ISSB Tasks (Command & Individual Tasks)

Command Task (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. Moreover, sometimes 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...

Command Task (2)

After getting the briefing from the GTO , he would give you some seconds to think of a plan as how you would get the people across. After that time you have to call your group. Once they arrive you have to give them briefing as given to you by the GTO. Usually in Command tasks the main objective is to transport the material and the group across a certain piece of land which has some ditches, some ( pi ) shaped wooden stands on which you have to put the plank and cross that particular piece of land.

After giving the briefing to the group you have to ask them if they have any questions. If they say NO, then you should tell them your plan as how you want to get the things done. If someone gives a valuable advice then consider it otherwise if someone in your group tries to show efficiency and act as a "smart ass" ignore his points and make the people concentrate on your plan. You should only change your plan if its not working and there is a strong opposition of the group.

In my case the group wanted to opt for a path which I didnt. But when they all said no we should go for their choice I let them. But they failed. So i moved forward my self and showed them what I was planning was actually right, and when I executed my plan my self I actually did it what others could not do. When your task is over then try to perform well in other's task, dont try to show off efficiency, but actually perform efficiently. GTO will be monitoring each and everyone. And when others would see that you give valuable suggestions, and act efficiently they would even rely on you and that makes a great impression before the GTO.

Some words of Advice and caution:

1. When you are a commander don’t think that you are just to give orders and others will execute. When your help is needed, you should work with the group.

2. Avoid using the words "difficult" "impossible" "no" " not" "never" etc. Instead of saying "doing this would be difficult" you can say "doing this would be more TIME CONSUMING".

3. Call everyone with their chest number not by their name. Its a foul to call them by their name.

4. Use the people in your group wisely. Those who are trouble makers , keep them behind or away from the critical work. Those who are physically strong, make them lift loads like drums and planks. Those who are slim, to climb up the plank. Those who are thin and tall are good for jumping. In other words you should use your human resource efficiently.

5. In other's command task when you have a suggestion you should convey it first to Commander "Sir if we do this it would save alot of time" or "it would help us greatly". THis would catch the attention of GTO.

6. Always try to remain at the most critical point of the Task from whesre u can get the task done.

7. Its not compulsory that the task gets completed in the time alloted, when the GTO sees that the task would get completed or there is no way it would get done in time, he usually tells to stop and finishes it to save time. In my own task just 1^st step was done in time and the whole task was still to be done, but when GTO saw that i can do it, he said "your time is up". GTO just wants to check your nerves , your ability to command others, your ability to come up with instant plans to solve some problem or challenge.

8. When the time is UP, put all the planks drums and other stuff back to their original place where they were at the start of the task. In exactly the same order.

Individual Task (1)

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.    6. High jump is not an issue if u takes a long run up.

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

Individual Task (2)

Individual tasks are considered by many as the most important test of ISSB. I have seen many aspirants who are "not recommended" evaluating their ISSB performance on the number of Individual tasks they have done and saying that they performed very good but still were not recommended.

The thing is, Individual tasks are not the ONLY test on which you are evaluated. Its just a part of a bigger test, in which your ability to tackle physical hurdles and you courage is evaluated along with your honesty.

When am saying courage i mean physical courage. Fear of height, fear of falling, fear of getting injured and fear of not accomplishing a task are some of the things evaluated.

The real courage and power lies in the brain, not in arms and legs. If you have the will "I CAN DO IT" you can do almost everything. If you get a thought "NO, THIS IS TOO HIGH, I CANNOT JUMP" or "I MAY FALL AND HURT MY SELF" then you will clearly show your cowardliness and hesitation. GTO will see that instantly and mark that point of yours.

Individual tasks comprise of

1. Hanging Bridge

2. High Jump

3. Ditch Jump

4. Zig Zag

5. Going through a hanging Tier

6. Monkey Bridge

7. Tarzan Swing

8. Boxing Ring

9. Rope Climbing

They are arranged in a small size ground and are placed randomly, meaning there is no pattern as which task should be done first and which at the end. You can start from one side and complete tasks which come before you. Usually all obstacles are arranged in circular manner with 2 or 3 tasks in the center.

Each obstacle has certain points which are calculated when candidate crosses them. If your body touches any part marked red it is considered a foul. You have to do that task all over again. Usually if someone has committed a foul he should try to cross that obstacle again, if again same foul is made then try it for the third time. If even on the third time you can’t clear it then move forward to the next obstacle. By trying to clear the obstacle 3 times you give 2 impressions.

1.    You are determined to complete the job that is why you are trying again and then wasting your time on just one.