Army releases shortlist for 2027 short service combatant course
- The Nigerian Army has published the names of candidates shortlisted for the Short Service Combatant Commission Course 50/2027.
- Shortlisted candidates must report to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Ribadu Campus in Kaduna, from 23 November 2026.
- The Army says the selection exercise runs to 11 December and the entire process is free of charge.
The Nigerian Army has released the list of candidates shortlisted for its Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC) Course 50/2027 Selection Board, according to an announcement on its official X account on Thursday.
Applicants who applied between mid-August and 17 October 2026 can now check the recruitment portal, nashortservice.army.mil.ng, to see whether their names appear on the list.
Those shortlisted are to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Ribadu Campus (Old Site), in Kaduna State from 23 November 2026. The selection exercise is scheduled to run until 11 December 2026.
For young Nigerians hoping to build a career in uniform, this is the stage where paperwork, fitness and nerve are tested. The army says the programme is open to both civilians and serving military personnel.
What candidates should bring
The Army advised shortlisted candidates to come with original copies of everything they submitted. That includes educational certificates, birth or age declaration documents, a state of origin certificate, NIN and BVN slips, and properly signed photo-slips and guarantor forms.
Candidates should also prepare for the medical, physical and interview stages of the board.
The SSCC programme offers places in the Combat Arms, which are Infantry and Armour, and the Combat Support Arms, made up of Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Intelligence. According to the Army, those who complete training are typically commissioned as Second Lieutenants on a 15-year short service commission.
The Army again warned applicants to ignore unofficial websites, agents or anyone asking for money for recruitment services. It said every stage of the process is free.
Candidates and the public were directed to rely only on the official portal, nashortservice.army.mil.ng, for accurate information.
What happens next: Shortlisted candidates have just over two weeks to gather their original documents and travel to Kaduna before screening begins on 23 November. Anyone who applied in the August to October window but has not checked the portal should do so now, and should treat any request for payment as a scam.
