The Nigerian actor, Joseph Momodu,has enlisted in the United States Army, fulfilling a personal mission to honour his late father, a former officer in the Nigeria Police Force.
Momodu announced the achievement via Instagram on Friday, sharing a photo of himself dressed in military uniform.
He explained that his decision to join the US military was inspired by family legacy, describing it as “picking up the baton” two decades after his father’s death.
The Nollywood actor recounted the intense 10-week transformation from civilian to soldier, highlighting the challenges of “tears, fear of failure, resilience, endless days, short nights, fatigue, rain, and scorching sun”.
He admitted there were moments of uncertainty but said the journey strengthened him mentally and physically.
“From inception, I have always believed in achievements earned through merit, which is why I constantly push myself beyond limits. This particular one was forged through tears, fear of failure, resilience, endless days, short nights, fatigue, rain, and the scorching sun,” he wrote.
“There were moments of doubt and times I questioned myself, “who send me message sef”? But I never lost sight of the finish line. We trained tirelessly, were broken down and rebuilt. I went to sleep a civilian and woke up a soldier.”
“Ten weeks of being incommunicado. Ten weeks of learning to find comfort in discomfort. On April 12, 2026, I honored my late father in a historic way. 20 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.”
Momodu dedicated the milestone to God, his late father, and his family.
“I dedicate this achievement first to God Almighty for the grace to pass my ASVAB on the first attempt and successfully complete Basic Combat Training. Secondly, to my late father, whose legacy I proudly uphold. And finally, to the Royal Family of Oba Momodul一, the Avyuele Clan, Agbede, Etsako West, Edo State,” he added.
“Special appreciation to Gakeemogara for expertly managing my social media throughout this journey, and to the US Army Recruiting Station, Burbank, California, for making the transition seamless.”
Momodu joins a growing list of Nollywood personalities who have taken up military service abroad. In 2024, actress Princess Chineke also enlisted in the US Army.