The Nigerian Army invites eligible Nigerians to apply for commission into the Nigerian Army (NA) as Short Service Combatant (SSC) Commission officers. This opportunity is open to both civilians and serving military personnel. Notably, only serving military personnel sponsored by any Armed Forces service branch will be considered. After completing their training and commissioning, SSC officers will serve in the Combat Arms (Infantry and Armour Corps) and Combat Support Arms (Artillery, Engineers, Signals, and Intelligence Corps) of the Nigerian Army.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Be a Nigerian citizen by birth as defined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
- Age: Be between the ages of 23 and 27 by January 2025.
- Fitness: Be medically, mentally, and physically fit according to Nigerian Army standards.
- Character: Be recommended by at least two recognizable referees, either a Local Government Chairman/Secretary or an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel (or equivalent) or an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the applicant's state of origin. Referees’ passport photographs must be attached to the attestation letter.
- Educational Qualification: Possess at least a first degree with not less than a Second Class Lower Division or an HND with not less than Lower Credit in arts, sciences, or humanities from an accredited institution. The course of study must be accredited at the time of study.
- Height: Be at least 1.68m tall for males and 1.65m for females.
- Conduct: Must not have been convicted by any court of law or have any disciplinary case if serving military personnel, with endorsement by the Commanding Officer/Commander.
- Other Requirements: Valid birth certificate, state of origin certificate, NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, and valid post-secondary academic credentials obtained from 2014 onward. Candidates must also present valid contact addresses and telephone numbers of parents/guardians and next of kin.
Conditions of Service
- Duration: SSC is granted for 15 years, with 10 years on the active list (initial bonding period), renewable for a period not exceeding 5 years. No extension will be granted beyond the fifteenth year except on conversion to regular combatant commission where applicable.
- Commissioning Rank: Officer cadets who successfully complete military training will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants, effective from the commencement of cadet training.
- Conversion: SSC officers may apply to convert to a Regular Combatant Commission based on available vacancies and other criteria.
