The Nigerian Army has fixed November 14 for the conduct of its pre-selection examination for prospective recruits seeking enlistment into the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) and the Short Service Combatant commission (SSC), Peoples Gazette can report.

A document seen by the Gazette showed that the computer-based suitability test, which was earlier scheduled for October 31, was deferred due to imposition of curfew in many parts of the country, in the wake of the nationwide protests against police brutality.

All concerned army units were directed by the department of military secretary to provide security and support staff at the designated examination centres on the rescheduled date.

The Gazette gathered that the allotted exam centres are spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Asaba, Calabar, Enugu, Gombe, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Sokoto and Yola.

The SSC provides opportunity for civilians and serving military personnel with degree certificates to assume the officers rank of the Nigerian Army as ‘Combatant’.

An explainer on the army website notes that successful candidates of the SSC “are commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant” after nine months of intensive military training.

The DSSC, on the other hand, also provides an avenue for the enlistment of military and civilian degree holders who are professionals in specified fields.

Successful candidates are commissioned as lieutenant after six months of intensive military training.