Sergeant Roland Roger is the Guy on the Cover of Black Ops 1

As an avid Call of Duty fan, the first detail I noticed about the Black Ops box art was the stern soldier featured so prominently. His name is Sergeant Roland Roger, a member of the US Army‘s famous "Big Red One" 1st Infantry Division. That red "1" patch is unmistakable and offers the first clue into Sgt. Roger‘s role in the story.

Sgt. Roland Roger and the Big Red One – Bringing History Into Black Ops

The 1st Infantry Division, first assembled in 1917, is the longest serving division in the US Army. Throughout World Wars 1 and 2, Korea, Vietnam, and more, the Big Red One established themselves as a formidable fighting force.

Treyarch brought the iconic unit into Call of Duty: Black Ops to connect the game‘s fictional cold war story to actual military history. Sgt. Roger leads the player on several covert missions as part of the Studies and Observation Group (SOG).

The Big Red One patch on Sgt. Roger‘s arm grounds the experience in a sense of authenticity and respect for real-life soldiers.

Sgt. Roland Roger‘s Vital Presence Throughout Black Ops

As expected, Sgt. Roger assists CIA operative Alex Mason on several dangerous assignments across Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and more. In fact, the very first mission is the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, where Mason is rescued by Roger‘s 1st Infantry squad.

This early save not only cements Sgt. Roger as a key ally but also triggers important memories for Mason‘s confusing brainwashing ordeal.

A tense scene from the covert SOG missions

Later in the game, players control Sgt. Roger directly on a daring assault in Vietnam to assassinate a high ranking military officer. Overall, the character provides support, leadership, and critical story beats throughout the entire campaign.

The Iconic Black Ops Cover Art

So why was Roland Roger singled out as the face of Call of Duty: Black Ops? As the key art, his image had to instantly convey the essence of this interpretation of the Call of Duty franchise.

Looking closely at Sgt. Roger‘s stoic, battle-hardened posture and thousand-yard stare, players immediately get a sense of the gritty, clandestine tone Treyarch aimed for.

The dirt and fatigue on his uniform hint that this is no typical gung-ho action hero, but rather a soldier worn down by endless shadow wars and complex conspiracies. This mirrors the complexity developer Treyarch weaved into Black Ops‘ narrative.

Sgt. Roger‘s cold intensity refelcts Black Ops‘ tone

Furthermore, I speculate Treyarch also wanted to acknowledge the real special forces who carry out similarly dangerous black operations.

While the characters like Alex Mason are fictional, the iconic Big Red One patch grounding Sgt. Roger in history pays tribute to actual CIA/SOG units who remain shrouded in secrecy.

The Key Players of Black Ops

To fully appreciate Sgt. Roger‘s role, it helps to understand the other central characters from a gameplay perspective:

• Players control Alex Mason for most of the campaign. As his forgotten memories unravel, the complex story forms.
• Frank Woods assists Mason on several SOG missions. Their friendship provides moments of humanity amid the shadow wars.
• Hudson directs the overall CIA operations while pushing Mason to recapture intel through CIA brainwashing techniques.

Sgt. Roger blends fiction with real military history through the iconic Big Red One patch. His presence maintains excitement around covert missions while paying respect to actual armed forces lore.

The Quintessential Black Ops Soldier

As a Call of Duty expert and gaming commentator, I believe Sgt. Roland Roger is the perfect encapsulation of everything that makes Black Ops such a memorable high point for the series.

Treyarch pushed the envelope by bringing the franchise into murky moral territory tainted by conspiracy and fanaticism. Sgt. Roger visually captures that unsettling feeling on the timeless cover art with his thousand-yard stare.

Meanwhile, the proud Big Red One insignia keeps one boot firmly planted in reality – honoring the real special forces who carry out essential black operations.

So to answer the question simply:

Sergeant Roland Roger of the US 1st Infantry Division is the mythic soldier on the cover of Call of Duty: Black Ops, grounding the game in historical military legacy while ushering the series into unsettling new directions.

When I glance at Sgt. Roger on my Black Ops case, I‘m reminded of the endless hours my friends and I spent in stunned silence digesting that gripping story. We all wondered what other secrets this soldier had witnessed across those cold, unforgiving battlefields.

That alluring air of mystery and homage to actual spec ops veterans is why Sgt. Roger belongs on this iconic art. Treyarch definitely chose the perfect character to represent everything that makes Black Ops so special.