From Nollywood to the Battlefield: Actor, Joseph Momodu Enlists in U.S. Army
Nigerian actor, Joseph Momodu, has embarked on a new chapter far away from the cameras and movie sets, announcing his enlistment in the United States Army after successfully completing 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
The actor revealed the development in an Instagram post on Friday, explaining why he had been absent from public view and unreachable over the past 10 weeks.
“From inception, I have always believed in achievements earned through merit, which is why I constantly push myself beyond limits,” Momodu wrote.
Reflecting on the journey, he described the experience as 10 weeks of total silence from the outside world and a period that tested both his body and mind.
“Ten weeks of being incommunicado. Ten weeks of learning to find comfort in discomfort,” he said.
Momodu is now officially serving as Specialist (SPC) J.A. Momodu with the 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3-10, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army.
“Today, it is official: Specialist (SPC) J.A. Momodu, United States Army @usarmy, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3-10, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri,” he announced.
He described the military training as intense and demanding, recalling long days, short nights, physical exhaustion and the emotional toll that came with the process.
“This particular one was forged through tears, fear of failure, resilience, endless days, short nights, fatigue, rain, and the scorching sun.”
“There were moments of doubt and times I questioned myself, ‘Who sent me message?’ But I never lost sight of the finish line. We trained tirelessly, were broken down and rebuilt,” he wrote.
According to the actor, the experience transformed him completely within just 10 weeks.
“I went to sleep a civilian and woke up a soldier,” he said.
Momodu revealed that the decision to join the military was also a tribute to his late father, who served in the Nigerian Police Force.
He said the enlistment came exactly 20 years after his father’s death and represented his own way of continuing the family’s tradition of service.
“On April 12, 2026, I honoured my late father in a historic way. Twenty years after his passing, I picked up the baton where he left off in the Nigerian Police Force and carried it forward by getting enlisted into the United States Army,” he wrote.
The actor also expressed gratitude for passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) examination on his first attempt and completing the training programme without setbacks.
He dedicated the achievement to God, his late father and the Royal Family of Oba Momodu II of the Avyuele Clan in Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Momodu also acknowledged the support of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Burbank, California, as well as Akeem Ogara, whom he credited with managing his social media accounts throughout the training period.
“Special appreciation to @akeemogara for expertly managing my social media throughout this journey, and to the U.S. Army Recruiting Station, Burbank, California, for making the transition seamless,” he concluded.
