The Nigerian Army has announced that applications for the Short Service Combatant Course 49/2026 will close at midnight on Tuesday, November 12.
The online application portal, which opened on October 9, has so far received tens of thousands of entries. According to Colonel Aminu Bello, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the number of valid submissions is expected to surpass last year’s 48,000 applications.
The Short Service Combatant Course provides an entry route for civilians into the military through an intensive 44-week training programme at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Jaji, Kaduna State. Successful candidates will be commissioned as lieutenants after completion. The course duration is nine years, with an optional three-year extension.
Applicants must be Nigerian citizens aged between 22 and 28, possess at least a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of a second-class lower division, and meet height requirements of 1.68 metres for men and 1.65 metres for women. Candidates must also be medically fit and have no criminal record.
The army aims to recruit 3,800 officers in this cycle, 400 more than last year, to strengthen operations in the northeast and northwest regions where troops continue to engage Boko Haram and bandit groups.
Colonel Bello said the recruitment process has been restructured to promote gender inclusion and national representation. Fifteen percent of available positions are reserved for women, while every senatorial district is guaranteed at least one candidate.
He also confirmed that the recruitment portal experienced a brief technical issue on November 3 due to heavy traffic but was restored within 12 hours.
Screening of applicants will begin on November 24 at 14 designated centres nationwide. The process will include document verification, medical tests, and physical fitness assessments. Candidates are advised to print their acknowledgement slips, which serve as their invitation for the screening exercise.
Colonel Bello reminded applicants to complete their submissions before the deadline, noting that there would be no extensions. He added that the official server clock would determine the closing time.
The army reiterated that the recruitment process is free and transparent, warning applicants against paying intermediaries or unauthorised persons.
Enquiries can be directed to the army’s official helplines: 0817 926 9294 and 0810 995 9294, available between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
Entry Requirements Summary:
Applicants must:
- Be Nigerian citizens by birth.
- Be between 23 and 27 years by January 9, 2026.
- Be medically and physically fit.
- Have a bachelor’s degree or HND (minimum of second-class lower or lower credit).
- Possess NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
- Have valid birth and state of origin certificates.
- Have no tattoos, cult affiliations, or disciplinary records.
- Present all original academic documents during screening.
Military personnel applying must declare their service status, hold a valid military ID, and have served a minimum of five years.
The Nigerian Army said the recruitment drive is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national security and maintain a professional, inclusive force.
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