Family, military service and why he never stays in the same place

Although many aspects of Jack Reacher’s story remain unexplored in the Amazon story, Reach and the original books, both provide many insights into his military background, family history, and past as a special investigator. Since the Jack Reacher The stories religiously follow the mysterious stranger trope, there is always an air of mystery and enigma surrounding the titular character. His strong sense of morality and justice is always on display when he sets out to punish evildoers. However, the show and books avoid delving too much into his past.

Despite this, both Lee Child’s original Jack Reacher The books and the Amazon adaptation gradually revealed many details about his past and the events that shaped him. Mostly through flashbacks, both allowed viewers and readers to piece together a picture of what made Jack Reacher who he is. From Reacher’s military background to the real reason he left the military and decided to live as a bum, the original books and the show gave insight into it all.

What we know about Jack Reacher’s family and childhood

He had an older brother named Joe Reacher

Many flashbacks in the Amazon series establish that although Reacher had no contact with his brother, Joe, they were close growing up. Being the eldest brother, Joe used to be a guiding force for Reacherhelping him face many difficult decisions throughout his childhood. Joe also always protected Reacher. For example, he took the blame to make sure Jack Reacher didn’t get into trouble after a bullying incident on Okinawa.

Despite relying on each other as children, Jack and Joe eventually went their separate ways as adults and didn’t meet until their mother’s funeral. As Jack Reacher recalls in the first season, Joe introduced him to blues musician Blind Blake, whose mysterious death ended up taking the titular character to the small town of Margrave. After arriving in Margrave, Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher finally discovered that his brother was murdered while working for the US Treasury Department and investigating the counterfeiting operation in Margrave.

Although Reacher’s mother’s name was Josephine, his father’s name was Stan. Like a flashback in Reach The first season suggests that Josephine Reacher played a crucial role in shaping Jack’s unwavering moral compass. When he was much younger and often got into trouble, she told him that he should always do the right thing with “the strength of three boys.“She eventually died of cancer and presented Jack Reacher with her father’s French war medal, La Medaille de la Résistance, awarded only to heroes who show”courage in the face of danger.“

Jack Reacher’s Military Service Record and Rankings

Reacher was a major before leaving the army

Jack Reacher’s father was a Navy captain, forcing him to grow up on military bases around the world. Given that Joe and Jack Reacher also joined the military, it would be fair to say that being raised in the military had a profound impact on their careers. The character Alan Ritchson began his military journey by enrolling at the West Point Military Academy, paving the way for him to serve as a member of the Military Police. Reacher was among the top-performing students in his class and displayed exceptional leadership and combative skills.

In keeping with the lore of the original novels, Jack Reacher quickly rose through the ranks during his time in the army and received accelerated promotions. He also holds the record for becoming the youngest peacetime major. Although he was later demoted after being accused of assault, he became a major again before retiring from service. During his time in the army, Jack Reacher earned several other accolades. For example, he was the first non-Marine to win a Marine Corps invitational rifle competition called the Wimbledon Cup. He has also won other awards including:

• A purple heart

• An Army Commendation Medal

• Two silver stars

• Defense Superior Service Medal

• Soldier’s Medal

• A bronze star

• An Army Achievement Medal

• An Army Commendation Medal

Jack Reacher’s Life as a Special Investigator Explained

He was the leading force behind the 110th Special Investigation Unit

Although the original Jack Reacher the books never explicitly mention why the titular character was tasked with forming the 110th Special Investigations Unit, Lee Child’s Bad luck and trouble mentions that commanding the new military unit was a reward for him after he became a major again. As seen on the Amazon show, Reacher took his job extremely seriously and carefully recruited every member of the 110th Special Investigations Unit.

His team members initially had trouble getting along, but Reacher eventually found creative ways to help them break the ice and work together. In what followed, they handled many dangerous cases, one of them involving the investigation of corrupt activities within the armed forces themselves. Reacher’s strong sense of morality and justice eventually rubbed off on his teammates as well, leading to the events of Reach Season 2, where many former members of the 110th Special Investigations Unit lost their lives exposing an international terrorist conspiracy.

Why Reacher left the army and started wandering

Many factors contributed to Reacher’s departure from military service

Despite having a prosperous career in the army, Jack Reacher eventually retired to live as a self-proclaimed vagabond. One of the reasons he left the military was that he grew tired of the corruption and bullying that was rampant in the military system. Like a flashback in Reach season two reveals, Alan Ritchson’s character also frequently questioned hierarchy and authority within the military. The original novels also suggest that in 1997 Jack Reacher left military service because of military downsizing and his confrontation with a lieutenant colonel.

Jack Reacher lives off the grid after his retirement because he spent his entire life living on one military base after another. He saw his retirement as an opportunity to see things he never saw while confined to military areas. Due to his upbringing and military life, Reacher is also a misfit who is unable to settle down and live like most other people. Therefore, he prefers to live like a vagabond, with few or no belongings. Amazon Reach will likely delve deeper into his decision to live like a vagabond in future seasons.