The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of applications for its Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2026, with the recruitment portal opening on January 7, 2026.
The announcement was made on Tuesday via the Army’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The recruitment, which targets qualified professionals for officer roles, will run entirely online, is free of charge, and will close on February 4, 2026.
According to the Army, the DSSC programme is open to both civilians and serving military personnel with relevant academic and professional qualifications, and is designed to strengthen the officer cadre with specialised skills across operational, technical and support services.
“Applications are invited from eligible Nigerians for commission into the Nigerian Army as Direct Short Service Commission officers. The DSSC is open to both civilians and serving military personnel,” the Army stated.
It added that serving personnel must have been formally sponsored to civil institutions by the Armed Forces, underscoring the structured and selective nature of the process.
Applicants must:
- Be Nigerian citizens aged 20–32 years by March 30, 2026 (medical consultants up to 40 years)
- Be medically, mentally and physically fit
- Hold at least a Second Class Upper degree or Upper Credit HND
- Have completed NYSC or possess a valid exemption
- Meet minimum height requirements of 1.68m (male) and 1.65m (female)
- Have no criminal record, tattoos or bodily inscriptions
- Possess valid birth and state-of-origin certificates
Available Corps
The recruitment covers selected professional corps, including:
- Nigerian Army Engineers – Engineering, architecture, surveying, estate management and related disciplines, with professional registration required.
- Nigerian Army Signals – ICT, engineering, cybersecurity, telecommunications, software development and related fields.
- Nigerian Army Medical Corps – Medical and dental consultants, doctors and specialists with valid professional licences and registrations.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply online via recruitment.army.mil.ng, select the DSSC option, choose their relevant corps and complete the application form.
Applicants are required to upload key documents, including academic certificates, professional licences (where applicable), birth certificate, state-of-origin certificate, passport photograph, and NIN or BVN.
The recruitment follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency in November 2025, which directed expanded recruitment across the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Recent efforts include new intakes by the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force DSSC interviews scheduled for January 2026, and the graduation of over 7,000 forest guards, reflecting intensified security reinforcement nationwide.
