More foreign nationals wey dey live outside di United Kingdom go fit join di British Army, dem don announce.

Dis one mean say citizens from Commonwealth kontris – wey include Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, India, Australia, Fiji and Sri Lanka, among odas – go fit apply for “available roles” even if dem no ever live for di UK.

Di recruitment website of di British army wey make dis announcement say, di application window go dey opened for candidates from di Commonwealth kontris from 19 August and e go dey up for just one week, wey mean say e go close by 26 August.

E add say refugee or asylum seeker no dey qualified to apply.

One rule wey dem introduce for 2016 already allow 200 Commonwealth citizens wey no meet di requirement to live for UK for five years to apply for limited number of jobs every year, wit hope say dem go dey increase di numbers every year.

Dem first waive di five-year UK residency requirement for Commonwealth recruits for 1998, before dem reintroduce am again for 2013.

Di Army say Commonwealth sojas be, and go always be important and valued part of di fabric of di British Army.

Dem also note say di available roles wey applicants from di commonwealth kontris go fit apply for na;

Candidates wey wan apply to be ‘Sojas’ must be at least 16 years old. Although, dis fit change depending on your role. Candidates must enlist before 36 years of age.

Anoda important informate wey applicants wey wan join di British Army from Commonwealth nations need to know be say, dem must apply through di Recruit Bounty Scheme.

Di Army Recruit Bounty Scheme dey reward serving sojas wey encourage dia friends and family to consider and apply to join di Army.

Dem dey pay cash reward give anybody dem refer wey start basic training as new soja.

So, if you dey apply to join di Army from di Commonwealth, pesin wey already dey serve for di army get to refer you through dis scheme.

Dem warn say dem go reject any applications outside dis scheme, except for those wey dey apply as musician.

Di army announce say dem go screen all applicants for Sickle Cell Trait.

Dem clear am say Sickle Cell Trait no go stop applicants from entry or to join any particular part of di Army.

Oda health issues dem go also consider include; ear problem, eye problem, blood diseases, skin, bone problems, etc. Dem assure say dis no go stop applicants from joining di army. However, dia medical team go check everyone individually, and make dia decisions based on dia professional opinion in keeping wit prescribed army standards.

For candidates wey intend to apply from di Commonwealth, di Army say, until di day dem join, dem go dey responsible to ensure say dia visa dey valid and dem dey for di kontri legally.

Dem also add say once dem choose di applicant, im family go fit join am but im and im family must meet di immigration rules. Plus na im go pay for dia visa and travel costs.

E add say dem must also meet di minimum income and English language requirements.

One data from di UK Defence Journal show say e be like say di recruitment of candidates from di Commonwealth na yearly affair.

Di data show one table wey reflect di numbers of rejections and withdrawals of applications by Commonwealth citizens for di UK Regular Armed Forces since 2010.

One report dem publish for 27 May 2024, note say applications to armed forces from Commonwealth citizens dey increase.

Di British Army receive 16,990 applications from Commonwealth citizens for 2023, dem reject 7,880 and withdraw 1,306 applications, di report tok.

For 2023, di British Army bin stop to receive applications from citizens of Commonwealth kontris sake of di high number of applications dem bin already receive.

One letter from Andrew Murrison MP to Shadow Secretary of State John Healey MP bin reveal significant trends in applications from Commonwealth citizens to join di UK Armed Forces, from 2010 to 2023.

Di data show ogbonge increase in interest, particularly for di Army, wey see dramatic increase in applications for 2023 compared to previous years.

Since 2010, di total number of applications dem receive from Commonwealth citizens dey as follows:

Royal Navy/Royal Marines (RN/RM): 22,720 applications

Army: 122,340 applications

Royal Air Force (RAF): 12,220 applications

Na di Army receive di highest volume of applications, wit 122,340 from Commonwealth citizens since 2010.

Out of dis numbers, dem reject 48,180 and 43,600 bin voluntarily withdrawn. Despite di large number of applicants, many no meet di necessary criteria or decide to withdraw dia applications.