MrSuama:
OK sir. Sleep well. I can imagine the level of fulfilment you are feeling now. God is with you.

nnesochim:
Pls friends, i need help, after my application some months ago, i downloaded and saved all my online forms but i cant seem to find one of them now,i went to the website but cant see where to login and assess them, please i need a link where to get them,thanks alot.

MartialArt2:
Thanks bro

lovinggood:
Please someone should come to my resue ......advice is urgently needed.
I was told by a friend that my name was among the successful candidates for the DSSC interview scheduled today yesterday.since then, i have been on the run to sign all necessary documents but the qualms or problem am having is that am still in ph hoping to get a flight to abuja since there is no direct flight going to jigawa or even kano state at present. Please do guyz think i will meet up the time frame which is 6pm today?
Please don't mind the message am just writing not even tinking straight as it is now ..........

obbasiasa:
can I take the full size photograph with suit there?

nnesochim:
Hi friends, i am sorry for late updates,i was opportuned to stay at NDA old site till the selection board interview. My experiences are unforgeteable. Eveyday came with uncertainties especially if any result is to be announced.Right from the credentials screening,some states have lost almost half of them,the examination also led to the withdrawal of some candidates also but the highest exercise that affected many states was that of medicals......even after the medical review that took many days.......a good number of candidates were asked to go. I wasnt close enough to other candidates but some of the cases that led to withdrawal include: flat foot, high/low BMI, high or low blood pressure,tattoo,bad set of teeths,visual issues,any case of scar or operation,any trace of drug in your urine or blood,hepatitis,HIV AND Psychological cases.The experience is enjoyable and also painful, the pain of sitting on tarred parade ground from morning to night except when asked to go to the mess or during other exercises is so much especially on sunny days.Some states were just left with 3, some 4 and 5 candidates while some were left with 12.14 15 and candidates after the medicals. Nobody was evicted after the 3.2km race but those who couldnt make either the 1st,2nd or 3rd cage were told that they had zero in race and had the choice of either going or staying.All the cages had their marks.I left NDA very early in the morning having faced the selection board interview around 7pm the previous day.All we need here is your prayers,joining the armed forces is not a do-or-die affair,if i get it i will thank God,if i dont i will still thank God because he knows the best.Bye for now.

nnesochim:
Hi friends, i am sorry for late updates,i was opportuned to stay at NDA old site till the selection board interview. My experiences are unforgeteable. Eveyday came with uncertainties especially if any result is to be announced.Right from the credentials screening,some states have lost almost half of them,the examination also led to the withdrawal of some candidates also but the highest exercise that affected many states was that of medicals......even after the medical review that took many days.......a good number of candidates were asked to go. I wasnt close enough to other candidates but some of the cases that led to withdrawal include: flat foot, high/low BMI, high or low blood pressure,tattoo,bad set of teeths,visual issues,any case of scar or operation,any trace of drug in your urine or blood,hepatitis,HIV AND Psychological cases.The experience is enjoyable and also painful, the pain of sitting on tarred parade ground from morning to night except when asked to go to the mess or during other exercises is so much especially on sunny days.Some states were just left with 3, some 4 and 5 candidates while some were left with 12.14 15 and candidates after the medicals. Nobody was evicted after the 3.2km race but those who couldnt make either the 1st,2nd or 3rd cage were told that they had zero in race and had the choice of either going or staying.All the cages had their marks.I left NDA very early in the morning having faced the selection board interview around 7pm the previous day.All we need here is your prayers,joining the armed forces is not a do-or-die affair,if i get it i will thank God,if i dont i will still thank God because he knows the best.Bye for now.

teeshawt:


jst as he has outlined everything they went through at kd,we at jigawa also went through the same process,only that those army were not strict with us[b],we never for once while in camp sat on the floor under the sun,instead they will take us inside a hall with ac and address us[/b]...then no one was dropped until medical results was announced,
then those that scaled through medicals were allowed to run the 3.2km race,obstacle crossing,20 sit up,30 push up,vertical rope climbing in which all these has marks allocated for them, afterwards selection board...
it was wonderful being there .....

odimbannamdi:
My EXPERIENCE AT THE ARMY SSC COURSE 44 SCREENING IN NDA OLD SITE, KADUNA

I reported at Kaduna for the screening by exactly 3:30pm on the 5th of August. Only 17 people showed up for the screening from my state (Abia State): 15 on the first day, and another 2 a few days later.

A semi-apron-like blue tag containing a 2 lettered abbreviation of your state and number was issued to every candidate, to be won all through the screening period (mine was AB08). Officially, we were to be known and regarded by this tag number. You would hear stuffs like “AB08, how far na? GB14, old boy I dey o” At some point, we all forgot our names. Lol. Also, it is this number you would send to your sponsors for that purpose

An adhoc screening board made up of a Major General (the president of the board), 3 Colonels, 3 Lieutenant Colonels (the board secretary was one of them), 3 Captains (the board Admin Officer was one of them) and 3 Lieutenants.

The first screening stage was vetting of candidates’ credentials to ascertain their authenticity and whether we would still be below the required maximum age of 29 by October. A Lt. Col. (the C.O. of 1div Hospital at NDA new site) screened for my state and he was very thorough. I noticed that the Army even prefers you to be younger than the minimum required age.

The next screening stage was writing an aptitude test. Candidates were divided into 3 groups. 1st group wrote at the hall just adjacent the parade ground. 2nd group wrote at the Cadet mess while the 3rd group (which included my state) wrote at the staff school, (one Professor Yahaya or so hall)

The test comprised of 4 sections:

- An essay (WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN THE NIGERIAN ARMY) of 500 – 1000words
- 10 English questions
- Around 7 Maths questions (can’t remember exactly now)
- Around 15 – 20 current affairs questions (cant remember exactly too)

The test was over in 2hours time. I gathered that the test was aimed at gauging our communicative ability. Some candidates were evicted based on the result of this test. No one was evicted from my state though

The next screening stage was the “almighty” medical and physical examination. As a result of the mammoth crowd and many tests we were supposed to undergo, we were shared into various groups. My state and some other states first went to the Medical Reception Station (MRS) for Xray. The next day, some of us went to 1div hospital, new NDA site, for blood tests, physical, dental and optical examination, checking of Blood pressure and BMI.

Considering the significance of this stage to a candidate’s final selection, I will try explain each test further

Physical examination: Here, we were stripped naked, asked to stand straight with our hands placed at varying positions (this is to check if we have a bad posture such as kyphosis [hunched back] or lordosis) and our feet making a V-shape (to check for flat feet). The number of our testes was checked. We were then asked to grab our buttocks, bend down with our anus very visible and cough (this is to check if we have had pile before)

Blood and urine tests: Over 5mls of our blood was drawn and our urine taken in a sterile bottle. We were tested for diseases such Hepatitis B, HIV, Syphilis etc. I think our blood group and genotype were also checked

Blood Pressure reading: Being in a cool environment (such as an air-conditioned room), prior to checking your blood pressure, helps calm you down, consequently normalizing it. One Corporal Mike hinted us that the optimal reading is 120/90 or 110/80, while anything more than 140/90 is regarded as being high.

Body Mass Index (BMI): [/b]Our height and weight were measured, after taking off our shoes. The readings were used to determine our BMI. The full diameter of our chest during deep inhaling was also measured

[b]Eye examination: We were asked to read letters from an eye chart placed about 10meters and 0.5meter away from us with one of our eyes closed at each time. Next, we were asked to decipher letters printed in colour patterns. Both tests were used to detect if we have long or short-sightedness and Astigmatism

Dental Examination: The alignment, number and grip of our teeth were also checked

The medical and physical examinations took almost 5days to conclude. Any state that finishes its medicals proceeded to do the psychology tests.

During the Psychology tests, 2 Lieutenants shared a booklet containing questions that tried to figure out our history of stimulants/drugs usage. The questions were structured in a way that when you lie in the first question, you would have to keep lying to the end. LOL.

Alcohol usage kind of raised a controversy among candidates because almost every young man has, at one point or the other, taken a sip of the contents of the green bottle. But I observed that as long as your alcohol usage wasnt a source of worry to your loved ones or you haven’t suffered a challenge arising from it (of course, the questions asked us that), then it wasn’t enough to disqualify you.

However, other classes of stimulants used via smoking, inhaling, sniffing or injecting, I observed too, disqualified some candidates. I think they tested their urine for the presence of such stimulants, cant say exactly. We were further interviewed based on our answers
The results of the medical and psychology tests were announced together and candidates were consequently evicted.

I WAS EVICTED AT THIS STAGE TOO. I will talk about it soon

HOW RESULTS OF EACH SCREENING STAGE WAS ANNOUNCED

To a very great extent, the screening process was transparent.

Upon completion of each screening stage, the board members met and compiled the list of candidates who are “suspects of eviction”. All members of the board then arrive the parade ground to meet orderly but very anxious candidates.

Starting from Abia state, the board secretary calls out names of candidates who are made to immediately shout “Yes Sir!” with a leap and, along with their credentials, jogs to a part of the parade ground and sits on the ground.

Candidates who were flagged for eviction resulting from credentials screening were subjected to a review where their credentials were looked at again before final eviction.

The aptitude test stage did not need a review, of course. You don fail you don fail. No argument.

After the first set of medical and physical examinations, candidates were taken back to 1div hospital for review. Here, if you fell short of the accepted standard in any of the tests, apart from the blood and urine tests, you would be called in to be reviewed by the medical team.

Evictions resulting from the medical and psychological tests was, perhaps, the most touching and monumental. Lol. When the soldiers and officers were telling us that “medicals must drop over half of all of you. That one na dole”, we thought they were only envious of our would-be officer status.

The evening the results ought to have been announced, we waited for the board members till 10pm in the night. The secretary later came and told us that the results would be announced the next day. He instructed us to come to the parade ground with our bags the next morning.

The next morning, around 7am or later, all members of the board arrived the parade ground along with a public address system. There was a different kind of aura in the air. The atmosphere was so tensed.

Mounting the PAS, the board secretary started, “Candidates! Today, my problems will be reduced. Most of you will go back to your villages. The Nigerian Army does not compromise on health issues. If you hear your number, carry your kaya and run out. Is that clear!” Then he started

MY EVICTION
I was far from surprised when I heard my name. I saw it coming.

I was born with a flat feet, umbilical hernia (i.e. a painless prominent navel) and poor right eye vision. For as long as I can remember, distanced objects appear very blurry when viewed using only my right eye (with my left eye closed). I never thought it was something to worry about because I have perfect sight with my both eyes working.

All these were flagged during the medical tests and I was reviewed based on them again.

It was with a broken heart that I picked up my kaya and jogged to the drill shed to await further instructions.


Indeed, over half of the candidates were evicted based on medical and psychology grounds. In fact, Ogun state saw over 20 of its candidates sent packing, leaving behind just 4!

After calling out the names, the board members came to address us. A lucky few who were evicted for being overweight were called out and asked to go back and join up. Then the rest of us were individually called out and told the reasons for our eviction afterwhich our beloved tags were taken away from us.

As I left NDA gate, hot tears flowed down my cheeks. I was evicted for features my God created me with and not what I acquired. It was really painful.

But in everything, I give Him the glory because He knows the end from the beginning.

I will be dropping the fun part of life in NDA, the psyching from the officers and soldiers that made some candidates run away, the jobs we served and the pertinent lectures about the Army we got from Captain Abdullahi.

Stay tuned

GOD BLESS THE NIGERIAN ARMY! GOD BLESS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

odimbannamdi:
My EXPERIENCE AT THE ARMY SSC COURSE 44 SCREENING IN NDA OLD SITE, KADUNA

A detailed post indeed! Sorry about your eviction. Kudos for taking out time to put this piece together.

I wish you all the best in all your endeavour. You'd definitely fulfill your God - given purpose.

usmanshehuabubakar:
NL why the house so silent

MartialArt2:
patiently waiting for the final list

Ekawu:
Samobaba4u where are thou.

coolaustyne:

Ochala Julius; I sight u. D only man wey withstand German dose threat. Receiving his full dose and still looking cool.
Baba; abeg any news on the list?

Ekawu:
No news for now.

mangojuice:

abeg how many candidates may make the final list?

usmanshehuabubakar:
For DSSC candidate in the house. Pls how many push-ups and sit-ups were you guys asked to do, and under how many minute.

Dahveydson:
odimbannamdi, Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

Do you think if you had just the right eye defect, you would have scaled through? Basically what am asking is if one can be given a pass with an eye defect like yours...

odimbannamdi:


I wouldn't regard my condition as an "eye defect" coz i have seen a whole lot of other people who was born with the same condition either in the right or left eye and, just like me, have perfect vision with both eyes.

Yes, i think it was one of the major reasons for my eviction because a guy from my state has just that condition and he was evicted.

Dahveydson:


Sorry for the "eye defect" tag. I have same condition, looking at trying out next year.

Thanks for the response.

Ekawu:
Samobaba4u where are thou.

samobaba4u:

cool down guys. selected candidates are resuming by January. the list will be ready soon. so relax.

samobaba4u:

cool down guys. selected candidates are resuming by January. the list will be ready soon. so relax.