SSB: GPE (Group planning exercise); a main testing tool of GTO

Group Planning Exercise(GPE) or sometimes called Military Planning Exercise(MPE) is one of the early group tests done at the SSB procedure. It is generally conducted on day 3 of 5 days SSB procedure. GPE consists of solving and discussing multiple real life problems given in the form of story; The process/conduct of GPE is given as below

1) The group of 10 candidates are made to sit in-front of a wooden model( map of a town/village will be drawn on a wooden board).

2) Group testing officer will explain the map in detail and he also narrate the problem story.

3) later group will be given the story card and 5 minutes to read the story again and relate it with the map given.

4)you will be given with the blank paper and time to write your individual solution.

5) then 15 mins of time is given to the group to discuss the plan and come to a common plan.

6) Group has to nominate a person to narrate the common story.

How to write GPE solution : General approach

while solving any bunch of problems, we need to consider below constraints;

1) Problems with priority: 

we need to identify number of problems and list them according to severity.

example: imagine there are two problems where one of the guy is profoundly bleeding and second one is a cattle is missing; it is obvious that injured guy needs first and immediate attention.

2)Time constraint: 

This factor is kinda inter-coiled with first one and this helps in prioritizing the tasks/problems; In the problem story generally time constraints will be given. 

for example; a bomb is planted and it is expected to explode at 1500hrs etc.

3)Resources:

To solve any of the problems we will have some or the other kind of resources; some of them will be directly given and some of them we will have to assume sensibly.

ALL THE ABOVE WILL MAKE SENSE ONCE YOU SEE THE SAMPLE PROBLEM GIVEN AT THE END.

Solutions:

Based on above three factors we need to make an effective/ sensible solution to various problems in our way. generally the GTO says the number of people in the story are equal to number of candidates in the group present there at GT. The number of people in the group in generally will be 10.

Split the group effectively and then solve the problems one by one. Make sure the end primary goal in mind.

A sample GPE and solution is given below refer to it write your own solution and compare with the sample solution.

MAP:

PROBLEM STORY:

SAMPLE SOLUTION FOR ABOVE GPE:

SSB: 8 Fitness tips to working candidates

Are you a working personal with a formal job and trying to get into armed forces as an officer?, 

No time to hit to the gym?

We all know that fitness plays an important role in SSB interview;

Here are simple 7 hacks to control your weight as you want and kick your fitness level to the sky. For better understanding of yours the hacks/tips have been divided into two parts,

Those are,

1.   Habitual alteration
2.    Alterations in diet

HABITUAL ALTERATIONS:

•  Take stairs: If your workplace is in upstairs and you use escalator/lift regularly use stairs instead which helps in burning calorie. This might be difficult to follow initially, in that case try taking at least two trips a day via stairs then eventually you will get habituated.

• Take periodic breaks in between: If you work in such an environment where you have to work for hours by sitting in front of screen continuously, then you have to consider taking break at least once in 45 minutes and stretch-out a bit. In that particular break try to catch couple of deep breaths and walk around or use that as water break walk to water point.

•  Correct your sitting posture: I know most of us sloth while sitting on chairs (we are kind of slothers by birth). Are you aware of the fact that our sitting posture also adds up to our bad body shape?                                                                                                                                    Yes, It does matter how do you sit while you work or any time, So try to correct your sitting posture and sit upright while working.

•  Just find a reason to walk: As mentioned earlier walk as much as you can or just find a reason to walk. For example imagine you have to go for groceries to nearby super market instead of taking vehicle choose to walk to market.  

DIET ALTERATIONS:

•   Drink lots of water: We know that around 70% of our body is made up of water and it is essential. Drinking a lot of water could trigger your fat burning process, adding lime and honey to it will boast it even more.

• Keep meals short and split it if possible: we generally have the tendency to grab lots of food in our regular meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and have nothing in between them. Scientifically it’s an unhealthy practice.                                                                                           Then what is right practice?                                                                                                                    It’s a good practice to split your meal into chunks and munch healthy bits every now and then. (Munching means not having unhealthy snacks) by this our brain will be programmed in such a way that subconsciously it keeps a count saying ‘‘okay..!! I think body is getting food on time lets stop storing it’’ and burns extra fat stored (it’s important to mention here, that skipping meals or fasting irregularly is a bad practice).

•  Try to avoid junk/processed food: In current fast moving world we tend to have processed, easy grab able and fast foods. These processed foods contribute a lot in our unfit body. So it is no good to have junk/processed food.

•      Be calorie deficit if you are overweight: If you are reading this article so far means I presume that either obese or feared of becoming so. Most of our regular food will be rich in starch and it’s common to lean towards extra greasy/extra spicy food which will eventually contribute in storing fat if it is excess than limit. So make a promise to yourself to stop eating even though you are craving to eat or make a rule for yourself saying ‘‘okay, today I’ll eat, but I’ll will not touch specific food for minimum of 10 days’’

ONE BONUS TIP:

•    Be consistent:  Everyone knows that they want to be fit/stay fit and ways to be is also known, but no one wants to work for that. I know it’s THE most difficult part to be consistent but there is a hack, psychologists have stated that it takes only 21 days to convert anything into a habit. So what are you waiting for? Give it a shot..!!

Bottom line:

The above tips are workable but we all know that military standards are high and after selection we are expected to go through tough training. So I would advise you to go for a run every day morning at-least for half an hour.