he is briefly interviewing you in the same way a interviewer does but his session will be very short and suddenly you will find yourself in front of a task.
  
• From here GTO will start giving you instruction for the command task i.e the what you have to do and what are the rules to be followed by you.
  your task is to listen those instruction very very carefully.
  
• After giving you instruction the GTO will ask you to call your subordinates.
  
• Here again he is checking your organizing capability that are you capable of choosing  the best out of available or not.
  Here you don't have to hurry, first take your time,see to the task, make a plan , review the execution of plan, think for the no of persons required, think for the type or quality required in your subordinates and then only call suitable subordinates.
  
• Once the subordinates are made available to you, deliver the complete information to them in exactly the same way the GTO had given to you.
  And take my advice, it is the best stage where you can shoot in the bulls eye.
  
• Now after giving your subordinates the entire information of task and rules, now tell them your plan to do your task, explain them clearly what is your plan and assign each of your's subordinate a fixed task by pointing out their chest number.
  
• Once you began the execution of your plan, see if your subordinates are working according to the plan or not.
  Its nothing like that , that you don't have to do any task.
  be helpful to them but remember that you are not working when your subordinates are free or idle.
  
• See if any of your subordinate is not breaking the rule, in case of which you should repeat the task from starting.
  remember that there is no penalty in breaking the rule, but there is when you don't admit it.
  
• If your plan is successful the GTO may impose extra situations to you, just only to check your ability to perform under stressed condition.
  My advise in that situation is to remain calm and think for the solution and never give up.Try to think faster.
  it is advisable not to take help of your subordinates.
  
  
• But if your plan is not successful in first go, then never be discouraged and first think of the reason for the failure and amend it, in other case think for the new plan.
  
• Now if you are called as a subordinate by any one of the member of your  group, then you always try to give your best.
  because an officer can never be a good commander until and unless he is a better stooge.
  
• Don't give your commander any suggestion until you are told to do so by the GTO.

Half Group Task

Half Group Task (H.G.T):-

The Half Group Tasks are conducted after the P.G.T. Since some of the candidates even though getting idea to solve the P.G.T could not able to express his ideas due to communication problem or shy nature.

For this sake, the Half Group Task is used. The group is divided in half. E.g.:- If there are (10-12 members) then the group may get divided into 5-6 members. So in this situation the candidate can able to analyze their different views to solve the task. The rules and helping materials are same like P.G.T. only. But the difference is the number of persons.



Example Scenario about H.G.T.:-

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 H.G.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.


Usage of helping materials and its usage:-
The helping materials given are wooden plank(6 feet length), balli (wooden log), and rope. Along with this they will give a load to carry from one end to another end. With these helping materials we implement several techniques such as cantilever, fulcrum etc to cross over the obstacles along with the group. See this and get the idea about fulcrum, cantilever and H.G.T structures.


Things to follow at H.G.T:-
g) Never look at the G.T.O while doing the tasks.
h) Be yourself as I stated earlier in the G.D itself.
i) Give a good idea to the group if you don’t know any idea just help the idea givers truthfully.
j) 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.
k) Be an active participant in the team by giving your full cooperation.
Be positive in your views i.e. take consideration about other members ideas if it is finer than yours.

Progressive Group Task

Progressive Group Task (P.G.T):-
Progressive Group Task is continued after the M.P.E. This task is about set of obstacles in ground in a specified area in that you and your team members should cross each obstacles 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 time given for this is usually 40, 60 minutes depending on the G.T.O. and also based on the difficulty of the task. If one task is finished the group have to move to the next P.G.T. So the group has to finish the tasks at a stretch.
Also the difficulty of the tasks increases from one task to another.
No leader is nominated and the whole group is allowed to participate in this. The person who is having analyzing capability, who can able to apply his basic physics (such as fulcrum, cantilever) in real life, could feel easy to finish these tasks. Also he will be noted as the leader.


Example Scenario about P.G.T.:-
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 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.


Usage of helping materials and its usage:-
The helping materials given are wooden plank(6 feet length), balli (wooden log), and rope. Along with this they will give a load to carry from one end to another end. With these helping materials we implement several techniques such as cantilever, fulcrum etc to cross over the obstacles along with the group. See this and get the idea about fulcrum, cantilever and P.G.T structures.


Things to follow at P.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 members ideas if it is finer than yours.
g)Never and Never give up and always remain active and keep thinking about the solutions.
h)if by mistake rule is broken by you or any other member of your group, repeat the exercise from the starting point without asking from the GTO or in case of others, suggest them to do so.
in this way you show your responsibility.

Individual Lectures

Individual Lectures or Extempore:-

In Army life, the army officer should lead his men and materials with good lectures. Since speaking is an art so that great people in history such as Adolf Hitler, John F Kenney ruled their region successfully. The lecture given the officer in service should give confidence to the team members, so that the team members should get confidence by heart to follow his leader or officer. So it is also an important task at the G.T.O.

The duration, in which the candidate has to talk, is 3 minutes.

Expectation from G.T.O in lecture:-
In this lecture the G.T.O notices about the candidate clarity of thought, power of expression, depth of knowledge, confidence level.



Rules of the Lecture:-


· The students are ordered to sit in a semi circle. The G.T.O will sit behind the candidates.(i.e. behind the semi circle arch)
· Then the G.T.O will place a group of cards in front of the candidates.
· The students are ordered to take one card from that bunch and given three minutes to prepare about the topic.
· The choices of topic in the card are three.(one is toughest, next one is normal and the third one is easiest)
· While the first chest number (in ascending order) the next one is given time to prepare for his topic. (He has chosen his card and topic)
· At the end of 2.30 minutes out of 3 minutes the G.T.O will give a warning bell so that the candidate who is speaking should sum up his points.
· Also that bell is also intimation to the preparing candidate to prepare well since time is less.


Things to note down while extempore:-
The important thing to note down while giving lecture is body language and how we are giving our topic to the audience.



Body Language:-

Tie your hand behind you. Since this helps us to avoid mannerisms through hand.

See all the audience i.e. team members and don’t look to the G.T.O.
Keep little smile and don’t make it as a fake one. Else better give the lecture normally.
Don’t shake the legs while speaking also don’t stand in stiff manner. Keep yourself ease and cool.
See this picture for clarification


How to choose the topic for Lecture:-
There will be three topic in that lecture card. One will be of more tough, the other will be common one and the third will of very easy one. It is not a matter to choose which type and all. But if you choose a topic you should be able to sum up your points within those three minutes of time.



Giving of Lecture:-
The time given is of three minutes, let we divide the time first.

Initiation of the topic – First 30 seconds.
Getting into the topic (Giving pros and cons of the topic) – 30 seconds to 2.30 minutes.
Conclusion of the topic (Summing up all the points) – last 30 seconds.


Preparation for Individual lecture:-
No extra preparation is needed for lecture, instead if you prepare for the G.D as I stated earlier in the starting of this page. Only one special thing choose any topic and try to get valuable points with pros and cons in a short period of time (3 minutes)

Also stand before the mirror and start to speak to avoid stammering while speaking.

Group Planning Exercise

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

Group Planning or Military Planning Exercise or Military Planning Exercise is followed after the Group Discussion at the third day of the process.
What is Group Planning or Military Planning Exercise?

It is a set or problems or critical situations in which the candidate has to put up himself, engage his team or group of friends to find the solution for those problems along with that he/his team should get succeeded in their own problem.
It is a situation whether the candidate has to think themselves as leader and and to allocate, extract work from the men and materials around him. He should give priority to the situations and analyze that which should be solved first and which should be solved last. You should also be able to allocate the man power based on the complexity of the problems.


Rules for the Military planning exercise of Group planning exercise:-


1. The candidates will seat in a semi circle based on the chest numbers.
2. Then the G.T.O will narrate the set of problems like a small story with a wooden model before you. i.e. A wooden plan drawn like a map between two towns. In that fields are painted as green, river (water bodies) are painted in blue, tar roads are painted in black and mud roads in pale yellow color.
3. After narrating the problem, he asks the group whether you are having any doubt.
4. He also tells about the time and direction from which we have to go and also the wooden model is also marked with directions.
5. After this we will be given a writing pad in that “stories with set of problems” will be there and the candidate has to read it quickly. After that the candidate should place that by side.
6. After this the candidate are given time to write down their own individual solutions or those problems.
7. After this the candidates are given ten minutes to discuss about the set of problems and arrive at a proper solution to win over all situations.

Type of problems faced by the candidate in Group Planning Exercise:-
1. Rescuing the person suffering from snake bite.
2. Rescuing the persons from train accident.
3. Diffusing or telling information about a bomb.
4. Natural calamities such as earthquake, tsunami etc.
5. Saving the weak people from dacoits.
6. Telling information to the police station about the hiding of terrorists out of town.
7. Telling to the railway police about the broken rails.


Expectation from G.T.O in Military planning exercise:-


In M.P.E , it is a series of tough situation where the candidate is putting himself, his team in various situations i.e. extracting work from his team by allocating them based on priority of the problem. He will be noticed go show his all OLQ in this.
Along with the G.T.O expect some basic things for this such as :-
a) Whether the candidate observes the analyses the problem well.
b) Whether the candidate allocates work properly to is team mates.
c) Whether the candidate able to prioritize the problems.
d) Whether the candidate can able to win all the situations in the set of problems
e) Whether he is forceful in putting his point to the group etc.(very important)


How to Approach Group Planning Exercise:-
a) Listen keenly to the GTO instruction.
b) Note down every situation carefully and try to use the utilities in that i.e. Using telephone at railway crosses etc.
c) Narrate the solution by giving prioritized approach.
d) At the discussion, try to put your points in a convincing manner with proper solution for the problems.
e) If you find your solution is better and time efficient then never give up your point to others also if you find your solution is comparatively in low weight than others then accept their points.


How to prioritize the problems:-
Problems are prioritized based on their severity to life and things. For example the priority should be given to a train accident rather than giving in closing the tricking drinking water pipe.

How to participate well in Group Discussion?

How to participate well in Group Discussion?

In this post i would like to tell the things about the insight of Group Discussion, about the mistakes of candidate and the expectations of the officials who is evaluating you during the discussion.


Have you read the above lines, Can you able to get what it says?
So, "What you are speaking matters and How you are speaking and How much you are
speaking doesn't much matter".

Eg:- Imagine a scenario where ten people are discussing about "Global Warming".
Here, every one tries to speak in the discussion and everyone's intention is to stop the global warming or to find the solution for that. It is OK, but can you say is that will be a good discussion?
Since, discussion means everyone should discuss a common, healthy point.
Here, the person who is giving the healthy point is the leader.



Image this Scenario:-
Candidate 1:- The global warming is a great challenge to the developing nations. We should work hard to prevent it.
Candidate 2:- Our government is doing various measures to prevent it.
Candidate 3:- I agree to both Candidate 2 & 3, I would like to add the solution for candidate 2 & 3 points. i.e. We can move with solar energy by avoiding fossil fuels and also we can take a oath to avoid aerosol sprays, instead we can use natural aroma products which also increases revenue for khadi kraft or some government organisations.

Here, out of three who gave healthy point, I support candidate 3 only. So, what the candidate 4,5 or 6
or the rest will do. They will give their own point along with that they also accept and give more supportive points for Candidate 3. So, by this Candidate 3's point becomes a solution for the given topic called as "Global Warming". Note, here if rest of the candidates gives any strong points than Candidate 3, then Candidate 3 has to agree this (Group Dynamics) also Candidate 3 can strengthen his
point by adding extra sources.

Look gentlemen, the group discussion should be like this only and this is called as discussion. The discussion should be a discussion. It should not be an argument. As, most of us want to make our point as superior then the discussion is masked as an argument.

So, in every discussion. Keep the following things in mind.
1) I am the part of this group and I am responsible to find a good conclusion for
the topic which is given to us.
2) I should give a valid point to find the solution for the topic which we are discussing.
3) If any of my team mate gives a good point, I will accept and make my team to move in a healthy way of finding the solution.

This is the Group Discussion gentlemen and the GTO - Group Testing Officer also expects this from you. He just analyse every candidate for their behaviour in the group and evaluates their OLQ - Officer Like Qualities for recommendation. Since, GD is the first task of GTO at day 3, its the time for you to prove your worthiness in the group and to get the attention of the GTO. So, to perform well in group tasks, what you should do? Just, involve yourself for the group objective and for your self recommendation. If this frame of mind comes, automatically you are in.

The selection board of Indian Defense want a best leader and the best follower.
In fact, a disciplined ordinary person = best follower or best leader or (best follower + best leader). Here, the disciplined ordinary person can able to do extraordinary tasks at extraordinary time.
Only a best follower can become a best leader.
If you have a good point, the team automatically follows you by accepting your point. Here, you are the leader.
If your team mate has a good point than you, you accept it and you have to beautify that good point. Here, you are the best follower.

If you criticize or give points just for name sake, then you don't come under the category of leader
or a follower. Decide gentlemen, Everything is in your hand only. So, nothing to worry about
Group Discussion. All the best friends.