Father in Air Force, Brother in Navy, Harsh Deep Singh Joins Army After 18th SSB Attempt
Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh has joined the Indian Army after clearing the Services Selection Board on his 18th attempt, ending a long and demanding journey that tested his determination over several years. His commissioning at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, came after 17 unsuccessful tries, making his eventual success a striking example of persistence in the face of repeated rejection.
For many defence aspirants, the SSB process can be one of the toughest stages on the path to becoming an officer. Harsh Deep Singh’s experience reflects that reality closely. He kept returning to the selection process, learning from each setback and continuing to work towards the same goal until the breakthrough finally came on his 18th attempt. He later trained at OTA Gaya and passed out as a commissioned officer of the Indian Army.
A family shaped by military service
Harsh Deep Singh’s decision to join the Armed Forces was deeply influenced by his family background. He was inspired by his elder brother, who serves as a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy. Seeing his brother pursue a career in uniform strengthened Harsh Deep’s own resolve to earn a commission and serve the country as an officer.
The family’s military roots go further back. Harsh Deep’s father serves as a Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force. His years in uniform gave both sons a close view of military discipline, service and the demands of an Armed Forces life. For them, the values associated with service were not abstract ideals but part of everyday upbringing.
That background eventually produced a rare three-service family connection. With the father in the Indian Air Force, the elder brother in the Indian Navy and Harsh Deep now commissioned into the Indian Army, the Singh family represents a tri-service legacy spanning all three branches of India’s Armed Forces.
Seventeen setbacks, one breakthrough
The most remarkable part of Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh’s story is not just that he became an Army officer, but that he was willing to keep trying after so many disappointments. The SSB is known to test an aspirant’s confidence, patience and ability to learn from failure, and repeated rejection can make the journey increasingly difficult.
Harsh Deep faced that process 17 times before finally succeeding on the 18th attempt. His persistence offers a reminder that failure does not necessarily end an ambition. For some aspirants, success comes quickly; for others, it takes repeated effort, self-correction and the resolve to try again.
His journey also carries a broader message for defence candidates preparing for the SSB. The path to the Armed Forces is not always linear, and the number of attempts alone does not define the outcome. What matters is the willingness to improve, return and continue the effort.
In Harsh Deep Singh’s case, the 18th attempt became the one that changed everything. What began as a long series of setbacks eventually ended with him standing at OTA Gaya and passing out as a commissioned officer of the Indian Army.
For his family, the commissioning is a source of immense pride. For young aspirants, it is a clear example of how perseverance can keep a dream alive even after repeated rejection. Lieutenant Harsh Deep Singh’s path from aspirant to officer now adds another chapter to a family already closely tied to India’s Armed Forces.
