Progressive Group Task

Why Progressive Group Task test is important in SSB interviews?

Before knowing about PGT test, let us see why this test is important. This is the frequently asked question by most of the aspirants. All candidates think this test is just to engage them and tire them up so that the real performance can be tested afterwards. But PGT is very important test of SSB as GTO will assess all candidates with this test. And based on this assessment, he will co-relate individual candidate's OLQs with various other tests such as Military Planning Exercise, Individual obstacles test and also to those of psychology tests such as TAT, WAT and PPDT.   If the officers of selection board feels that a candidate have some OLQs commonly in all examinations, then that candidate will be the favorite candidate to become an officer. All officers working in Indian Army, Air Force and Navy do face lot of problems on day to day basis and many face problems which can only be tackled by a group of men. At that time, an officer is required to guide other team members to solve the problem. Thus, this test is vital for a candidate who want to top the SSB interview.   

Goal of PGT obstacles testing procedure

• In Progressive Group Task, there will be a starting line and a finishing line. 
• There will be few material which the group need to carry from start line to finish line.
• These material may vary from one SSB board to other.
• Generally, group is made to carry wooden blocks, rope, a steel box or a stretcher.

Till now it looks very simple but the tricky part of Progressive Group Testing is the obstacles. Few areas will be marked as red which should not be touched by anyone of the group members. Similarly, few areas and objects will be painted in black color which can be touched but one cannot place material on those areas and blocks. Areas which are marked as white color can be used for crossing by all candidates and material can also kept on those structures.

Physical Tasks

For these physical tasks you should be carrying white short shirt, while shorts, white canvas shoes and white socks. 

Helpful Hints for Progressive Group task
In tackling the obstacles of "Progressive Group Task", there are as a matter of fact, three main principles which are involved. They are, lever, bridge and swing. The plank or planks that are employed as helping material can be used either in the form of a lever  or bridge according to the circumstances. A rope should invariably be tied, as the case may be, to the remotest end of the lever or bridge. This is very essential because it becomes impossible for the candidates to get or pull back the plank once they crossed over.

Some of the fundamental rules which the Group Testing Officer clears to the candidates before beginning the task are;

1. Out of Bounds Rule
   The whole ground area and any other structure painted red between the start line and the finish line, and their helping materials and loads are out of bounds to the candidates. There is punishment for any candidate or any object that touches the out of bounds area. The defaulter have soon to go back to the star line of that obstacle. If any object touches the out bounds areas, then the object should be carried back by the defaulter to the stat-line and then it should be brought forward again.
   
2. The Four Feet Rule
   The candidates are not permitted to jump any distance exceeding 4 feet either in length or in height. Such distances, are to be crossed with the assistance of the helping materials (ropes or bellies).
   
3. The Group Rule
   Every obstacle should be crossed by the whole group with its material and load, before the next obstacle is tried by  anybody in the group.
   
4. The Time Rule
   The task should be concluded in 40 minutes. There is no time limit for each of the four obstacles which are included in this task.

Example
In the following hindrances, with the assistance of a plank and two ropes, the candidates are required to cross it over, where candidates are forbidden to jump up or down or cover a distance of four feet. There is punishment for any candidate or any object that touches the out of bounds red area. The time require to tackle the hindrances is 40 minutes.