The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of applications for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2026, offering qualified Nigerians the opportunity to be commissioned as officers in specialist corps and services.
The recruitment exercise, which is free of charge, is open to both civilians and serving military personnel who meet the prescribed requirements. This was disclosed in an official notice by the Nigerian Army, advising interested applicants to apply only through its authorised recruitment portal.
The DSSC is designed to recruit professionals with specialised qualifications to fill technical and professional roles within the Nigerian Army. Successful candidates will undergo military training and, upon completion, be commissioned as officers for a fixed term, with the possibility of conversion to Regular Commission based on performance and service requirements.
Available corps and services include the Nigerian Army Engineers, Signals, Medical Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Education Corps, Supply and Transport Corps, Ordnance Corps, and Medical Services, covering doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
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To be eligible for the DSSC recruitment, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1) Be a Nigerian citizen by birth.
2) Be of good character and recommended by at least two referees.
3) Be medically, mentally, and physically fit in line with Nigerian Army standards.
4) Be between 20 and 32 years of age by March 30, 2026, except medical consultants who may be up to 40 years.
5) Possess a minimum of a First Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) from a recognised institution.
6) Hold valid professional registration with relevant bodies where applicable.
7) Possess a valid birth certificate or age declaration.
8) Present a certificate of state of origin.
9) Possess valid National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).
10) Have no criminal record and must not have been convicted by any court of law.
11) Not belong to any cult or secret society.
12) Meet the minimum height requirement of 1.68 metres for males and 1.65 metres for females.
13) Serving military personnel must be free from disciplinary cases and endorsed by their Commanding Officers.
Under the conditions of service, the DSSC is granted for a period of 15 years, with officers placed on probation for the first three years.
Conversion to Regular Commission is not automatic, while rank placement after training will depend on corps and qualifications.
Applications open on January 7, 2026, and will close on February 4, 2026. Interested and qualified candidates are to apply online through the Nigerian Army recruitment portal at recruitment.army.mil.ng and print the acknowledgment slip after submission.
The Nigerian Army reiterated that the DSSC application is completely free and warned applicants to avoid agents, middlemen, or any individual demanding payment, describing such persons as fraudsters.