Nigerian Air Force Recruitment: Portal Application Guide

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. The most recent windows were BMTC 46/2025 (registration 14 October – 25 November 2025) and DSSC 34/2025 (27 August – 7 October 2025). Here is how each route works and what you need ready when the next cycle opens.

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?

No application window is open as of July 2026. The last airmen intake, BMTC 46/2025, closed registration on 25 November 2025; its Zonal General Aptitude Test held in December 2025 (over 20,000 candidates across 15 centres) and the Selection Board Interviews ran at NAF Base Kaduna from 27 April to 13 June 2026, so that cycle is at the final-list stage. DSSC 34/2025 closed on 7 October 2025 and is also in selection. NAF has not announced BMTC 47 or DSSC 35/2026 xE2x80x94 ignore blogs that quote exact opening dates before NAF does. Only nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng and airforce.mil.ng announce real windows; recent cycles opened between August and October.

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. Medical consultants may apply up to age 40.
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?

When the portal opens, 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. For salary info, see the Nigerian Air Force Salary Update.