MY EXPERIENCE AT THE NIGERIAN ARMY SHORT SERVICE COMBATANT COURSE 46/2020 SELECTION BOARD.

 

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE NIGERIAN ARMY SHORT SERVICE COMBATANT COURSE 46/2020 SELECTION BOARD. . .

It has always been a thing of Passion and Admiration for me to join The Nigerian Army since my Childhood days. As I was growing up, that passion grew with me. Although I never went to any Military School or The Academy, (It was on my mind, but through guidance from a lot of people, I was advised to complete my Tertiary Education first) I kept the Dream and was looking forward to when I would apply. The chance came in 2018, then I applied for the Short Service Course (I had done a lot of Research about SSC and DSSC, coupled with various Consultations, I then concluded that SSC was best for me). I was so optimistic and certain that I would be selected to the extent that I sew my Navy blue shorts from a Tailor and was also exercising daily despite the nature of my job (Factory Worker). The list came out, I wasn’t selected and I was really depressed. I pulled myself together and continued living.

I applied when the form came out last year and wasn’t as optimistic as before. It was my friend who rang to inform me that my name was shortlisted. To be honest here, I wasn’t excited. I was having doubts whether to attend Screening or not (for a lot of reasons I cannot explain right now). I made Spiritual Consultations and was told to proceed.

On 22nd November, 2019, I boarded a Vehicle going to Kano from Abuja and alighted opposite the Screening Venue (Ribadu Cantonment, Old Nigerian Defence Academy Site, Kaduna). I stayed at the Entrance for a while and was observing the environs. I watched as my Fellow Candidates were moving around, some were purchasing things they would need at the venue and others hanging around. I saw Candidates wearing their White and Blue Salalas before entering the main gate; I decided I was going to wear mine inside the venue. As I passed the Soldiers at the gate, I was called back and told that if I was for the screening then I needed to wear my salala before entering. I obeyed (who was I never to anyway?).

I then took took a bike to the Quarter Guard. Here, we were being received by Military men in uniforms and muftis. My traveling bag was scrutinized for any prohibited items like sharp objects, etc. thereafter I entered my name in the paper made available for my state and then joined the others in sitting inside the sun, waiting for when our states would be attended to. Since it was 19 states that was expected for the second batch of the screening, the states were arranged alphabetically (4 states per officer for documentation). Also, Chest Numbers were issued to everyone here (This is a Semi-Apron-Like royal blue tag consisting a two-lettered abbreviation of your state of origin and number. Throughout the exercise, this chest numbers substituted our names. You would hear things like; “Zamfara 30, jump up” and so on and so forth). We were 38 out of 60 that came in my state, with a single female. Throughout the Screening, there was a high level of orderliness that was maintained. Kudos to the Board members and the Nigerian Army!

The Screening Board Members consisted of a Major-General (The President of the Board), a Brigadier-General, 2 Colonels, A Lieutenant-Colonel (who was the Board Secretary), 2 Majors, 3 Captains (one of them was the Administrative Officer) and a Lieutenant. (I can’t remember the rest members now).

We were shown to our respective hostels where we would be staying throughout the exercise (Just few days to the end of the screening, we were moved to another accommodation because of the officers that came for the Chief of Army Staff Conference). We were also fed thrice daily for the whole of the exercise.

The first stage of the screening was the evaluation of our credentials to ascertain whether the Army’s criterion was met. Here, discrepancies in result, age, or any forged documents were detected. A lot of candidates were disqualified on this basis.

The second stage was the “Almighty” Medical evaluation. The reason I call it “Almighty” is because more than half of the candidates were usually evicted at this stage for various medical conditions that are not acceptable according to the standards of the Nigerian Army.

X-RAY: The medical examinations were done in batches. For my own state, we first went to the Medical Reception Station for our X-Ray. We were made to pull our shirts, stand in front of the machine and asked to breathe. Within minutes, the film of the X-Ray was ready. This process was very fast. Some people were reviewed for this stage.

The next stage was done at the 1 Division hospital, New NDA site. Candidates were conveyed by luxurious buses and military escorts to the hospital. As we alighted from the bus, we were made to sit down in the sun according to our states and by our chest numbers. The Lieutenant-Colonel in charge of the Medicals came to address us. He asked us to stand on our feet and then as he was moving around, he wrote down the chest numbers of some candidates (Someone later said he was noting people for heights, others said it was to see the “young” old men in our midst).

ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG): This is the first test we did when we entered the hospital. We were made to lie down on the bed facing up, then some medical cables were placed at strategic positions on our bodies. The test lasted for about 5 to 7 minutes per candidate. We were made to then write down our chest number, age and signature on the test result sheet and submit it immediately.

DENTALS: This test was meant to note the numbers of our teeth, its alignment and also grip. Like the Lieutenant-Colonel told us when we were outside, he said that the NA didn’t want to employ officers who when they smile, people be like “which kain teeth this soldier get like this”? LoL…

EYE TEST (FAR & SHORT SIGHT): Candidates were made to read letters from a chart placed at about 15 to 20 meters away from us. We were also made to read out large letters printed in coloured patterns placed centimeters from us. These tests were to detect those that have colour blindness and other eye problems.

BLOOD & URINE TESTS: Here, our blood and urine samples were collected into various tubes of varying sizes. People with HIV, Hepatitis B, drug use history and so on were also detected here. Before this, the Military Photographer took our Passport Photographs.

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI): After taking off our shoes, our height, weight and chest diameter were measured. The readings (excluding the chest measurement) were used to calculate our BMI. NA’s BMI standard is from 18.5 to 29.5. The BMI is calculated thus: Your Weight divided by the Square of your height.

BLOOD PRESSURE TEST: Our BP was examined. A lot of candidates were also disqualified at this stage due to anxiety. One key I used was to remain as calm as though I was sleeping. No rushing thoughts or thoughts that could make your heart pump blood faster than it should. People were also reviewed based on this.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: We were asked to strip naked, stand straight, turn our heads left and right. We also spread out our arms. All these were to check for posture, body inscriptions,etc. Our BP was re-checked here also. I can remember the Doctor telling me before checking “Calm down, calm down, calm down. Nigerian Army is not a do or die affair. Toh”. LoL.. The sole of our feet was also checked for flat foot. I was flagged here for having a “First Degree Flat Foot”. The Doctor that examined me told me not to worry, that I would be reviewed. I remember after I was outside the Medical facility, I googled Flat Foot and found out that there were varying degrees ranging from 1st to 3rd, with 3rd being the worst. I later passed the review though. Our anus was also checked for pile. We were asked to grab our buttocks, bend down and cough out to detect whether we had pile or not.

The Medical examination took about 5 days altogether with reviews. We then did Psychology tests. This was a set of questions to know our mental state and alcohol or drug history. The Psychology test involved written and oral. The oral test for my state was conducted by a female Captain.

APTITUDE TEST: We all wrote the test in the Cadets Mess. We were divided into batches since the hall couldn’t contain everyone.

The aptitude test entailed 4 sections:

2 essays; (WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN THE NIGERIAN ARMY?) 20 marks and not less than 500 words.

(WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO STOP THE USE OF HARD DRUGS?) 30 marks and not less than 400 words.

10 English questions

10 Mathematics questions

30 current affairs questions

The test took about one and a half hours after which we were ordered out and another batch came in.

As the days went by, each was seared with one memory or the other. We were all anxiously waiting for the results of the medical screening. Even before then, a few candidates “dashed”. This is a term used for those who decide to end the screening abruptly on their own terms. LoL…

The D-Day came, there was tension in the air. We all sat down inside the Biu Bulama Drill Shed waiting for the arrival of the board members. When they finally came, the tension increased. The board president took the microphone and was dishing out some words of encouragement to us. He then began calling out those who were evicted on medical grounds. He did this by calling out the chest numbers. He would say “Kano”, they would respond “yes sir!”. He would then begin to call out the numbers “01, 03, 15, 60”, etc. As he called out the numbers for each state, we (including himself who later noted this) all noticed that the numbers 01 and 60 were the most called numbers in each state. Omo come see where guys dey fear for numbers. As I sat down, I was praying and hoping not to hear my number. He called the number before me and paused (Boy, that nearly “killed” me. I was like ‘is this it?’), then the jumped my number. Imagine my joy! Summarily, more than half of about 766 candidates were evicted. Some candidates even spent days in the guardroom due to certificate forgery. Those who were dropped for medical reasons were told the exact reason. We had been told to come with our luggage to the parade ground prior to this eviction. It was a mixed feeling after the announcements.

FACING THE BOARD: The next stage after the medical eviction was facing the board. There is usually a saying that those who face the board have 90% chance of being enlisted, I don’t know how true that is. If there is anything I found out about this Selection Board, it is that they love to take people by surprise. We experienced a lot of that throughout the screening process. After the medical eviction, the board secretary told those of us that were not evicted to be ready to face the board two days later. Alas, it was another trick up the sleeves of the board! The following morning, we were all sitting up inside the Biu Bulama Shed when it was suddenly announced that we would start facing board that very morning. Imagine the surprise in the faces of the candidates. I had to hustle to get my hair cut by a barber waiting behind the shed where lots of candidates were waiting for their turn (this very act of barbing my hair was later commended by the board president). Starting alphabetically with Kaduna state, the candidates were arranged into a small hall with about 10 to 12 chairs. 3 candidates were also positioned strategically outside this hall leading to the room where the selection board members were seated. As the person sitting outside the board’s room waited, a bell would be rung inside signifying that the candidate could come in. The other two candidates outside the hall would now fill the vacant chair. Such was the arrangement.

As I was sitting on the chair outside the board’s room, I became nervous. Then I quickly reminded myself that it was just a mere interview and that I wouldn’t die if I wasn’t picked. Still deep in these thoughts, I heard the bell “grrrrrrnnnnnn”. I sighed, stood up, knocked the door and went in. I had never faced the Selection Board before, I was expecting to see a large number of officers in the room. I think they were about 15 or thereabout. I didn’t have time to count. I smiled and remembered what I had already planned to do (the RSM had given us a hint that we should salute the board when we entered). I saluted him saying “afternoon sir”, he replied with a smile “afternoon, sit down”. When I was entering, he was already telling me to sit down (There was this story of a girl who faced the board in the previous exercise, entering the room and sitting down when in fact no one had asked her to! She was sent out immediately). Manners Maketh Man… Again, the board president asked me to sit down, I obeyed. A Major among the board asked if I was a soldier, I told him I wasn’t. Another one asked me about my degree. As I was entering the room initially, the board secretary was reading my details to the hearing of everyone. Also, my credentials were distributed across the room. It was in that room that I learnt that my score in the aptitude test was 62%. Like I said earlier, the board president asked me when I barbed my hair and also commended it. Funny enough, I wasn’t quizzed anything about my course of study (I remember candidates checking Google and reading all sorts about their course of study in order not to be mute when probably asked by the board). The president told me I could leave. I stood up and thanked him.

We were 16 that faced the board. The single female that came was evicted on medical grounds. She was later recalled due to mix up in the medical results which later made the total number of candidates that faced the board in my state to be 17.

THE 3.2KM RACE, OBSTACLE CROSSING & GROUP CHALLENGE

The 3.2km race was slated for the following day, early in the morning. The female candidates were given a head start of about 10 minutes. The race was flagged off by the board president. I had already practiced this race back at home using the ADIDAS RUNNING application to track my distance. This coupled with various doubling up and down in the venue helped me a lot. As I watched candidates before me running as if it was a 50 meters race, I ignored the intimidation and maintained my own pace steadily. Those that completed the race within 18 minutes were placed in the FIRST BOX with 15 marks. I made this box to the glory of God (We were told earlier on that after scaling medicals, all activities were going to be awarded marks). Those in the SECOND BOX were given 12 marks, those in the THIRD, FOURTH and FIFTH BOXES were given 10, 7 and 5 marks respectively.

The obstacle crossing was a set of obstacles that the candidates were required to overcome in a particular way after we had been given demonstrations on how to complete them by one of the Physical Training Soldiers. We were shown the correct and wrong ways to complete all the obstacles, so getting it right was a matter of how well each candidate was able to remember the demos.

The group challenge was 3 different scenarios and objectives meant to be completed by the candidates after we had been grouped in 6’s. Correct execution without breaking the rules earned each candidate 5 marks.

After completing the group challenge, we went to submit out chest numbers and were dismissed. I stayed back till the following day. As I was leaving the screening venue, several thoughts rushed through my mind. .............. to be continued,

Source: Facebook.