General Service Cadet officers must meet several requirements before joining the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military or maritime sector, often a person who is a junior trainee.
To qualify as a cadet, one must be a Kenyan citizen with no dual citizenship and be between 18 to 26 years of age.
They should also be in possession of a valid Kenyan National Identity Card (ID) and a KRA pin certificate will be required.
The minimum height is 1.60m (5ft 3in) for men and 1.52m (5ft) for the ladies.
The minimum weight in men is 54.55 Kg (120 lb) and women 50.00 Kg (110 lb).
Minimum academic qualifications
In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, Lieutenant General Jonah Mwangi highlighted several academic qualifications a person must hold to join as a cadet.
One must hold a minimum mean grade of B+ in KCSE with C+ in English, Mathematics and one Science subject.
The training period for this category will cover three years leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science and Security Studies upon completion.
One can also join Cadet as a fresh graduate from school but will have to train for three years.
For the three years, the trainees will undergo two programs namely; military training and academics.
At the end of the program, the trainee graduates with a Bachelor of Science, defense and security studies.
Once a cadet is designated, they gain the first rank of the second lieutenant, which they hold for up to three years.
"If you have a degree, you enter as a cadet and at the commissioning, you are commissioned as a second lieutenant," Mwangi said.
To join as an artisan, one is required to have a minimum mean grade of D+ in KCSE and either a relevant certificate with government trade test grade II or craft II from a recognised institution.
However, an artisan with a diploma who wants to become a technician, must have a C and above, plus the line of training they might have had.
To join as a technician, a minimum mean grade of C in KCSE is required and a relevant Diploma or above from a recognised institution, registered with the relevant statutory bodies, where applicable.
Specialist officers and tradesmen or women, should have a minimum of two years practicing experience in their field of specialisation from the date of registration with the relevant regulatory or statutory body in Kenya.
Mwangi added that specialist officers who compose of doctors and the clergy, have different requirements. For a specialist, the age bracket is extended to 39 years.
