Nigerian Army Recruitment: Important Things To Know Before Joining The Nigerian Army

Last updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 08:35 pm

One of our writers wrote on the fastest and surest ways to rank in the Nigerian Army but this time, we shall focus on the requirements or better still what it takes to join the Nigerian Army. For those who wish to build a career in the military, this would help you be aware of what to expect before the recruitment form for the Nigerian Army becomes available.

You should be aware that the Nigerian Army Direct Short Service is mostly open to graduates, that is, bachelor degree holders while the Short Service Combatant is mostly for those with only secondary school certificate. Also, the ranking system in the Nigerian Army is divided into two, that is, commissioned and non-commissioned officers. You can read more on the ranks in the Nigerian Army HERE. There are also some things you need know about those commissioned into the Nigerian Army via the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

You might also want to know about the new salary structure of the Nigerian Army, that is, how much a Nigerian Soldier earns in a month. Just be aware that each soldier is paid according to their rank and years of service. Below are some important things to know before joining the Nigerian Army.

• Nigerian Army was birthed in 1960, a progeny of the Royal West African Frontier Force of the 1900s
• Nigerian Army is the Largest Component of the Nigerian Military
• Nigerian Army oversees all land and warfare operations in the land
• The headquarters of the Nigerian Army is in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria
• The motto of the Nigerian Army is “Victory Is From God Alone”
• The current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai
• The language of the Nigerian Army is Hausa
• You must be physically, mentally and emotionally sound before you can join the Nigerian Army
• You must be of Nigerian origin by birth. What this means is that you must be born in Nigeria to Nigerian parents. If you’re from another country or you’re a Nigerian by naturalization (and not by birth), then you are not qualified to join the Nigerian Army
• You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. If you are not yet up to 18 years old, you will have to wait a bit longer. Nigerian Army recruitment exercise is a yearly exercise for both DSSC and SSC
• You must not be convicted of any criminal offence
• The military training lasts for 6 months or more and it is very intensive.