The Nigerian Army has officially announced the opening of applications for the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSC) Course 49/2026. According to the Army authorities, eligible Nigerians are invited to apply for commission as officers through the SSC program. The application is open to both civilians and serving military personnel who meet the required qualifications.
In a statement released by the Nigerian Army, the recruitment exercise is aimed at strengthening the military’s combat readiness and providing opportunities for qualified Nigerians to serve their country. “Applications are invited from eligible Nigerians for commission into the Nigerian Army as Short Service Combatant Commission officers,” the statement read.
The Army outlined that interested applicants must be citizens of Nigeria by birth and aged between 23 and 27 years by January 31, 2026. All candidates must be medically, mentally, and physically fit. The Army also noted that every applicant must be recommended by at least two recognized referees, who could be a Local Government Chairman or Secretary, an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or its equivalent, or an Assistant Commissioner of Police and above.
Applicants are also expected to submit a letter of attestation from their former institutions. Minimum height requirements are 1.68 meters for males and 1.65 meters for females. The Army emphasized that no candidate should have been convicted by any court of law or have any pending case. Serving military personnel must be recommended by their Commanding Officer or Commander.
Educationally, candidates must possess at least a first degree with not less than Second Class Lower Division or an HND with Lower Credit in Arts, Sciences, or Humanities from an accredited institution. Only tertiary academic credentials obtained from 2017 to date will be accepted.
Applicants must have valid birth and state of origin certificates and present an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, except serving military personnel. The Army further warned that “candidates must not have any body inscriptions or tattoos and must not belong to any cult, secret society, or fraternity.”
Applications are to be made online free of charge from Thursday, October 9, 2025, to Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Interested Nigerians should visit the official recruitment portal at recruitment.army.mil.ng and select the SSC option to apply.