Committed to serve – and be fit
Week 1: Jan. 3-9, 2016
When the 24 conservation officer training academy recruits stepped from their vehicles the night before, lining up in formation outside the state police training academy, they had agreed to certain terms. As future Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, they would uphold state law, protect Michigan’s natural resources and serve the public – including conducting search and rescue, ice rescue and other lifesaving operations.
It all begins
Monday morning, Jan. 4, the first day of training, began as every morning would for the entirety of the 22-week academy: Reveille at 5 a.m., physical training at 6 a.m., followed by breakfast and room and uniform inspections. Classroom instruction begins at 8 a.m.
 The recruits were met in the classroom with words of encouragement from DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler, Assistant Chief Dean Molnar and Lynn Ried, who is from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). The remainder of the morning was spent with Mr. Ried, who went over all licensing requirements to become a law enforcement officer in Michigan.
Words to live by
The recruits spent Monday afternoon with Conservation Officer (CO) Patrick McManus, learning about a healthy diet, the importance of daily exercise routines and disease prevention.
Before leaving for the day, CO McManus told the class, “When you chose law enforcement, you lost the right to be unfit.” That simple statement certainly would gain meaning for the recruits over the next six months.
The theme continued into Tuesday with health and wellness training until lunch. The recruits were issued their laptops that afternoon and spent the next four hours with Sgt. Jason Wicklund, becoming oriented to their computers and important computer programs they will use in the field.
The following morning began and ended with marching, saluting and formations as recruits worked hard to perfect these movements. More computer training with Sgt. Wicklund rounded out the afternoon.
The test
 The focus Thursday was the MCOLES physical fitness test, which all recruits must take to enter the academy. They will be tested again when they exit the academy, and their scores must be higher. After pushups, situps, a half-mile shuttle run and vertical jumps, the recruits knew where they stood. With their baseline scores in hand, it would now be up to the recruits to work toward achieving the higher standards. The 6 a.m. physical training routine just took on new meaning.
Back in the classroom, CO Bobbi Lively walked the recruits through fish and game laws, building a solid foundation for what they will use throughout their careers.
No. 1 resource
Thursday afternoon, the recruits were introduced to what will become one of the most important resources during their time at the academy. This year, the six full-time members of the academy staff will serve as mentors. Each mentor was assigned four recruits.
 “My staff will be with the recruits throughout the academy, and they'll see the recruits at their best and at their worst,” said Sgt. Wicklund. “We have all gone through this academy; we've sat in the same seats, we've experienced the same fears they will face, and so recruits can talk freely to staff about their struggles. The mentors will understand, and can give the recruits the motivation they'll need to overcome their obstacles.”
By Friday afternoon, the end of week one, the recruits were still unaware of what obstacles they may face – challenges that have the potential to be their sticking point. However, one thing was clear: With guidance from their mentors and through hard work, commitment, determination and sheer drive, these recruits will overcome, as did the many before them.
Following the full, exhausting and exhilarating first week, the recruits were dismissed for the weekend and told to report back Sunday night, ready to tackle week two.
Subscribe to the weekly conservation officer academy blog, which will also be posted weekly on the Michigan DNR Facebook page. View past blogs from Recruit School #7.
# # #
/Photo details: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Physical training.jpg: Running in formation is part of the recruits’ daily physical fitness training. The recruits will start out running a slower pace and shorter distance before adding to pace and distance each week.
Physical fitness test.jpg: Thursday morning, recruits completed their entry Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) physical fitness test, which they must take to enter the academy. They will be tested again at the end of the academy and their scores must be higher.
Classroom.jpg: The recruits, seated alphabetically, spent a good portion of week one in the classroom. On Tuesday, they were issued their field laptops and spent the next four hours delving into essential computer programs they’ll use daily as conservation officers./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
|
