Nigerian Army Publishes Shortlist for 2027 Short Service Combatant Commission Course
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ephraim Lilian Chidimma
The Nigerian Army has released the list of shortlisted candidates for the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC) Course 50/2027 Selection Board, directing successful applicants to check their recruitment status through its official recruitment portal.
The announcement was made on Thursday, November 5, 2026, through the Army's official X account, where applicants were advised to visit nashortservice.army.mil.ng to confirm whether they had been shortlisted and access further instructions concerning the selection exercise.
According to the Army, shortlisted candidates are expected to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna State, from Monday, November 23, 2026, for the selection exercise.
The exercise is scheduled to continue until December 11, 2026, during which candidates will undergo various screening activities to determine their suitability for commissioning into the Nigerian Army.
The Short Service Combatant Commission programme provides qualified Nigerian civilians and serving military personnel with an opportunity to become commissioned officers in the Army.
Successful candidates are trained for appointments in the Combat Arms, including Infantry and Armour, as well as Combat Support Arms such as Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Intelligence.
Upon successful completion of the required training, candidates are typically commissioned into the Nigerian Army with the rank of Second Lieutenant under a 15-year Short Service Commission.
Applicants who submitted their applications during the recruitment exercise, which ran from mid-August to October 17, 2026, have been urged to check the portal immediately to establish their shortlist status and familiarise themselves with the reporting requirements.
The Army also outlined the documents shortlisted candidates must present at the selection centre, stressing the importance of bringing original copies of all credentials submitted during the application process.
The required documents include educational certificates, birth certificates or age declarations, certificates of state of origin, National Identification Number (NIN) slips and Bank Verification Number (BVN) slips.
Candidates are also expected to present properly signed photo-slips and guarantor forms, alongside other relevant documents specified in their recruitment instructions.
The military authorities advised applicants to ensure that their documents are complete and properly arranged before reporting to the academy to avoid complications during the screening process.
As part of the selection exercise, shortlisted candidates should also prepare for medical examinations, physical fitness assessments and interviews. These stages are expected to assess candidates' physical condition, medical fitness and general suitability for military service.
The Army further reiterated its warning against recruitment fraud, cautioning applicants not to engage with unauthorised agents, intermediaries or individuals claiming to have special connections capable of influencing the recruitment process.
It emphasised that all stages of the Nigerian Army recruitment exercise are free of charge, warning candidates against making payments to anyone in exchange for assistance with shortlisting, screening or recruitment.
The Army urged applicants and members of the public to disregard information circulating on unofficial websites and social media platforms unless it can be verified through its authorised communication channels.
It maintained that the official recruitment portal, nashortservice.army.mil.ng, remains the recognised platform for checking shortlist information, accessing reporting instructions and obtaining updates concerning the SSCC Course 50/2027 Selection Board.
Shortlisted applicants have consequently been advised to begin preparations ahead of the November 23 reporting date and comply fully with the instructions issued by the Nigerian Army to ensure a smooth selection process.
