Jean Kirschtein hails from Trost District in Wall Rose. He originally enlisted to join the Military Police Brigade, seeking safety within the interior walls and openly expressing his disdain for the perceived futility of frontline Titan combat. Ranking 6th in the 104th Cadet Corps, his pragmatic self-preservation clashed repeatedly with Eren Yeager’s idealistic drive to eliminate Titans. Marco Bodt recognized Jean’s latent leadership potential, observing his clear situational assessment and understanding of others’ perspectives stemmed from his own flaws and self-doubt. The Battle of Trost District forced Jean’s reluctant command during chaos. He abandoned stranded comrades to save the larger group—a strategic sacrifice that haunted him. Discovering Marco Bodt’s partial remains profoundly impacted him, later cementing his resolve to abandon safety and join the Survey Corps. His leadership emerged in critical missions: He rallied soldiers like Armin Arlert and Reiner Braun against the Female Titan to prevent greater Scout Regiment losses. He openly criticized Commander Erwin Smith’s strategy of withholding intelligence during that incident, condemning the resulting casualties as unjustifiable. Physically, Jean possesses light ash-brown undercut hair, intense light-brown eyes, and a distinctively elongated face—often mocked as "horse-like." His appearance matured over years, featuring a goatee, longer hair, and significant height growth to 190 centimeters. Initially blunt, arrogant, and quick-tempered as a cadet, Jean evolved into a cooperative, dependable figure who prioritized comrades’ lives. He engaged reluctantly in morally complex combat against human foes in Marley and during Yeagerist conflicts, maintaining a firm refusal to kill civilians or child combatants—explicitly rejecting the execution of captives like Gabi Braun and Falco Grice. Jean ultimately rejected the Rumbling, Eren Yeager’s genocidal campaign. While understanding the motive to secure Paradis Island’s future, he refused to condone global annihilation. This stance opposed the Yeagerists, forcing him into confrontations where he prioritized preventing mass slaughter despite fighting former allies.