Jamie Franks is a US Navy Veteran and a competitive shooter known for being on the History Channel's marksmen competition show Top Shot. After performing well in Season 2, Franks was invited back to compete on Top Shot Allstars.[1] Since competing on Top Shot, Franks has focused more on competitive shooting and has competed in multi gun.
Jamie Franks grew up in a rural area outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, in a family of hunters and shooters on his family's tobacco farm. He spent much of his childhood exploring, hunting, and roaming the backwoods of the Southeastern United States. Even as a child, Franks aspired to a career in the military. From an early age his father would let him shoot all of his guns once he was old enough to handle them safely.[2]
At age 6, Franks received and quickly became proficient with his first BB gun. A few years later he got his first .410 shotgun and a .22 rifle, leading to his career in shooting. He continued to push himself to be a better shooter and spent a lot of his time in the woods hunting.
Seeking to further his skills with firearms, Franks joined the Navy. Initially he trained as an Operations Specialist and later applied to and was accepted in the Navy SEAL's BUD/S program. He was unable to complete BUD/S for medical reasons. Franks finished the Navy Expeditionary Combat Skills and Practical Weapons courses and Anti-Terrorism Force Protection/Deadly Force Training, which is required by all Navy personnel. He continued to work as an Operations Specialist (RADAR Operator) and Navy Rescue Swimmer (a collateral duty, not to be confused with Navy Special Warfare Rescue Swimmers) on six overseas deployments including tours in Afghanistan in 2009, 2010 and 2011. While in Afghanistan Franks was assigned to a Counter-IED task force.[3]
After Season 2 of Top Shot, Franks became the EOD Mobile Unit-3 SAILOR of the Year in 2010[4] as an O.S. and was qualified to be an Expeditionary Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor (ESAMI) by his command.[5] In 2017 Franks was selected for Navy Chief Petty Officer.
Currently serving as an LCAC Craftmaster Instructor having never deployed.
In 2011, Jamie Franks appeared in Top Shot Season 2 on the History Channel. Franks was selected by the team captain and was a member of the Red team. Franks made it to the individual portion of the competition, where he was given a Green shirt. Franks was eliminated in Week 11, when he went up against the eventual Top Shot Season 2 Winner, Chris Reed, in the "Down to the Wire" Challenge.[6]
Franks was brought back in 2013 to compete in Top Shot Season 5 titled Top Shot All Stars. Franks was eliminated in Week 7, when he shot against Gary Quesenberry in the "Thread the Needle" Challenge.
Since competition on Top Shot, Franks has continued his competitive shooting career in multi-gun.[7] He has competed in the 3-Gun National Semi Pro Series where he won one match,[8] and finished in the Top Five eight times and finished among the Top 10 eleven times.[6]