Command Tasks (1)

Command task is one of the most important tasks you have with your GTO. After seeing your performance in the Discussions, GTO by now has made a judgment about you and would like to check you more and verify his decision whether you are to be recommended by him or now.

First of all your whole group would be called for fall in, meaning you would be ask to stand in a straight line. Then GTO would ask who would like to become the first commander. It has been seen that almost all the candidates raise their hand. But its up to GTO to select one among you all. Usually he picks the candidates based on his assumption that guy no 1 is the best among the rest according to his performance in discussion and should be tested first. But this is not a hard and fast rule. He might pick anyone.

Now comes a tricky part. He selects one candidate and takes him to the Command task. During that walk he asks the candidates some questions. He says that this is an "informal discussion and has nothing to do with ISSB" but in reality its also an assessment. He asks you questions like "aj kal kia ker rahay ho?" and other question in very polite and friendly manner as if he is your close friend. Thats a trick to get an insight. BE CAUTIOUS.

When you reach the task, he gives you a briefing, telling you about the time you have, which items you can use like drum, ropes, planks etc. He would tell you which points are "out of bound" marked red , which are "in bound" which are "out of bound for you but in bound for your items" marked with red and yellow strips. Ground is usually out of bound. Out of bound means that if you touch that point it would be a foul and you would have to do it again. More over, some times even jumping and throwing are also declared foul.

NOTE: Listen to his briefing clearly and remember the position of how the items(drums ropes planks) are placed before the task, as you have to put them back in the same position and order after the task. After hearing the entire briefing, call your group and then the you start the task.... (how you start the task would be told in part 2)... Continued...

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Graduate courses.... No more

It was being rumored that Graduate course in the Pakistan army would soon be shut down and no induction will be made in this course. This was proved true in the recent Army selection ad.
News is in that decision was made on the basis that graduate course cadets dont act and look like true army officers after their short training and they were of no match with the "longians". It was after careful analysis that such a step was taken and now implemented.

To some extent it might be true. A 22 or 23 year old cannot perform same as a 18 year old in the WT area or PT ground. The mindset of a masters degree holder is totally different compared to a FA Fsc. candidate. But this decision has dampened the hopes and dreams of alot of guys who wanted to appear for the third time before ISSB with a hope that they would get selected in the Army.

This decision by the GHQ has its pros and cons but we can only hope for what is best for all the candidates.

GTO tasks ( Individual Tasks )

When it comes to individual tasks people think the more tasks they do the better impression they will make, but thats just a myth. I have seen people crossing 17 obstacles and getting rejected and those who did only 4 5 got recommended. The game is not about the number of tasks, the game is of how you cross those tasks, whether you showed reluctance before jumping or going up any obstacle.

The most difficult tasks are tarzen swing, monkey bridge, zig zag, and last but not the least, climbing rope. The main difficulty in these tasks is the fear of height, and the fear that if u fall you will get hurt and thats exactly what they are looking for in you. if you show that your out.

Tasks mainly are arranged in an improper manner and there is no particular sequence which u can adopt, you are told to go from which ever direction you like, GTO keenly observes the way you go through these tasks and sees if you go via proper pattern or haphazardly do those tasks. if you stop when ur about to jump or show any sort of fear that can create bad impression.

here are a few tips

1. if u get some scratches dont worry, and dont sit there and cry, infact if u get little injured and still carry on this shows ur determination.

2. try to go for the tasks in a sequence.

3. if u fail to cross an obstacle once try again and again but if u cant do it in the third attempt, then leave it and go for next.

4. try to practice climbing rope if you can find some facility.

5. Monkey bridge is not that difficult but people do feel scared while swinging on the tarzan swing. they can let go the rope fearing that they would fall.

6. high jump is not an issue if u take a long run up.

7. Remember if you make a foul, by touching areas marked red on obstacles then attempt the obstacle again, dont think you would be able to deceive the GTO or he might have not seen it.

PMA 122 Long Course Ads

PMA 122 long course registration is starting from 7th of May till 21st May.
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Story writing Tips

Few fellows said to me that i have put some example questions of story test but haven't given any tips as how to attempt them, what to write in those stories. Well what i can do is to give you some points to keep in mind while writing a story, here they are:

1. Take a while to actually think of a story before stating to write.5 to 10 sec are enough if you have practiced at your home. Those who dont practice sit idle for 30 sec but still cant come up with a plot for the story. "Practice makes a man perfect".

2. Do not write childish stories like " She was walking alone on a road at night when all of a sudden..... a lion came before her and she started screaming then superman came for her rescue" Try to make a little bit practical stories like "she saw an army jeep coming towards her, it stopped near her and a major came out, he asked what are you doing out so late, she told that her father is sick at home and all of the family is out of town, she couldn't find anyone to help so she took the courage and went on her own to go to near by Cantonment hospital, Major made a wireless call for an ambulance and took the girl to her home to her father. Ambulance came and took him to hospital and he recovered". This story although is quite short and does not satisfy the few rules ill mention but it makes a negative situation quite positive, clears any doubts, and shows courage and decision making ability.

3. I personally find sentence story more difficult then picture story. Because in picture story u can carve out anything.

4. In case of picture story you need to look at the picture, think of something relating to the situation. try to include each and every character in the picture and the surroundings.

5. Usually the following sequence is adopted... first 2 3 lines give an introduction of the main character and PAST. 2 3 lines tell about the PRESENT and what is happening in the picture and the last 2 3 lines tell about some positive future happening from this scene.

6. Six months back i had a similar psychology test and the pic showed a boy sitting on stairs. I made a story "Ali is in class 5, today he got his final result and he stood first in his class, he is very happy. He is now sitting on the stairs waiting for his father to come so that he can tell the good news to him. His father a laborer when came home in the evening was so delighted to hear the news. He was proud of his son's achievement. Ali continued his successful record and became an engineer"

7. You would have to write 5 to 6 stories in total, Do not include Army in all the stories. At max include army/navy /airforce in 3 stories. Like in above example you can write, he joined armed forces of Pakistan.

8. Try to include something of your past in the stories, to make them more real. Like i included 5th class because i got a scholarship and i did mention it in my bio data form, meaning that you have to relate your self to them.

9. Try to avoid accidents, tragedy, death, in the stories.

10. i remember in my ISSB we were shown a picture which was nothing but black background and on it were small dots(at least this is what i thought of it) I made a story that this is a photo copy of a painting by Gp Capt S M A Hussaini of attack on an Indian airbase by our Bomber at night. There is alot of anti aircraft fire in the dark.....