Nigerian Air Force Recruitment 2026: BMTC Now Open

Update (8 September 2026): NAF 2026 recruitment is open. The Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) window runs 3 September – 14 October 2026 at nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng. Non-Tradesmen/Women must be 18–22; Tradesmen/Women 18–25. The Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) window is closed.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recruits through two main routes: the Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) for school leavers who want to enlist as Airmen and Airwomen, and the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) for graduates who want to be commissioned officers. Applications are free and run through nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng. BMTC registration is open now, 3 September – 14 October 2026; DSSC is closed. Here is how each route works and what you need ready to apply.

Which NAF recruitment route is right for you?

Pick the route that matches your highest qualification. Applying to the wrong route is the most common reason candidates are screened out.

• BMTC (Airmen/Airwomen): For SSCE, OND, NCE or trade-certificate holders. Six months of basic military training before posting.
• DSSC (Direct Short Service Commission): For first-degree holders and professionals. Six months of officer training, then commission as Flying Officer.

What is the current NAF recruitment status?

BMTC is open as of 8 September 2026 — the portal shows "Exercise is open — Apply Now" for Recruitment Exercise 2026, running 3 September – 14 October 2026. DSSC shows "Exercise is closed." Apply only at nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng or airforce.mil.ng — ignore any other site quoting different dates or a different exercise number.

BMTC 46/2025 final list: what selected candidates do next

This is the previous BMTC cycle, now closed — for the open 2026 window, see above. NAF published the list of successful BMTC 46/2025 candidates on 15 July 2026. Check your name on the updates page of the recruitment portal — the list and the joining instructions are posted there.

1. Report date and place: Sunday 19 July 2026, at the Nigerian Air Force Military Training Centre (MTC), NAF Base, Kaduna.
2. Bring originals and photocopies of your credentials: educational certificates, birth certificate, certificate of origin, and a valid means of identification.
3. Bring a valid WAEC or NECO scratch card matching the school certificate you submitted when you applied. NAF uses it to verify your result online during documentation, and it is the item candidates most often forget.
4. Read the joining instructions on the portal in full before you travel. They list the kit and personal items you must arrive with.

Training runs for six months at MTC Kaduna before enlistment and posting to a NAF base.

Candidates who were not selected wait for the next BMTC window. Nothing you pay anyone will change a final list.

What are the general NAF recruitment requirements?

1. Nigerian by birth.
2. Minimum height: 1.66 m for males, 1.63 m for females.
3. Medically and physically fit, in line with NAF medical standards.
4. No previous criminal conviction by a court of law.
5. Valid National Identification Number (NIN).

What are the BMTC age and education requirements?

Non-Tradesmen/Women (school leavers):

1. Age 18–22 at the closing date of the application window.
2. At least five credits including English and Maths in SSCE/NECO/GCE/NABTEB, in not more than two sittings.

Tradesmen/Women (OND, NCE, trade certificate holders):

1. Age 18–25. Applicants for assistant chaplain/imam and driver roles: 18–28.
2. At least a lower credit in ND/NCE, or a relevant trade certificate from an approved institution, plus two SSCE/NECO/GCE/NABTEB passes including a credit in English (max two sittings).
3. Drivers: two SSCE/NECO passes with a credit in English plus a valid trade test certificate.
4. Sportsmen/women: certificates and medals as evidence of professional experience.

What are the DSSC age and education requirements?

1. Age 20–32 at the closing date. Recent DSSC adverts have allowed medical consultants up to age 40; confirm the limit in the advert for the exercise you apply to.
2. First degree (minimum Second Class Lower) or HND (minimum Lower Credit) from a recognised institution.
3. Valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
4. Professional registration where the field requires it (e.g. MDCN for doctors, COREN for engineers).

How do you apply for Nigerian Air Force recruitment?

Apply through the official site only:

APPLY HERE

1. Open nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng in a browser.
2. Create an account with the email and phone number you check daily.
3. Pick BMTC or DSSC and the trade/branch you want.
4. Fill in personal, academic and next-of-kin details. Match every date to your certificates.
5. Upload scanned credentials, recent passport photo and NIN slip.
6. Submit and print your acknowledgement form and the other forms listed below.

Apply once. NAF disqualifies anyone who submits more than one application.

Documents to print after applying

• Local Government Indigeneship Form.
• Attestation Form, signed by a military officer or LGA chairman.
• Parent/Guardian Consent Form.
• Acknowledgement Form.

The Attestation Form must include a passport photo of you, plus a photocopy of the signee’s driver’s licence, international passport or national ID. The signee also signs the back of your passport photo.

What are the NAF recruitment stages?

1. Online application through the NAF portal.
2. Shortlist publication on the same portal.
3. Zonal General Aptitude Test for shortlisted candidates.
4. Selection interview, medical and physical assessment.
5. Final list and reporting to training depots.

NAF recruitment fraud warning

NAF recruitment is free at every stage. No payment, no “facilitator”, no shortcut. Anyone asking for money for forms, exam venues, shortlisting or postings is a fraudster.

For test centres by state, see our NAF Recruitment Test Locations guide.