Jonathan Doherty

The Rookie is a UNSC Marine Shock Trooper, and served in Mombasa, Kenya in 2552. He is the only known survivor of his unit after the Prophet of Regret's slipspace jump devastated the city and Shock Troopers still conducting the drop.

Speculation
Contrary to popular belief, he could not be the SPARTAN-I mentioned in 'PARDON OUR DUST' as he was of Lance Corporal rank.

After the devastation of Regret's jump to slipspace above the city, the ODST was the only survivor of his unit to land, with a 99.99% expected fatality rate (later corrected to 00.52%), showing only battered armor and a 6 hour period of being unconscious to show for it. At the time of impact, the Superintendent displayed the message "Motor Vehicle Crash!" and when searching for the debris though the smoke, the SI displayed "Acquiring Vehicle ID..." As a Civilian Infrastructure AI it would not have known a HEV pod is and assumed it was a vehicle, later also trying to get the vehicle ID for the Type-52 Phantom that came searching for the Marine and then calling the New Mombasa Police Department when unable to get its ID. After blowing the hatch off his pod, the Trooper ducked into hiding to avoid the probing lights of the Phantom, and a patrolling Jiralhanae pack. The Superintendent activated a set of signs and lights a row of streetlights, showing the Trooper a safe path away from the patrol.

Trivia

 * The Marine is voiced by Nathan Fillion, who voiced Gunnery Sergeant Reynolds in Halo 3.
 * He is the main character of Halo 3: Recon, a prologue and expansion pack to Halo 3, due out in Fall 2009.
 * His main weapon is a modified Suppressed SMG with a red dot sight and a laser module.