Joe Jackson entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1901 as an enlisted man, won the distinguished marksman badge in 1913, and was promoted to an officer in 1917. Jackson was the first great internationally known shooter produced by the Marines. He won innumerable national, marine, and service titles and competed internationally for the United States in 1920, 1922, 1923, and 1924. He later became a captain and coach for the marine shooters before retiring from the service in January 1932.