The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of online applications for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2026, inviting qualified Nigerians to enlist as commissioned officers across various corps and services.
According to an official notice issued by Army Headquarters, Department of Military Secretary, the DSSC programme is open to both civilians and serving military personnel, although only serving personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the services of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be considered.
Full Detail:
DIRECT SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION COURSE 29/2026
Applications are invited from eligible Nigerians for commission into the Nigerian Army (NA) as Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) officers. The DSSC is open to both civilians and serving military personnel. Only serving military personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces shall be considered.
CORPS AND SERVICES
Applications should be into any of the following Corps and Services of the NA:
a. Nigerian Army Engineers
Applicants must possess a minimum of BSc (Engr), BEng (Second Class Upper) or HND (Upper Credit) in any of the following areas:
Land Surveyor, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Building Engineering Technology, Estate Management, Civil Engineering, GIS/Survey. Such academic fields must be registered with the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) or regulating professional bodies.
b. Nigerian Army Signals
Applicants must possess a minimum of BSc, BTech, BEng (Second Class Upper) or HND (Upper Credit) in any of the following areas: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cyber Security, Software Development, Software Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Network Designer and Engineering, UAV Pilot, Geographic Information Systems Engineering, Microwave Engineering, Database Management Engineering and Administration, Project Manager Engineering and System Control Engineering, Satellite Communication Engineering.
c. Nigerian Army Medical Corps
All applicants for the Medical Corps are expected to present proof of registration with their professional regulatory bodies and current practicing license. Other requirements are as follows:
(1) Medical Consultants of Various Disciplines
Applicants would belong to fields of specialization such as General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Anaesthesia, Neuro-Surgery, Cardiothoracic, ENT Surgery, Physicians (Cardiologists, Endocrinologist, Nephrologists and Neurologists), Ophthalmologists as well as Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, Paediatricians and Family Medicine Physicians. Applicants must also satisfy the following criteria:
(a) Must be Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or equivalent Postgraduate Medical College.
(b) Must be not more than 40 years of age by 30 Mar 2026.
(c) Must have full registration of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for the undergraduate and additional qualification registration as appropriate.
(d) Must have current MDCN license to practice as a specialist.
(2) Medical Doctors (Non-Consultants)
Applicants must possess Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Dental Surgery for medical doctors and dental surgeons respectively and must be fully registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and possess a current practicing license.
(3) Nurses
Applicants must possess a minimum of BSc (Second Class Lower) qualifications or Nephrology or they must be in one of the following categories: Orthopaedic, Anaesthetist, Registered or Psychiatric Nurses (with BSc Second Class Lower Degree) fully registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
(4) Nursing
Applicants must possess BSc Nursing and must be fully registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
(5) Professionals Allied to Medicine
Applicants must possess a minimum of Second Class Lower Degree in either Speech Therapy, Optometrists, Environmental Health Technology, Dental Technologist, Medical Laboratory Science, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Dental Therapist.
(6) Pharmacists
Applicants must possess Bachelor of Pharmacy and must be fully registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria.
d. Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Applicants must possess a minimum of BEng, BSc (Engr) (Second Class Upper) or HND (Upper Credit) in any of the following areas: Automotive, Electronics, Mechatronics, Systems, Weapon and Marine Engineering, Mechanical, Industrial Production Engineering, Marine Architecture, Material Science. Such academic fields must be registered with the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
a. Be a Nigerian as defined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
b. Be male or female between the ages of 20 and 32 years by 30 Mar 2026. Medical consultants could be between 25 – 40 years of age by 30 Mar 2026.
c. Be medically, mentally and physically fit according to NA standards.
d. Be recommended and attested to his/her good character by at least 2 recognizable referees who are of local government chairman/secretary or an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent or Assistant Commissioner of Police and above who must hail from the applicant’s state of origin. Passport photographs of referees must be affixed to the letter of attestation.
e. Applicants must submit a letter of Attestation from their former institution.
f. Measure in height at least 1.68 m (for males) and 1.65 m (for females).
g. Must not have been convicted by any court of law. Military personnel applying must be free from any disciplinary case and endorsed by the applicant’s Commanding Officer.
h. Possess at least a first degree with not less than Second Class Upper Division or HND (where applicable) of not less than Upper Credit from any accredited institution of learning.
i. Possess valid birth certificate endorsed by the National Population Commission, Hospital or Local Government Council or age declaration.
j. Possess a valid state of origin certificate.
k. Applicants must possess NYSC discharge certificate or valid exemption certificate as appropriate.
l.
Graduates with professional qualifications must be duly registered by the relevant regulating bodies recognized by Nigerian Laws at the commencement of cadet training.
m.
Only Post-secondary academic credentials obtained from 2014 to date will be considered.
n.
Applicants must present valid contact addresses and telephone numbers of parents/guardians and Next of Kin as appropriate.
o.
Candidates must not have body inscriptions or tattoos.
p.
Candidates must tender original copies of educational certificates (primary to Post-secondary).
q.
Service personnel must present valid military identity cards and letter of recommendation by their Commanding Officers/Commanders. They must also present valid identity of Service sponsorship to tertiary academic institutions (where applicable). Additionally, they must have served for a period of not less than 5 years.
r.
Candidates must not belong to any cult/society/fraternity.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
a. The DSSC will be granted for a total of 15 years, first initial period of 8 years, renewable yearly for another period of 7 years. Direct Regular Commission (DRC) may be granted on conversion after 3 years as a commissioned officer. Other service conditions include the following:
b. The DSSC officers shall be on probation for the first 3 years of service.
c. Conversion to DRC is not automatic but based on application by eligible commissioned officer. It is however based on availability of vacancy and other criteria that are laid down from time to time.
d. All graduating officer cadets must sign acceptance of the terms and conditions governing the DSSC before they are granted commission into the NA.
e. The reckonable period of service for civilians who become commissioned officers will be based on the date of commencement of cadet training while that of military personnel applicants would be date of enlistment.
f. Medical Consultants on successful completion of military training shall be granted the rank of Major with seniority effective from date of commission. Medical doctors will be granted 4 years seniority on the rank of Lieutenant.
g. Officer cadets who successfully complete the military training shall be granted the rank of Lieutenant (except for medical consultants and doctors) with seniority effective from date of commission.
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Applications are to be made online free of charge from 9 January to 6 February 2026.
a. How to apply:
(1) Go online and visit NA webpage at http://recruitment.army.mil.ng and choose DSSC option from the page.
(2) You will be redirected to the page where you can read the qualification criteria for the ongoing DSSC course.
(3) Click on the “Apply Now” button for the DSSC as per your qualification and Corps of choice.
(4) At the prompt, you will be required to select if you are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Choose the appropriate option and proceed.
(5) If you do not have an account, click on “Sign Up” (a verification will be sent to your email) or enter your login details and login.
(6) Fill out the form and ensure all required documents listed below are uploaded:
(a) Passport photograph.
(b) Educational certificates.
(c) Evidence of membership of any professional body.
(d) Certificate of state of origin.
(e) Birth certificate or age declaration.
(f) NIN/BVN.
b. Print Out:
Applicants must print out their online generated slip or card on completion of their application. The first page is to be signed by the Registrar/Clerk of Law while the second page is to be signed by the applicant’s Local Government Chairman/Secretary or any military officer of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent and above who hails from applicant’s state of origin.
Successful candidates would present their printed application forms (slips or card), duly completed guarantors form, attestation form etc at the Selection Board during interview.
CLOSING DATE
6.
All applications must be submitted online not later than 6 February 2026.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES
7.
For further enquiries, please call 08179286924 or 08109095294 between 0800 – 1800 hours (8am – 6pm) daily.
Signed
Army Headquarters
Department of Military Secretary
Mambilla Barracks
Asokoro – Abuja
