In 1898 Carter was appointed mustering officer for Georgia and Tennessee, responsible for recruiting and swearing in officers for the volunteer units formed to fight the Spanish–American War.[7]
In 1900 he was appointed a captain in the Porto Rico Regiment, a volunteer organization raised shortly after the end of the war.[8]
In 1909 Carter began two years of service on the Army General Staff. He was promoted to major in 1911.[7]
From 1912 to 1914 Carter served as a member of the Cavalry Board, the committee charged with reviewing tactics, weapons and equipment, and making recommendations for improvement.[9]
In 1914 Carter was again assigned to the 3rd Cavalry, serving on the Mexican Border in Texas during unrest caused by the Mexican Revolution.[10]
Pancho Villa Expedition
Carter served as a squadron commander with the 12th Cavalry in Panama in 1916. Later that year he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 12th Cavalry on the Texas–Mexico Border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.[11]
World War I
In 1917 Carter was appointed to head the Militia Bureau, the forerunner of the modern National Guard Bureau. He served until mid-1918, helping federalize and mobilize National Guard units for World War I. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1917 and temporary major general later that year.[12][13][14]
In August, 1918 Carter was appointed commander of the 11th Infantry Division, at Fort Meade, Maryland, and began training in anticipation of front line service in France. The Armistice took place before training was complete, and the division did not leave the United States.[15]
Carter received the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his World War I service.[16] The citation for the medal reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Jesse McIlvaine Carter, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Chief of the Militia Bureau, General Carter conceived and directed the organization of the United States Guards and utilized these and other forces most effectively in the important work of safeguarding the utilities and industries of the Nation essential to the prosecution of the war.[17]
Post World War I
Carter reverted to his permanent rank of brigadier general after the war, and returned to the Militia Bureau. Until his retirement he advocated for reforms to the National Guard, including a plan to have state Adjutants General be appointed from among officers of the regular Army. He also planned for the National Guard's post-war reorganization and reequipping, taking steps to standardize training and other requirements in order to align them with the regular Army.[18]
After retiring from the Army, Carter was employed by St. Louis's Missouri-Lincoln Trust Company as manager of its Texas holdings. He later worked as a manager for the Wharton Development Company.[20]
