Military Dogs:Roy Mustang: Roy Mustang comes off as a rather shallow character. His goal to become Fuhrer seems to start out as a need to change the women's military uniform to include a miniskirt. He's a state alchemist who controls the element fire using his pyrotex gloves that have an alchemic array on the back. He seems to be a source of constant annoyance for Edward Elric, he makes comments about Ed's height and seems to be a rival.
Once you delve beneath the surface though, you hit a whole different story. He participated in the Ishbal Massacre and it wrought havoc on his young mind. Horrified with his actions he became suicidal. After shooting Winry's parents, he turned the gun onto himself. Marco came by at that time, as he was trying to escape, due to what cruelties he had done during his military times, and tells Roy Mustang not to commit suicide, but instead to focus his desires to getting to a position where he doesn't have to take orders, and then runs away. Hughes knows of this and his vow is to assist Roy in getting to that position, no matter what it takes.
Roy Mustang is also known as the Flame Alchemist. He's a heart throb to many ladies, and he knows it, although Maes Hughes is always telling him to get a wife. His main goal is to become Fuhrer and make all the girls in the military wear tiny miniskirts.
He's very sarcastic, especially around Ed, whom he constantly teases... probably because he's jealous. Roy loves dogs, primarily because "you can treat them crueley and they will not complain", "they don't ask for a raise in their paychecks", and "they are servants to humans". He does his flame alchemy by wearing a glove made of special material that makes a spark when he snaps his fingers and then uses alchemy to make the actual flame.
Riza Hawkeye: First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye always appears calm and collected, as of yet she has only lost her temper one time: when Ed and Alphonse were on the train to Central, and Hughes was telling Roy that his baby might be born any day. Riza seems to be the most sensible adult in the series, knowing right from wrong. In the manga, she also lost her temper in volume 10, chapter 39, when Lust infers that Mustang is to be a sacrifice.
Her main strive is to follow Roy Mustang to the top, no matter what. A few times she makes this clear, and other times she hides it slightly. She also has the ability to talk back to Roy without him snapping at her. Riza tends to save his life a lot, when he's not thinking. Case in point, Scar and Roy face off... Roy holds out his hand, Riza calls to him but he ignores her. Scar takes a step back and then, right before Roy snaps his fingers, Riza pushes him down. He asks what's wrong with her, and she calmly says "Your flame won't work in the rain!"
Riza's relationship with the Elric brothers is almost non-existent, but she is very kind to them. When Al would ask her a question, she would kindly answer. If Ed was being an idiot, she'd somewhat kindly set him straight before Roy would. Yet, her relationship with anyone else is somewhat checkered, because she can be pegged as a loon, like her superior Roy. Case in point, when her dog Black Hayate peed on the wall, she shot circles around him.
Riza is sometimes called crazy for her actions, and crazy as they may be, they are highly affective.
Riza Hawkeye is a Lieutenant for the state, a bit strict but also friendly. She's unlike most other Lieutenants and is the only female First Lieutenant (Maria Ross, another female, is a Second Lieutenant). Riza Hawkeye is a kinda quiet military personnel. She is very good with guns usually has one with her to protect the Colonel. Riza is one of perhaps the only girls in the military. She is usually seen with Colonel Mustang "protecting" him, though everyone but them thinks they like each other! She acts sort of smart to Mustang, possibly to hide her feelings.
Riza Hawkeye is no dumb blonde! She is pretty smart and quick, which you have to protecting the Colonel. Riza Hawkeye is one of the best Military personnel, which is pretty hard being with the Colonel! Also, she dislikes mini-skirts a lot
Editor's Note: I'm told that in the manga it was specified that Riza loves Mustang. If you have any additional information about this, please contact me. I'm also told that in the August 2006 issue of Beckett Anime Insider there is a section called anime amour in which Riza and Mustang's relationship is discussed. They say "Their relationship might be subtle but it's there, they prove a relationship doesn't have to be lovey dovey to be strong." It also says "Roy and Riza share a level of intimacy that goes beyond words. They never say I love you but it is clear that they do love each other. Roy and Riza are not simply lovers but also friends and companions in the journey toward completing Roy's goals."
Maes Hughes: Maes Hughes is more of a family man than anything else- he loves his wife more than a man should at his age, he carries tons of pictures of his beloved daughter, and he's never unprepared for an opportunity to show home movies. He's like a living Kodak commercial.
Maes is serious about his job, but he has a more positive outlook on life then his fellow comrades. He needs to be cheerful for Roy Mustang's sake anyway- if not for his cheerful outlook, Roy would be in deep remorse... or worse.
Maes doesn't care about promotions or power, he just wants to be able to support his family and friends, and more than anything have fun.
Maes Hughes gets killed by Envy. He has had other ranks besides "Major".
Some time after the events concerning Lab 5, Hughes finds out some information about Miss Douglas, a secretary. Somehow she had been involved with the military in the past. While he was walking down the hallway to the room where he was supposed to talk to Dr. Marcoh, Maes explained to her what he had found out. "Who are you?", he asked. She didn't answer. "Is Marcoh really behind that door?" No answer. "I guess I'll find out." He grabbed the doorknob and then Lust emerged from another door and attacked him.
Hughes managed to escape the building, with "Lt. Ross" behind him. Then he noticed that this person wasn't Lt. Ross, because she had a mole under her left eye. It was Envy. Then Envy tried to attack him, but Hughes cut her throat and walked away. Envy then transformed into Maes Hughes' wife and shot him.
Maes Hughes starts the series as a Major, and is promoted to Lieutenant when Roy Mustang becomes a full Colonel. After Lt. Hughes is killed in action by Envy, he is promoted to Brigadier General at his funeral.
Jean Havoc: Jean Havoc is one of Col. Mustangs most trusted men. He is known for smoking his cigarette practically everywhere, even when he's driving people place to place such as Ed and Roy.
Sad to say even though Jean is a cutie (in my opinion) he is very unlucky in love. Roy has been known to steal his dates, leaving him miserable but still loyal. In episode 37, he got dumped by a girl that decided she rather go out with Roy instead. Roy, hearing this, decided that Jean should get a girlfriend and ended up meeting Major Armstrong's sister who was quite pretty despite her brother's weirdness.
Unfortunately, she ended up breaking Jean's poor heart and saying that she preferred the strong type like her brother, and with that she lifted up a piano (scary) and poor Havoc was a little freaked out. Don't worry, Havoc, us fangirls still love ya!
Alex Louis Armstrong: Armstrong is from a long line of Alchemist's who have joined the Military. Along with becoming a state Alchemist like the rest of his line he also has learned the alchemy that runs through his blood line. With his great strength and with the metal glove on his hand with an array on it, he can use his alchemy to send energy through rock and make a normal floor into a floor full of stone spikes.
His build also mirrors his alchemy since Armstrong is built like a rock, having ripping muscles that he loves to show off every so often by ripping off or removing what ever shirt he is wearing at the time.
Armstrong is like a gentle giant and wouldn't hurt a fly unless he had to, and even then he would still not like it. He is well known for ripping his shirt off, bursting into a stream of tears at the mention of a brave act, and babbling about the many things that have been carried down his family for generations. When he bursts into tears or babbles about his family history, he becomes profusely surrounded with pink sparkles.
He's also a little vain and likes to transmutate stones and buildings with his image... and he even makes friends through his muscles.... like with Izumi's husband... (Izumi is Edward Elric's teacher).
Librarian Sheska: Private Sheska was a librarian who was responsible for organizing and keeping records of all of the books in the First Branch of the Central City library. She is known for her tendency toward hysterical panic as a coping mechanism. By the time the Elric brothers had arrived back in Central, she has been fired from the library for lackluster performance. Sheska has a photographic memory when it comes to books, and her ability to recite them verbatim enabled the Elric Brothers to obtain Tim Marcoh's notes, which were destroyed in a fire created by Lust and Gluttony.
She is recruited (or rather, "kidnapped") by Hughes to help him works at military tribunal of East Area, which records had also been destroyed during fire on 1st Branch of the Central City Library (and which she also reads and remember). Later, after Hughes death, in one scene she's helping Mustang to research the death of Hughes, which lead to the Ross' scape-goating.
Sony's Aniplex anime DVDs and website spell her name as Sheska, although FUNimation's anime DVDs and television closed captioning spell her name as Scieszka (similar to Polish term Sciezka standing for "path" or "trail", specifically one well-traveled).
Sergeant Denny Brosh: Sergeant Denny Brosh, almost always seen with Lieutenant Ross, is rather nosy and lazy yet good natured and amusing when he wants to be. He has a resemblance to Edward. Like Ross, he also works under Major Alex Louis Armstrong. He loves to tease Ed about Winry, until one point when Ed becomes very annoyed, he accused him as "lovey-dovey sergeant", causing him to fall in despair (humorously). It is hinted that he had some feelings toward Maria Ross.
In Central, he and Ross are assigned as bodyguards for the Elric brothers and attempt to help them find Dr. Marcoh's notes. They later rescue Edward and Alphonse after the two brothers are badly hurt from their investigation of the 5th Laboratory. Brosh and Ross literally knock some sense into Edward at the hospital where they have taken the brothers while reprimanding him for undertaking something so dangerous after Major Armstrong forbade them. After Edward informs them they need not be so polite towards him despite his higher military rank,[13] Brosh treats Edward in a more casual manner. They do the same "treatment" with Al before do it with Ed, which cost Sg. Bosch his hand (which he used to smack Al, whose body is an armor).
In the manga, after Armstrong goes on "vacation" (in reality, he snuck off with Edward to find the supposedly dead Maria Ross) in the east, Brosh (who had become very depressed with the loss of Ross) greets him and asks the Major about his vacation. Recalling that Ross had warned him that Brosh was incapable of keeping a secret and could not lie to save anyone's life, Armstrong avoids telling Brosh the truth concerning Ross, but does slip Brosh the same hint Mustang gave him to tell him Ross was in the east.
Sergeant Major Kain Feury: Master Sergeant Kain Fuery is a kind young man who cares for animals and everyone else. He was the one who brought Black Hayate into the Eastern Headquarters, though he freaked out about Riza's methods of training. He is part of Roy Mustang's group and is the lowest-ranked member. Fuery is extremely talented with radio signals.
Fuery and Black Hayate save Riza when she is ambushed by Gluttony at the top of a tower where she was using a sniper rifle to protect Havoc, Falman, and Barry the Chopper, who were fighting below. In the wake of King Bradley realizing that Roy knows about his true nature, Fuery is transferred to Southern Headquarters as a means of breaking up Mustang's team.
Fuery may be a mispronounciation. It is believed his name was to be Huey, like the army helicopter. There is no "hu" sound in Japanese; the "letter" that "hu" would be theoretically is "fu".
Warrant Officer Vato Falman: Warrant Officer Vato Falman is one of Roy Mustang's subordinates at Eastern Headquarters. He is known for his good memory and precision with information, but has relatively little field experience.
When Riza Hawkeye comes across Barry the Chopper in Central, Mustang has Falman interrogate Barry to confirm that he is actually who he is, despite reports that Barry is dead. When the fact is confirmed, Mustang tells Falman the latter need not get involved with whatever the former is getting into. Falman expresses his loyalty to Mustang, that in spite of the dangers of working for Mustang, he fully intends to support him anyways. A reluctant Falman ends up babysitting Barry and keep him away from public view under Mustang's orders.
In the wake of King Bradley realizing that Roy knows about his true nature, Falman is transferred to Northern Headquarters as a means of breaking up Mustang's group. In chapter 65, it is revealed that shortly after his transfer to Northern Headquarters, Falman was promoted to Second Lieutenant and was transferred again to Brigg's Fortress (although then he was only tasked with such menial works, that slightly depressed him), where he is reunited with Edward and Alphonse.
When Brigg's Cliff comes under attack by Sloth, Falman and the Elric brothers help defend the fortress by forcing Sloth outside, where a combination of fuel oil for Major General Armstrong's tanks and the freezing cold temperatures common to the northern region paralyze Sloth. Since Major General Armstrong sensed the Elrics were hiding something from her, she ordered her men to arrest Ed and Al for their own protection, and ordered Falman arrested since he knew the Elric Brothers. Later, while out of earshot of the men a Brigg's Cliff, Falman helps the Elric Brothers determine the orgin of the tunnel Sloth dug by providing Ed with a map of Amestris, a compass, and information on the major battles the country had been involved in since its creation. With the data Falman supplies, Ed draws a transmutation circle around Amestris, which surprises Falman. When Major General Armstrong considers her next move, Falman suggests that she ask Mustang for help; however, Armstrong declines to do so.
As the names of all military personnel in Fullmetal Alchemist are army and aviation-derived (the P-51 Mustang, Howard Hughes, and Breda Meccanica Bresciana, for instance), it is possible that "Falman" is a mistransliteration of "Farman". Unlike his anime counterpart, Falman has apparently never been a subordinate of Maes Hughes. In addition, he did not have to beg to be transferred to Central with Mustang, and was chosen instinctively like the other four and had become one of Mustang's group soon after the Ishbalan War.
Lieutenant Maria Ross: Second Lieutenant Maria Ross is put in charge of taking care of the Elric brothers during their stay in Central. She is a subordinate of Major Alex Louis Armstrong and the partner of Sergeant Denny Brosh. She's a serious person when needed to be, sensible, but overall a kind woman.
She and her partner were assigned the task of guarding the Elrics in Central due to Scar's previous attempt on Ed and Al's lives. While they appreciate the concern, Ed and Al view Ross and Brosh more as annoying "chaperones" than actual bodyguards. Ross and Brosh help the Elrics find Dr. Marcoh's notes on how to create a Philosopher's Stone and later rescue them after the brothers are badly hurt at the military's 5th Laboratory. Thanks to Ross, they are brought to a clinic run by a friend of hers rather than a military hospital to ensure what Elrics were researching prior to their investigation of the 5th Laboratory is not uncovered their military superiors. Ross and Brosh literally knock some sense into Edward while reprimanding him for disobeying Major Armstrong's orders not to investigate the lab and putting himself and Alphonse in such danger. Ross tells Edward that while he is capable of taking care of himself, he is still a child and should know that he can trust adults like herself and Brosh. When she did it, she apologize at first, and waiting for her punishment (although Ed states after that that he's the one who guilty, and eventhough he had major rank, he's not intended to use it, and prefer to be treated like normal child. Lt. Ross and Sg.Bosch become very relieved with this, and develops more casual relationship in no time)>
In the manga, she is accused of murdering Lieutenant Colonel Hughes. With the help of Mustang and his gang she fakes her death in Central and flees to the country of Xing to the East. Before departing she meets Edward and asks him to not tell anybody about her escape including her family and Sergeant Brosh, in order to protect them. Grateful for Mustang's help she asks that Armstrong and Breda convey to Mustang that she would risk her own life and return if he should ever need any help from her.[12]
As many of the military personnel in Fullmetal Alchemist are army/aviation-derived, it is possible that she is named after the Canadian Sir Charles Ross of the Ross Rifle.