It had always been my dream to join the Nigerian Army since my NYSC days in 2013/14 at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo. It seemed the perfect career path where I could deploy my intelligence, wit, strength and patriotism to my country. So, it was with so much eagerness that I applied for the Army SSC recruitment the very day applications were declared open. Thereafter, I started praying to make the first shortlistment, at least

My joy knew no bounds on the 29th of July when I saw my name in The Punch newspaper among the 30 shortlisted candidates from each state expected to report to the NDA old site, Kaduna on the 5th of August. I could hardly sleep at night due to excitement. So my dream was finally coming through. I was finally going to become an officer with the Nigerian Army.

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 of origin 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 influential purposes

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 was set up.

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, so more attention was paid to the essay and english objective questions. Some candidates were evicted based on the result of this test.

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 to explain each test further

Physical examination: Here, we were stripped Unclad, 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): 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

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[/b]

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 psychological 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

Is this a novel or what?

LeoFish92:
Is this a novel or what?

Its not sir. I was at the Army SSC screen exercise in Kaduna 2weeks ago. So, thats just a bit of my experiences there

odimbannamdi:


Its not sir. I was at the Army SSC screen exercise in Kaduna 2weeks ago. So, thats just a bit of my experiences there

I chose to believe you simply because you Nnamdi, are my namesake

OP, u re destined for greater jobs, just dont lose focus...

all the best...

LeoFish92:

I chose to believe you simply because you Nnamdi, are my namesake

Lol...nwanne. Nice meeting you, my namesake. Your brother suffer for Kaduna oo

amuokuko:
OP, u re destined for greater jobs, just dont lose focus...

all the best...

Thanks for your kind words sir. It is well

Mods, kindly move this topic to frontpage so that more people can be enlightened on the screening process of the Nigerian Army

odimbannamdi:
Mods, kindly move this topic to frontpage so that more people can be enlightened on the screening process of the Nigerian Army

Bro, Just believe that better things lies ahead for you.
If I may ask, What's the difference between DSS and SSC?

Can one be disqualify because of dental issues like one missing a tooth

lalasticala, this is front page material.
eyah OP, i can relate to your plight. dont get worked up and feel disappointed with your condition for God knows best.
He will surely put smiles on your face soonest.
there was also a similar incident that happened to my friend in the recently concluded EFCC recruitment exercise at this same stage too(last stage) .during her medicals, she was also dropped because of her sight just as you explained.
this serves as a lesson and an insight for some of us who have in one way or the other given up on government recruitment exercise and always think these exercises is usually shrouded in connections and man know man syndrome.
God bless us all.

God bless the Nigeria Army

Op can u reapply?

Sorry about your eviction. God is preserving a better thing for you.

God bless the Nigerian Army

op better things are ahead, dont give up

I can totally relate with the op.
I was among the shortlisted candidates of the 65 regular course in 2013.
Went to kaduna for the screening, passed all the tests from certificate clearance to medicals.
Yet my name was unfortunately placed on the reserve list.
Probably cos I had no connection.
Mehn it hurt like sh*t then...but wetin man go do.

Good write up OP. The selection process appears largely transparent, I'm happy to know.

Kingzy4pep:
Bro, Just believe that better things lies ahead for you.
If I may ask, What's the difference between DSS and SSC?

Ssc means Short Service Combatant wwhile Dssc means Direct Short Service Commission. They are 2 of the 3 ways of joining the officers cadre of the Nigerian Army and, just like the "short" in their names imply, it is supposed to be for a short period of time (10years). However, as long as you ain't 35years yet, you can convert to the Regular version of your mode of entry on your 7th month of service and serve more than the 10years

Now to their differences:

Ssc requires you spend 9months for the normal training and another 1 month where you will undertake a counter-terrorism course, making it10months in all. As an SSc officer, you will be trained on command roles and upon passing out, you will be confered with "1 eye" (2nd Lieutenant) and be assignedd thirty six soldiers (a platoon) to command in a war zone to be battle tested. It will take u 3 years to become a Lieutenant, then subsequent promotion will take five years each, after passing a promotional exam. As an Ssc officer, you are very likely to reach the peak of the Army career such as becoming a GOC, COAS, CDS if you are intelligent.

Will talk about the Dssc later. At work now

pele

Wow, great experience. Nice write up. Pele @op, it's well. BTW, why not consider a career in writing or editing, u seem to have a knack for putting words together in a simple but clear manner. Me likey

odimbannamdi:


Ssc means Short Service Combatant wwhile Dssc means Direct Short Service Commission. They are 2 of the tthree ways of joining the officers cadre of the Nigerian Army and, just like the "short" in heir names imply, it is supposed to be for a short period of time (10years). However, as long as you ain't 35years yet, you can convert to the Regular version of your mode of entry on your 7Th month of service

Now to their differences:

Ssc requires you spend 9months for the normal training and another 1 month where you will undertake a counter-terrorism course, making it10months in all. As an SSc officer, you will be trained on command roles and upon passing out, you will be confered with "1 eye" (2nd Lieutenant) and be assignedd thirty six soldiers (a platoon) to command in a war zone to be battle tested. It will take u 3 years to become a Lieutenant, then subsequent promotion will take five years each, after passing a promotional exam. As an Ssc officer, you are very likely to reach the peak of the Army career such as becoming a GOC, COAS, CDS if you are intelligent.

Will talk about the Dssc later. At work now

Wow! This is so detailed. I'm getting interested.. But that part where I will be taken to war zone is scary o.

Waiting patiently for the continuation.

Kingzy4pep:
Wow! This is so detailed. I'm getting interested.. But that part where I will be taken to war zone is scary o.

Waiting patiently for the continuation.

Yea bro. It is so real. You almost can not escape the chance of engaging in battles. They told us korokoro. In fact, that was what made most candidates quit voluntarily. At some point, i became scared too, i must confess, so i began asking for God's perfect will to be done.

apatheticme:
Wow, great experience. Nice write up. Pele @op, it's well. BTW, why not consider a career in writing or editing, u seem to have a knack for putting words together in a simple but clear manner. Me likey

Thanks ma. I am really considering it.

potolistic:
I can totally relate with the op.
I was among the shortlisted candidates of the 65 regular course in 2013.
Went to kaduna for the screening, passed all the tests from certificate clearance to medicals.
Yet my name was unfortunately placed on the reserve list.
Probably cos I had no connection.
Mehn it hurt like sh*t then...but wetin man go do.

It is well bro

Too cumbersome jor, how I wish it's my cit311. ... I will be more happier

I've always wanted to join the Nigerian army


Maybe I'd register for dssc when I graduate


Can I know some facts about dssc?

Every disappointment is a blessing Bruh.... I see you doing better as a writer tho.

*Sigh*

odimbannamdi:


Yea bro. It is so real. You almost can not escape the chance of engaging in battles. They told us korokoro. In fact, that was what made most candidates quit voluntarily. At some point, i became scared too, i must confess, so i began asking for God's perfect will to be done.

Op, did you just say battle

Ba..... What?


*removes slipper *

*runsouttathread*

I can't die now

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW THIS POST TAKE HELP PEOPLE IN BORNO STATE ...

How many "ABOKII'S" in Nigerian Army can SPELL their surnames correctly talk more of writing an essay??



MODIFIED: (In BUHARI'S voice) Let's KWAANTINU deceiving ourself
Watching Nigeria on CARTOON NETWORK IN HD3

Dear Op,

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.