Juan Rico

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Juan "Johnnie" Rico is a fictional character from Robert A. Heinlein's book Starship Troopers. He was the son of a wealthy Filipino family who joined the Terran Mobile Infantry almost on impulse and over his parents' objections. He was sent to boot camp "Arthur Currie" with 2008 other recruits, and graduated as one of the 187 still enlisted. He was assigned as a Private to Company K, Third Regiment, First M.I. Division, or "Willie's Wildcats" on the transport corvette the Valley Forge. His first engagement was the foul-up "Operation Bughouse", during which 80% of the Wildcats were taken out of commission. He was then transferred to "Rasczak's Roughnecks" aboard the Rodger Young, where he achieved the rank of corporal and survived several successful battles. He later entered Officer Candidate School at the encouragement of his friend Ace. He eventually became a lieutenant after commanding in the critically successful "Operation Royalty". At the end of the novel he is commanding a platoon back on the Rodger Young, with his father, Emilio Rico, as his platoon sergeant.

In the 1997 film version and in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, a character based on Rico is played by Casper Van Dien.

[edit] After The Film

After the 1997 film, Rico stayed in the Mobile Infantry and continued to achieve higher ranks. In the Starship Troopers 2005 computer game which takes place five years after the 1997 film, Rico is a General but in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder which takes place eleven years after the 1997 film, Rico is a Colonel. In either continuity, Rico "went career" and stayed in the Mobile Infantry. In Starship Troopers 3: Marauder Rico does not command the Roughnecks anymore, he now commands the Marauders.