The biggest indicator of a recommendation in SSB is the red plus sign. However, if you have noticed there is no plus sign at AFSB for recommended candidates. If you’re thinking of the reason, you are at the right place.
What is the Plus Sign in SSB?
The plus sign (+) indicates recommendation from an SSB board to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Army. It brings a wave of emotions and pride to the candidate. Generally, it is red in colour but many boards also use lighter variations based on the colour of the chest number.
You must have seen a red plus at hospitals. Interestingly, this isn’t the mathematical symbol plus but a Red Cross. The same idea is used as a plus sign in SSB to denote a candidate undergoing medicals at the centre.
List of AFSB Centres
Before we proceed, we must know all the AFSB centres in the country. There are five AFSB centres, and candidates can appear for their interview at any of these:
- 1 AFSB Dehradun
- 2 AFSB Mysuru
- 3 AFSB Gandhinagar
- 4 AFSB Varanasi
- 5 AFSB Guwahati
Do AFSB Recommended Have Medicals?
Indeed, nobody can avoid medicals. All AFSB recommended candidates undergo medicals at two designated Air Force Hospitals:
- Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME) in Delhi
- Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM) in Bangalore
After recommendation, candidates fill out relevant documents and select one of the two options given above. Then, they get their date for reporting for medicals and this is where they undergo a detailed medical examination.
Why Is There No Plus Sign in AFSB?
Let us cut to the chase now. Why is there no plus sign in AFSB for recommended candidates? Firstly, some AFSB centres like 1 AFSB Dehradun give chest numbers with plus signs to recommended candidates for photographs. However, most do not.
As shown above, candidates who get recommendation from Air Force Selection Boards undergo medicals at designated hospitals. This means that whether you’re recommended from 1 AFSB or 5 AFSB, you will have medicals elsewhere.
When we look at the Army boards, the plus sign serves a specific purpose different from the medicals. Unlike AFSBs where medicals happen away from the centre, all SSB recommended candidates undergo medicals at the centre that recommended them. Hence, the plus sign in SSB helps distinguish the recommended from the non-recommended ones.
But, this separate identity is not needed at AFCME or IAM because only recommended candidates are allowed on campus. Hence, there is no plus sign in AFSB because it serves no purpose.
Does No Plus Sign in AFSB Make Any Difference?
Honestly speaking, it does not. The plus sign is just a visual indication of being recommended but whether you have it or not doesn’t take away your recommendation. Please know that the sign is only for a purpose and the actual proof is your name in the final merit list. Do not let it dictate your performance. Best of luck for your next interview!
