“-and to require such obedience from all members of the Service or other persons or non-human beings lawfully placed under my orders. “-and to obey all lawful orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Terran Service and of all officers or delegated persons placed over me. “I swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federation against all its enemies on or off Terra “-do now enroll in the Federal Service of the Terran Federation of not less than two years and as much longer as may be required by the needs of the Service. “-without coercion, promise, or inducement of any sort, after having been duly advised and warned of the meaning and consequences of this oath.

“I,” we each echoed, “being of legal age, of my own free will-” Johnnie represents the ideal soldier and provides a clear demonstration of how military service teaches and develops the civic duty required of Federation citizens. He attends to formal lessons, like combat drills and H&MP lectures, but he also learns by his own experience and the lessons of others: witnessing Hendrick’s defensiveness about his treatment in basic training teaches Johnnie to quietly accept his own punishment when he later messes up. While Johnnie’s initial motives for volunteering-a mix of wanting to impress his friends and an unfocused desire for franchise and the pride of citizenship-aren’t very sophisticated, he readily absorbs the lessons that his military training and career offer. He respects and eventually comes to admire Zim in basic training he readily accepts guidance from Colonel Nielssen and Captain Blackstone while in OCS and-once they’re reunited and united by military service-he leans on his own Father for guidance and support. Key to this story are his relationships with a series of father figures, whom he respects and emulates. His coming-of-age story, which plays out across his basic training, early military career, and stint at Officer Candidate School, showcases the development of a bright and promising child into a dutiful and virtuous future citizen of the Federation. Dubois teaches in History and Moral Philosophy class, Johnnie decides to volunteer for Federal Service shortly after his 18th birthday. However, inspired overtly by his friends Carl and Carmen and more subtly by the subject matter Mr. As he approaches high school graduation, his parents expect he’ll attend elite universities to prepare for eventually taking over the family business.

His upbringing is normal, if privileged: his family are law-abiding, upstanding legal residents of the Federation, but he doesn’t come from a family with a history of military service.

Johnnie Rico was born into a wealthy Filipino family on Earth in the Terran Federation of the future.

Starship troopers book 2