Carl Jenkins
A psychic who rises through the ranks of military intelligence to become a colonel.
Carl Jenkins is a psychic who joins military intelligence. He is a friend of Johnny Rico and Carmen Ibanez from their time in high school. While Rico enlists in the Mobile Infantry and Carmen becomes a starship pilot, Jenkins uses his psychic abilities to serve the United Citizen Federation in a different capacity. His role becomes increasingly significant as the war against the Arachnids escalates, and he rises to the rank of colonel. Jenkins is portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris.
- Character
- Carl Jenkins
- First Appears
- Starship Troopers (1997)
Lore & Background
Carl Jenkins is introduced as a friend of Johnny Rico and Carmen Ibanez. When the trio decides to enlist, Jenkins chooses to join military intelligence, leveraging his psychic abilities. After the Arachnid attack on Buenos Aires, which kills millions including Rico's parents, the Federation launches an invasion of the Arachnid home planet, Klendathu. The invasion is a disaster, resulting in hundreds of thousands of human casualties due to underestimating the Arachnids' defenses. Later, Jenkins, now a colonel, reveals to Rico that the Roughnecks were deliberately ordered into a trap on Planet P. He justifies this as a necessary sacrifice to confirm the existence of a 'Brain Bug', an intelligent Arachnid that strategically directs the others. Jenkins assigns Rico command of the Roughnecks and field-promotes him to lieutenant, instructing him to return to Planet P and capture the Brain Bug. At the film's conclusion, after the Brain Bug is captured, Jenkins psychically detects that it is afraid.
In Their Own Story
Colonel Carl Jenkins stood before the surviving Roughnecks, his expression unreadable. He explained that their ambush on Planet P, which had cost the lives of Dizzy Flores and Lieutenant Rasczak, was not a mistake. It was a calculated sacrifice to prove the existence of the Brain Bug. He then turned to Johnny Rico, promoting him to lieutenant and giving him a new mission: return to Planet P and capture the creature. Later, as the troops celebrated the capture of the Brain Bug, Jenkins focused his psychic abilities on the captive Arachnid. A faint smile touched his lips as he sensed its fear, a small victory in a brutal war.
Reader's Guide
The United Citizen Federation is a stratocratic regime where citizenship is earned exclusively through federal service, granting rights like voting and procreation. The military is divided into branches, including the Mobile Infantry and the Fleet. Psychic individuals like Carl Jenkins are valuable assets, recruited into military intelligence to serve the Federation's strategic goals. The war against the Arachnids is an interstellar conflict driven by humanity's colonization efforts. The Arachnids are a highly evolved insectoid species capable of interstellar attacks, as demonstrated by the destruction of Buenos Aires. Military intelligence, while powerful, can be fallible, as seen in the disastrous initial invasion of Klendathu. The capture of a Brain Bug is considered a major strategic victory, as it provides insight into the enemy's command structure.
Did You Know?
- Carl Jenkins is portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris.
- Jenkins is a psychic who joins military intelligence.
- By the end of the film, Jenkins has risen to the rank of colonel.
- Jenkins psychically detects that the captured Brain Bug is afraid.
- Jenkins reveals that the Roughnecks were deliberately sent into a trap on Planet P to confirm the existence of a Brain Bug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carl Jenkins?
Carl Jenkins is a high school classmate of Johnny Rico and Carmen Ibanez who possesses psychic abilities. Instead of joining combat forces, he serves the United Citizen Federation within military intelligence. He is portrayed by actor Neil Patrick Harris in the 1997 film.
What role does Carl Jenkins play in the war?
Unlike his friends who fight on the front lines or fly ships, Jenkins uses his telepathic skills to support military intelligence operations. His unique talents become vital as the conflict with the Arachnids intensifies across the galaxy. He eventually rises through the ranks to achieve the position of colonel.
How does Carl Jenkins's story end?
By the conclusion of the film, Jenkins remains a high-ranking officer who continues to aid the Federation from behind enemy lines. He is last seen coordinating intelligence efforts alongside Rico and Carmen during their final mission. His arc highlights the different ways citizens can serve the state beyond direct combat.
Why is Carl Jenkins important to Johnny Rico?
Jenkins represents a connection to Rico's past life on Buenos Aires before he enlisted in the Mobile Infantry. Their friendship underscores the divergent paths taken by the trio after graduation, with Jenkins finding success through his mind rather than physical strength. He often provides crucial information that helps Rico during critical moments in the war.
What makes Carl Jenkins's abilities unique?
Jenkins is one of the few humans shown to have verified psychic powers, allowing him to perceive threats and communicate mentally. This ability grants him a specialized role within Military Intelligence that traditional soldiers cannot fulfill. It demonstrates the Federation's utilization of all available human resources against the bug threat.
More in Lore & History
Related in Starship Troopers
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