List of characters in Starship Troopers

This is a list of characters in the novel Starship Troopers. Some of the characters may also be found in the film Starship Troopers and Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles in altered form.

Juan Rico — Son of a wealthy Filipino family who volunteered for Federal Service. He ended up in the Mobile Infantry. He did his basic training at Camp Currie and was assigned as a Private to "Willie's Wildcats". His first combat experience was the Battle of Klendathu. He was then transferred to the platoon "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. Rico eventually became a lieutenant after commanding a platoon during the successful "Operation Royalty". At the end of the novel he commanded Rico's Roughnecks back on the Rodger Young, with his father as his ranking sergeant.

Charles Zim — Juan Rico's boot camp instructor and company commander at Camp Arthur Currie. Originally career Ship's Sergeant, he eventually became the Company First Sergeant of Rico's unit during Operation Royalty and acted below his rank to be Rico's Platoon Sergeant. Zim took the initiative to raid an Arachnid "bughole", and captured the first brain bug taken by the MI. He was given a field commission and rose to brevet captain with the permanent rank of first lieutenant by the end of the book.

Lieutenant Colonel Jean V. Dubois — Rico's high school instructor in History and Moral Philosophy. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Mobile Infantry after he lost an arm. A letter to Rico during Basic Training boosted Rico's spirits and helped to keep him from resigning (and losing the opportunity to become a full Citizen). Many readers have felt that Dubois serves as a stand-in for Heinlein throughout the novel.

Lieutenant Rasczak — Juan Rico's platoon leader in the Rodger Young. His platoon always called him "the Lieutenant", in tones of considerable respect. He died in battle while recovering two wounded.

Sergeant Jelal — Career Ship's Sergeant, Juan Rico's platoon sergeant aboard the Rodger Young and de facto platoon leader after Lt. Rasczak's death. He eventually made captain, but lost his legs in an unspecified battle. He was nicknamed "Jelly" and anyone who had made a combat drop could call him that to his face. After the Lieutenant's death, the Roughnecks voted unanimously to rename themselves "Jelly's Jaguars" after their new lieutenant, but Jelal vetoed the idea.

Career Corporal "Ace" — Squad commander, Jelal's Platoon, Rasczak's Roughnecks. Assisted Juan Rico in the recovery of Dizzy Flores, a wounded Trooper. When Rico first became Corporal and assistant section leader, being promoted past Ace, they fought in the showers over Ace's lack of respect. Although Ace won, he acknowledged Rico's seniority and helped him earn the respect of the entire platoon. Later, Ace convinced Rico to pursue a career in the military and enroll in Officer Candidate School.

Dizzy Flores — (Male, although depicted as female in the movie version) Member of squad six in Rasczak's Roughnecks. Wounded in the first action of the Roughnecks under the command of Jelal: the raid against the "Skinnies" described in the first chapter of the book. Dizzy was recovered by his squad leader "Ace" and the assistant section leader Juan Rico, but died due to wounds during transport to the Roughnecks' transport, the Rodger Young.

Private First Class Dutch Bamburger — Senior squadmate that Rico is assigned to for his first drop. Dies while showing Johnny the ropes in Operation Bughouse.

Captain Frankel — Camp Currie Battalion Commander, involved in the trial of Recruit Ted Hendrick. Saved Hendrick from execution by creative manipulation of the charges and jurisdiction of the court martial summoned for the trial.

N. L. Dillinger — Mobile Infantry recruit who deserted. He was hanged for murdering a baby girl after kidnapping her for ransom. Though AWOL, his execution was handled by the Infantry rather than the civil judiciary, since Dillinger was still considered an active-duty member of the MI.

Fleet Sergeant Ho — Federal Service recruiting officer who lost his legs and right arm while serving, he swore in Juan Rico and Carl. He appears without prosthetics to administer the oath to new recruits, as a demonstration of the possible consequences of service.

Emilio Rico — Juan Rico's father, a wealthy Filipino businessman. He opposed Johnnie's plans to join the Mobile Infantry, but after the Bug War began and his wife was killed, he found that his position as a "producing-consuming economic animal" (his own words) had become untenable. He was then sworn to Federal Service as a cap trooper and eventually became a platoon sergeant in the Mobile Infantry.

Major Reid — Juan Rico's blind History and Moral Philosophy teacher at Officer Candidate School.

Carmen Ibanez — One of Juan Rico's high school classmates. Rico had a crush on her, and she was a major influence on his decision to enlist, joining the same day that she did. As she excelled in mathematics and gymnastics, she became a Navy spaceship pilot. While combat troops were universally male, the (Space) Navy could and often did recruit women, both because women make better pilots and for reasons of morale.

"Carl" — Juan Rico's best friend in high school, his example was one of the influences which prompted Juan Rico to enlist. The two of them enlisted the same day, and Carl was assigned to the Starside Research & Development facilities on Pluto. Later in the novel, it is mentioned that Carl had been killed when the Pluto research facilities were destroyed by the Arachnids.

Ted Hendrick — Mobile Infantry recruit who questioned the need to learn knife-throwing. Later court-martialed for disobeying orders and striking a superior officer (Sergeant Zim). Sentenced to ten lashes and Bad Conduct Discharge, instead of execution. He thereby lost his chance for the franchise and his intended career in politics.