Momodu revealed that he successfully completed ten gruelling weeks of Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri one of the most demanding military training programmes in the United States before being officially sworn in as a Specialist in the US Army. He now serves with 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, and carries the designation Specialist (SPC) J.A. Momodu.

The actor described the training as one of the most transformative experiences of his life, recounting a journey filled with “tears, fear of failure, resilience, endless days, short nights, fatigue, rain, and the scorching sun.” Far from dampening his spirit, these challenges only strengthened his resolve. “From inception, I have always believed in achievements earned through merit, which is why I constantly push myself beyond limits,” he wrote in his announcement.

But beyond the physical and mental feat, the enlistment carries a deeply personal and emotional significance for Momodu. On April 12, 2026 twenty years after the passing of his father he enlisted as a tribute to the man who inspired him. His late father had served in the Nigerian Police Force, and by joining the American military, Momodu sees himself as picking up the baton of service and carrying it forward into a new generation and a new nation. He dedicated the milestone 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’s story is part of a growing and noteworthy trend within Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He joins a small but steadily expanding list of Nollywood figures who have made the bold leap from acting into the United States military. Actress Princess Chineke made waves when she enlisted in the US Army, and Grace Bassey formerly celebrated under her screen name Belinda Effah recently graduated from US Navy boot camp and simultaneously earned American citizenship.

Actress and producer Mayowa Dosu is another who made the switch, announcing her enlistment on Instagram and joking to fans: “Sorry I was busy being an American soldier.”

The phenomenon has sparked wide conversation in Nigeria, with many praising the discipline and patriotism it reflects, while others see it as a symbol of the broader migration of Nigerian talent to opportunities abroad. Whatever one’s view, it is undeniable that these individuals have chosen a path of immense sacrifice and service a decision that commands respect across any divide.

For Joseph Momodu, the curtains may have drawn on his Nollywood chapter for now, but a new and extraordinary act has clearly just begun.