The Nigerian Army has officially opened applications for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2026, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for commissioning as officers in specialised corps of the force.
The announcement was made by the Department of Military Secretary, Nigerian Army, through an official recruitment notice issued from Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, and circulated on the Army’s verified recruitment platforms. According to the notice, the application process is free of charge and will be conducted entirely online.
The DSSC scheme is open to both civilians and serving military personnel with relevant professional qualifications. Successful candidates will be commissioned into specialised corps where their expertise will support national defence and security operations.
The available corps include the Nigerian Army Engineers, Nigerian Army Signals, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and the Nigerian Army Education Corps.
The Army stated that applicants must be Nigerians by birth, medically, mentally and physically fit, and must meet stipulated academic, age and professional requirements. Generally, applicants must be between 20 and 32 years by March 30, 2026, while medical consultants may be up to 40 years.
Candidates are also required to possess a minimum of Second Class Upper degree or HND Upper Credit, valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, certificate of state of origin, birth certificate or age declaration, and registration with relevant professional bodies where applicable.
STEP-BY-STEP METHOD OF APPLICATION
The Nigerian Army outlined the following procedure for interested applicants:
* Visit the official recruitment portal at http://recruitment.army.mil.ng.
* Select the DSSC option from the homepage.
* Carefully read the qualification criteria for the available DSSC corps.
* Click on the “Apply Now” button corresponding to your qualification and corps of choice.
* Indicate whether you are a civilian or serving/previously served military personnel and proceed accordingly.
* Create an account by clicking “Sign Up” (a verification link will be sent to your email), or log in if you already have an account.
* Complete the online application form and upload all required documents, including:
Passport photograph
Educational certificates
Evidence of professional body membership
Certificate of state of origin
Birth certificate or age declaration
National Identification Number (NIN) or Bank Verification Number (BVN)
* Review and submit the application, then print the confirmation slip for reference.
The Army emphasized that only applications submitted online within the stipulated timeframe will be considered. The application portal opens on January 7, 2026, and closes on February 4, 2026.
Under the DSSC scheme, officers will initially serve for 15 years, with conversion to Direct Regular Commission subject to eligibility and approval.
Successful candidates who complete military training will be commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant, while medical consultants will be commissioned as Majors, in line with existing regulations.
For further enquiries, the Nigerian Army advised applicants to contact its recruitment help lines on 08179269294 or 08109959294 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily.
The Army urged qualified Nigerians with the required skills and professional background to take advantage of the opportunity to serve the nation, warning that the recruitment exercise is free and that applicants should avoid fraudsters claiming to offer assistance for a fee.
