23/10/2025
📌📌📌
Defence ministry officially opens applications for NDF recruits and officer cadets
Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has officially opened applications for recruitment into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) for recruits and officer cadets.
This comes just days after the Namibian government also announced the prioritisation of recruitment for educators and health personnel across the country, allocating a significant portion of funds to these two sectors.
With regard to NDF’s recruitment, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs explained that applicants for the recruit positions must be Namibian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 years on or before 21 November 2025. They should hold a Grade 12 Certificate with at least 25 points in five subjects, including an ‘E’ symbol in English; or a Grade 11 Certificate with at least 25 points in five subjects, including an ‘E’ symbol in English; or a Grade 10 Certificate (old curriculum) with at least 25 points in seven subjects, including an ‘E’ symbol in English. Candidates with musical qualifications or experience in instruments such as the flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, euphonium, trombone, bass or drums will have an added advantage.
Regarding officer cadet positions, the Ministry indicated that applicants must be Namibian citizens aged between 18 and 25 years on or before 21 November 2025. Candidates should have obtained at least a Grade 11 or Grade 12 Certificate with a minimum of 27 points in five subjects, including a ‘C’ symbol in English. The Ministry further noted that officer cadets will be required to undergo a psychometric test, and possession of a tertiary qualification will serve as an added advantage.
The Ministry emphasised that all applicants must be Namibian citizens with no criminal record or pending cases and must be free of tattoos. Applicants are also required to undergo a comprehensive medical examination and pass both the Basic General Knowledge and English Language tests. The Ministry highlighted that applicants must also successfully complete a series of physical fitness tests, which include a 2.4 km run to be completed within 13 minutes for men or within 14 minutes and 30 seconds for women. In addition, applicants must perform at least 43 sit-ups for men or 25 sit-ups for women, and a minimum of 30 push-ups for both men and women.
Applicants must also meet the body mass and height requirements. Men are required to be between 152 cm and 200 cm tall and weigh between 47 kg and 96 kg, while women must be between 152 cm and 183 cm tall and weigh between 55 kg and 81 kg.
In terms of documentation, the Ministry explained that applicants are required to submit certified copies of their Namibian Identity Card, Full Birth Certificate and educational qualifications. Each applicant must attach a recent colour passport photograph to the top of the first page of the Public Service of Namibia Application Form for Employment and indicate their shoe size at the top right-hand corner of the same page. The Ministry stressed that applicants must clearly indicate whether they are applying as recruits or officer cadets, as candidates may not apply for both positions simultaneously.
The Ministry further explained that all applicants, including those from marginalised communities, must indicate their constituency on the application form, which should be stamped by the Constituency Councillor and submitted at the same Constituency Office. Applications from marginalised communities will be forwarded by Regional Governors to the Office of the Presidency (Executive Director: Mr Mateus Kaholongo) in Windhoek. The Ministry advised applicants to retain a stamped copy of the first page of the application form as proof of submission and cautioned that applications without an official constituency stamp will not be considered.
Applications submitted in any other manner will be disqualified, and no applications should be delivered directly to the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs.
