Corporal Richard L. Jenkins is an Alliance Marine under the command of Captain Anderson, and a member of the SSV Normandy's crew.

Jenkins was born in a rural district of Eden Prime, and dreamed of visiting more urban areas before he decided to become a Marine, stating that "even paradise gets boring." After enlisting, he wanted to prove himself as a notable soldier and test himself in combat.

Jenkins envies Commander Shepard's impressive record. He also admires the Spectres, though his views of them seem to be coloured more by vids than by experience. He is especially impressed by Nihlus Kryik, after hearing the story that Nihlus once defeated an entire platoon single-handed.

Mass Effect

Jenkins is assigned to Shepard's ground team during a mission to Eden Prime. He is killed by geth drones soon after the ground team lands on the surface. His death is a blow to the morale of the Normandy's crew, who would remember him for his bold exuberance.

Mass Effect 2

Two years after his death, Jenkins is remembered by Doctor Chakwas during a drinking session with Shepard. The doctor recounts a story in which Jenkins was thrown back by a "biotic display" from Kaidan. Chakwas was worried that Jenkins broke his back until he jumped up and shouted "That was awesome!"

Jenkins was one of the reasons Doctor Chakwas considers the Alliance great, compared to her and Shepard's current sponsor Cerberus.

Mass Effect 3

In 2186, the Normandy SR-2 obtains a memorial wall inscribed with the names of fallen crew members who served on the SR-2 and her predecessor, the SSV Normandy SR-1. Jenkins' name is included.

If Shepard revisits Eden Prime, while landing on the planet the Commander and some of their squadmates may briefly recall Jenkins and the way he met his end on his birth world.

Trivia

• If Jenkins is assigned a weapon other than his default assault rifle, he is shown holding it sideways in the cutscene portraying his death.
• Jenkins can wear any armor in the game, including krogan, quarian and turian armors. There are no visual differences if he is equipped with these armors, however.
• The toggle helmet button in the equipment screen does not toggle his helmet.
• Josh Dean also voiced Jonn Whitson in Mass Effect 2 and Henpecked Hou in Jade Empire, another BioWare game.
• Curiously, Jenkins' name may be missing from the memorial wall on the SR-2 during the Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut ending sequence.

Cut Content

The story told by Chakwas in Mass Effect 2 is very similar to a cut sequence which Shepard could have witnessed at the very beginning of Mass Effect, in the Normandy's mess hall. As Kaidan is having a headache, and despite Chakwas' protests, Jenkins insists on Kaidan showing his biotics as he had missed an earlier demonstration. Kaidan reluctantly agrees, and biotically tosses a cup at Jenkins. Disheartened, Jenkins leaves the mess hall to go down to the cargo bay.^[1]

References