- "It is usually in the cockpit where one first learns one's limitations."
- ―Jenks[src]
Captain Jenks was a member of the United States Air Force and was the leader of the Flying Falcons.
Biography[]
Grounded[]
Captain Jenks was a member of the Thunderbirds before he was ground for reasons he kept private.[1]
Basic Training 1984[]
Jenks was captain and leader of the Flying Falcons. He performed the Oath of Enlistments to new cadets in the military. He performed one for Carol Danvers. Danvers stayed behind with her eyes closed while the rest of her flight left, prompting him to berate her along with Chen. He stated that they just allow anyone in the military; a jab at Danvers, who he did not think should be there.
Weeks later, Jenks attended the Field Day and watched the tug-of-war, noting that Maria Rambeau repositioned her teammates at the start, allowing the team to perform well. relay race, which Danvers easily won for her team. Danvers and Maria Rambeau approached Jenks, who congratulated Rambeau on her efforts. who wanted to be in the Flying Falcons. Jenks told them they needed a private piloting license. He correctly assumed that they did not have licenses and suggested that they could support the elite squadron from the ground.[1]
Introduction to Soaring[]
Jenks taught an Introduction to Soaring class at the United States Air Force Academy, welcoming the class and explaining that they will always be accompanied by an instructor as they flew. Jenks put Carol Danvers in Cadet Instructor Pilot Wolff's group and Maria Rambeau and Erik Del Orbe in Cadet Instructor Pilot Cabot's group and had the groups start working with their instructors. Jenks saw Wolff asking Danvers what she saw and heard Danvers respond saying that she saw power. Jenks appeared and said that the answer was restraint, since it is in the cockpit when people tend to learn about their limitations. Wolff added that people felt a sense of liberation. Jenks explained that soaring is for those with self-discipline, not for impulsive or emotional people. Wolff countered that impulse comes with passion, prompting Jenks to comment that he is interested in Wolff's experiment.[1]
Called a Relic[]
As winter started, Jenks came across Carol Danvers with her friends and approached them. He told Danvers that he had considered Wolff's words about people being taught and said that the air show would be educational. He told her to look at the pilots and spot the difference between them and her. He guessed that she wanted to prove Wolff right, saying that only a cursory glance should be needed to highlight her shortcomings. Danvers simply said "Yes, sir" until as he left. At the next class, Jenks defied Danvers' expectations by not addressing her.
Weeks later, found Danvers arriving at his Introduction to Soaring class with a notebook. He stopped Danvers and asked her to list the items a cadet should bring, which Danvers did well. He pointed out that Danvers had broken the rule, asking if the notebook belonged to her. Danvers said that it did, and Jenks asked if she had glanced at the pilots during the air show like he had told her to. Danvers said that while a cursory glance proved Jenks correct, taking a closer look suggested that Jenks himself was a relic. Jenks explained two possible meanings of the word: remains or a holy person. He berated Danvers' intelligence for choosing the wrong word, prompting her to yell that she and Maria Rambeau were planning to try out for the Flying Falcons and had earned their private pilot's licenses. He said that he intended to do something to prevent it and looked to Rambeau with disdain. He then walked away and started class.[1]
Flying Falcons Tryouts[]
- "This is my gift to you, Danvers. You can thank me later for showing you just how dangerous your recklessness truly is. I'm doing this for your own good, Danvers."
- ―Jenks to Carol Danvers[src]
As it came time for tryouts for the Flying Falcons, Jenks greeted the cadets and walked them through the process. He instructed them to sit on a wooden bench and read off the order in which people would be flying. He called up the first three cadets to work with himself, Wolff, or Cabot. Bret Johnson went to work with Jenks first, and Jenks ordered him through several procedures. After Johnson's tryout, he worked with several other recruits. For Maria Rambeau's turn, she chose to work with him and saluted him. Jenks flew with Rambeau as she executed a barrel roll.
On Carol Danvers' turn, she chose to approach Jenks as well, saluting him. Jenks went through the procedures with Danvers and told her that she was impressive when the plane was on the ground and told her to start it up. They waited to receive claerance to fly, and eventually Danvers took off, informing Jenks once she reached the required altitude. Jenks asked why they were going through the process, prompting Danvers to say that it was because she loved flying. Jenks asked if she thought that meant she deserved to be there, but Danvers responded that she had earned the right to be there because she was the best. Jenks started talking about how Danvers did not belong in the United States Air Force because she was emotional, impulsive, and insubordinate. Jenks then told Danvers that he was giving her a gift by showing her how dangerous her recklessness could be before moving the engine to idle and causing the plane to start falling. However, Danvers successfully executed a power-off stall, preventing the plane from crashing. With the plane moving again, Danvers told Jenks that while she was emotional and impulsive, she was brave enough to let herself learn, suggesting that he try it. Danvers brought the plane back, and Jenks did not speak to her the rest of the flight. Jenks chose Johnson and Tom Bianchi for the Flying Falcons.[1]
Facilities[]
- United States Air Force Academy: Jenks ran training and taught at the United States Air Force Academy, including a course called Introduction to Soaring. He also ran an elite squadron known as the Flying Falcons out of the academy.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- United States Air Force
- Chen
- Resendiz
- Carol Danvers - Subordinate
- Maria Rambeau † - Subordinate
- Tom Bianchi
- Garrett Pierre
- Erik Del Orbe
- Wolff
- Cabot
- Bret Johnson