I so much love ur experience cos ave observed so many criteria of their screening for so long but I got more from ur story. That is my calling. Thanks bro

dvee2:
Great Nigerian. Unlike some losers, you didn't blame your eviction on some phony tales, but clearly acknowledge you rightly have those issues that led to your eviction. That is bravery. you will definitely succeed somewhere else.

Amen! thank you sir

claremont:


If you ever get the opportunity to visit the UK, you are eligible to apply to join the British Army. What you got evicted for by the Nigerian Army are things that do not matter in most Armies in developed countries i.e. UK, US, French. If the issues you have are identified during the recruitment phase into these Armies, you will be issued with Glasses to sort out your eyesight, you will also be issued with modified boots and trainers to sort out your flat feet. I think the Nigerian Army is not following medical best practice due to too many applicants for very few openings, so they have increased the medical clearance benchmark to weed out people on flimsy excuses. Good luck.

Genau...!

Kirinwa:


I don't wish to call you daft but deep down I feel you are. You not only exposed yourself but implicated some officers in your post.

I doubt the Nigerian army would congratulate you for this.

NB: I detest the part where you were stripped unclad and your anus was scrutinised as well as your blokkus.
*in Emmanuella's voice
This Uncle has small peepee. Heehehe.

Why would they discriminate against those with HiV? I think its hypocrisy if they don't check all the serving staff of the army cos some of them checking have it.

Unfortunately this is the only senseless post so far on this thread, this is one of the few exceptions that I have to read from the 1st to the last post of a thread, @ op nice one bro, you are such a fine and articulate writer, and to my quote, I think you are the one daft here for trying to ruin this lovely thread.

sunkyrazzy:
Now I'm getting more confused,can you shed more light on the three different methods of joining the army..

There are 4 different ways to join the Nigerian Army

1. Regular Commission: You will have to pass through NDA, spend 5 years and pass out as a second Lieutenant
2. SSC: This is the one i applied for and have highlighted already
3. DSSC: I have talked about this too
4. Executive Commission: This is the soldiers cadre, also known as the Other Cadre and they are referred to as NCOs (Non commissioned officers)

CaptainRahl:
yes please.

Your answer just ruin what's left of my day and hope

MrsExplorer:
This is really a great read and i learnt so much from it.

I hope you arent giving up or something. I don't know much about the military admission process but you could try Navy/Airforce. I also think that maybe you could write directly to the chief of army staff stating your faults but also stating your strengths and why you need to join the Nigerian Army(maybe i'm just being dumb here)


keep living life.
God would bless you!!

I have some questions though.

Your contribution is valid. I may consider writing to the COAS, if possible. You can always ask your question here tho

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 would have been better if you had reapplied. You'll even have an upper hand over new entrants since you've physically, psychologically and practically encountered and went through what most of them never even dreamt of.

I even envy you... But you gave up too soon!

mozele:


it would have been better if you had reapplied. You'll even have an upper hand over new entrants since you've physically, psychologically and practically encountered and went through what most of them never even dreamt of.

I even envy you... But you gave up too soon!

Who says I gave up too soon.
I reapplied in 2014 wrote the entrance exams, I was shortlisted again to face the armed forces selection board but I couldn't go cause i fell very ill(had a very severe case of pneumonia).
Applied this yr.... Unfortunately I wasn't shortlisted, i don't really know why cos I wrote very well even better than my previous attempts. Then I realized my future doesn't involve me in the armed forces...
So I've faced another field

claremont:


No, but you can join the British Army as a soldier (No qualifications needed), then transfer to an officer later in your career when you meet the residency and academic requirement. I think you would need a green card in order to join the US Army, except you speak Hausa/Yoruba/Igbo fluently and have lived in the US for at least 2 years prior to application. I'm not too conversant with the US Army recruitment requirements.

Thank you

potolistic:

Who says I gave up too soon.
I reapplied in 2014 wrote the entrance exams, I was shortlisted again to face the armed forces selection board but I couldn't go cause i fell very ill(had a very severe case of pneumonia).
Applied this yr.... Unfortunately I wasn't shortlisted, i don't really know why cos I wrote very well even better than my previous attempts. Then I realized my future doesn't involve me in the armed forces...
So I've faced another field

I'm really sorry for being so quick in judging you. However, I wish you the best in life.

And i pray you wax stronger in your endeavors.

mozele:


I'm really sorry for being so quick in judging you. However, I wish you the best in life.

And i pray you wax stronger in your endeavors.

Thanks bro... Pray u wax stronger in your hustle too

Nice Write up Op,You deserve the adulation and accolades you have recieved by way of your writeup.Don't know if there is any thing like writeup of the year,Yours will surely be a contender.Btw what's this thing with poor vision on the right eye,Presently experiencing it too as images appear blur to me when I close my left eye,But is almost perfect with both eyes open.Though I am using corrective glasses,and it is improving gradually.Wish you the best Op.Well done.

advocatebaba:
REMEMBER HE IS A FLAT FOOTER ND ALSO HAS VISION ISSUE. SO HE CANT B ADMITTED INTO NIGERIA MILITARY BE IT AIRFORCE, NAVY E.T.C. BT HE CAN STIL WORK WIT DEM AS SECURITY EXPERT, INTELLIGENCE, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, ONSA E.T.C.

I think those places mentioned by you are for DSSC.

I sight u AB08. Dat wz a complete fact.
SAY MUGABE!

Engineer123:

Bros you forget to mention captain Abdul AKA German dose. God bless Nigerian Army. It is fun to be part of the screening

Bnladan:
Capt. Abdullahi changed 2 smthn else after u guyz departed. Infact worse than "German dose".

Bross German Dose is even more friendly than Capt Abdulahi. He just changed it for everyone in just space of hours

IroIkenna:
I sight u AB08. Dat wz a complete fact.
SAY MUGABE!

MUGABE!!!

IroIkenna:

Bross German Dose is even more friendly than Capt Abdulahi. He just changed it for everyone in just space of hours

You mean am!!
Somebody also said Captain Abdullahi changed to something else immediately after the medicals.

IroIkenna:

Bross German Dose is even more friendly than Capt Abdulahi. He just changed it for everyone in just space of hours

I swear. I dnt knw wat will become of us wen we go back as cadets.

emerich:

Unfortunately this is the only senseless post so far on this thread, this is one of the few exceptions that I have to read from the 1st to the last post of a thread, @ op nice one bro, you are such a fine and articulate writer, and to my quote, I think you are the one daft here for trying to ruin this lovely thread.

Thanks sir

sholadoma:
My Brother, Thank God you are alive to tell this story.My only dream job is the Nigerian Army. was shortlisted in 2009. after the 11km race, 5 persons died. even persons certified medically fit.

Am Over the age now, will prepare my young son on this line if he so wishes. Career in the military is great. My father served and fought the Civil war. great memories.

Cheers ops

People died? I've been hearing this for sometime now how people die in training. How true is it?

Perfectdanny:


People died? I've been hearing this for sometime now how people die in training. How true is it?

lol.. bro, people actually die in training. With what i saw, heard and observed at NDA, i knew it was completely possible. Infact, officers brag about it

odimbannamdi:


lol.. bro, people actually die in training. With what i saw, heard and observed at NDA, i knew it was completely possible. Infact, officers brag about it

In as much as i'm forced to believe this, i can't imagine myself dying in training. Something even girls do and come out then i'll go and die?

I've asked around and people say colleagues do die in training. May i ask why, how, were they sick, had a previous surgery in a delicate place or village powers?

Thanks for replying me bro. STILL CAN'T BELIEVE

You don't have to feel bad about it ma'am. Fix an artificial tooth and you are good to go.
Make sure you get get yourself tested and certified fit before you think of facing the selection board. Goodluck

Baddchristy:

Your answer just ruin what's left of my day and hope

seighapaul:
@OP You have a very rear gift in writing. They way you put words, phrases and sentences is quite sensational. Not only that, your organization and characterizations is top notch. It was as if I was there on ground to witness it all.

It's unfortunate the Medicals cut short your quest but every single commenter on this thread know the military has lost a rear gem.

If you still have to zeal to serve your country, you could try other para-military agencies. We have a couple of top notch agencies that'll need your unique expertise.

RARE!!
RARE!!

OP where is the other part you promised?
IS DAH HOW YOU USE TO DO

You guys are seeing peace... is that clear? Lol

odimbannamdi:
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

Nice Write up Nnamdi, all you've said about NDA is true .
I was at the academy too till final board interview although it not my first experience, it the second, I was part of the SSC selection board candidates for course 42 2013 and I got to board also but couldn't make final list.
It a wonderful experience bro... Let just pray for the best... You can try again next year. who knows, you might get lucky... God has his way of doing things.
Stay bless

Mustiusman.... pls, do u v an idea y u weren't picked?

mustiusman:


Nice Write up Nnamdi, all you've said about NDA is true .
I was at the academy too till final board interview although it not my first experience, it the second, I was part of the SSC selection board candidates for course 42 2013 and I got to board also but couldn't make final list.
It a wonderful experience bro... Let just pray for the best... You can try again next year. who knows, you might get lucky... God has his way of doing things.
Stay bless

Thanks for your kind words, sir. I earnestly hope you make the final list this time around. All the best

sirmarry:
Mustiusman.... pls, do u v an idea y u weren't picked?

it was not my time I guess