The Nigerian Army has opened applications for eligible Nigerians seeking commission as Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC) officers under Course 50/2027.
The recruitment is open to both civilians and serving military personnel who meet the prescribed qualifications. Successful candidates will undergo military training and, upon commissioning, serve in the Nigerian Army’s Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms.
The application window opens on Friday, August 14, 2026, and closes on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth and must be between 23 and 27 years old as of January 10, 2027.
- They must meet the Nigerian Army’s medical, mental and physical fitness standards and must be at least 1.68 metres tall for males and 1.65 metres for females.
- Academic applicants must possess at least a first degree with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division or an HND with at least Lower Credit in the arts, sciences or humanities.The qualification must have been obtained from an accredited university or higher institution, and only tertiary academic credentials obtained from 2018 to date will be considered.
- Civilian applicants must also possess a valid NYSC discharge certificate, while serving military personnel are required to present an NYSC exemption certificate.
- Applicants must provide a valid birth certificate or age declaration and a certificate of state of origin.
- They must not have been convicted by a court, belong to a cult or secret society, or have body inscriptions or tattoos. Candidates must also not have been dismissed or withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from military or paramilitary training institutions.
Applicants are required to apply online through the Nigerian Army’s official recruitment portal:
Additional Requirements
- Civilian applicants must provide letters of attestation from their degree-awarding institutions and must be recommended by at least two recognised referees who are either a Local Government Chairman or Secretary, or an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent, or an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
- The referees must hail from the applicant’s state of origin, and passport photographs must be attached to the attestation letter.
- Serving military personnel must have completed at least five years in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. They are required to provide valid military identity cards, letters of recommendation from their Commanding Officers or Commanders and valid letters of official sponsorship from their tertiary institutions.They must also declare their service status during the application process. The Army warned that failure to make the required declaration constitutes an offence and can lead to disqualification at any stage.
Where Selected Applicants Will Serve
Candidates who successfully complete the military training will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants.
The SSCC officers will serve in the Army’s Combat Arms, comprising the Infantry and Armour Corps, and Combat Support Arms, comprising the Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Intelligence Corps.
The Short Service Combatant Commission will run for 15 years. The first 10 years will constitute the initial bonding period on the active list, after which the commission may be renewed for a period of up to five years.
Officers may convert to a Regular Combatant Commission, but the Army said conversion is not automatic and will depend on available vacancies and other criteria in force at the time.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to apply online through the Nigerian Army’s official recruitment portal:
Applicants should select the SSCC option and choose the application option for SSCC Course 50/2027.
They will be required to indicate whether they are serving or have previously served in the Armed Forces before proceeding with the application.
Applicants must register with an email address, verify their email and create a password before completing the application form.
Required Documents
– Recent passport photograph
– Educational certificates for the qualification being presented
– Certificate of state of origin
– Birth certificate or age declaration
– NIN slip
– BVN slip
Applicants must carefully enter their information because inaccurate or incomplete applications can result in disqualification.
After completing the application, candidates must print their computer-generated photo-slip. The first page is to be signed by the Registrar of a Court of Law, while the second page must be signed by the applicant’s Local Government Chairman or Secretary, or by a military officer of Lieutenant Colonel rank or equivalent and above who comes from the applicant’s state of origin.
Successful candidates will be required to present their printed application documents, including the photo-slip, guarantors form and attestation form, at the Selection Board interview.
The application portal will be open from August 14 to October 17, 2026.
