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Note: The Recruit School graduation is set for Thursday, Dec. 21. We will issue a final graduation recap blog Friday, Dec. 22.
The countdown begins as recruits have graduation in their sights
Week 22: Dec. 10-16, 2017
Blame it on the giddiness of being outside during the season’s first major snowfall. Or maybe it was the tranquil glow of the burning roadside flares against the dusky winter sky. Or maybe … naah.
Let’s just call it what it is: 22 recruits who are nearing the finish line, blowing off a little steam and temporarily  escaping the pressures they’ve faced since entering the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Recruit School in July.
How else do you explain an impromptu chorus of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” sung by recruits as they learned to deploy roadside emergency flares, with their good-humored assistant Recruit School commander playing conductor? It was a sure sign that after 22 weeks of intense training, these young men and women finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Their time at the academy is growing short and graduation is days away.
The passing weeks have seen an evolving relationship between instructors and recruits. Make no mistake – a veteran conservation officer’s scowl or admonishment still can make a recruit’s heart skip a beat. But that’s becoming rare. After 22 weeks, recruits have worked hard to prove they belong in the ranks of those who wear the green and gray uniform.
Instructors have their fingers on the academy’s pulse, and instinctively know when to tighten the reins or ease up. They now are likely to punctuate their teachings with a little humor, friendly teasing and creativity. When information is shared, their exchange with students has become more of a dialogue between law enforcement professionals. It’s a different atmosphere from the academy’s first weeks, when nervous recruits had to clear the lump in their throats before asking questions.
Still, this is Recruit School, and lighthearted moments such as the roadside singing quickly give way to the seriousness of the academy’s mission. But just for a while, amid the puffy snowflakes and laughter, the class of Recruit School #8 managed to soothe the academy’s rigors with a little holiday cheer.
On target
It was a short weekend as recruits returned early Sunday to take care of some final business. They had to qualify with their backup guns and participate in familiarization drills. This completed the 97 hours of firearms training recruits received since the academy began, making them proficient with four separate weapon systems. Conservation Officer Richard Stowe emphasized to recruits the importance of being proficient with all weapons assigned to them. These men and women must be ready to tackle any situation that confronts them during their careers.
Orderly response
Monday morning’s classroom session was led by 1st Lt. Jennifer Wolf, who explained the nature and importance of the  Incident Command System. The system is a hierarchical structure followed by first responders during emergencies. The logistics involved with multiple first-responder agencies can be complex. Police, fire departments and ambulance services all may use various radio frequencies, making communication difficult. Incident Command is structured so all responding agencies can communicate and understand their roles once they arrive on scene.
Recruits spent the afternoon with Dean Molnar, assistant chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, refining their public speaking skills. Conservation officers must be comfortable addressing various groups, as they frequently devote time to educating citizens on issues such as safe hunting and boating. The assistant chief also addressed the class about community policing and ethics in policing.
Explosive behavior
Tuesday, the class turned its attention to learning about explosive devices, with instruction by various Michigan State Police instructors. Recruits became familiar with types of explosives a law enforcement officer may encounter while on patrol. Having the ability to identify explosives is critical to ensuring public safety.
Learning the code
Instruction by the Michigan State Police continued into the afternoon as recruits immersed themselves in Michigan’s Motor Vehicle Code. The state’s motor vehicle laws are designed to reduce crashes and save lives, and these future conservation officers will help enforce these laws on all public roadways. To top it off, the Motor Vehicle Code covers  much of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) licensing exam, which recruits must pass to graduate the academy. With the test only days away, recruits had to absorb as much information as possible to prepare.
Environmental protection
Wednesday morning’s focus was on vehicle and driver licensing, under the guidance of Conservation Officer Stowe. That was followed up by Conservation Officer Troy Van Gelderen and Ms. Jami Selden-Manor of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, who walked the class through issues such as traffic warnings, citations and arrests.
Switching gears in the afternoon, recruits learned about environmental crimes from detective Daniel Kennedy of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Conservation officers enforce a variety of environmental laws and work closely with their DEQ counterparts. Environmental issues may range from illegal dumping to tire burning.
The class then moved to instruction on traffic control and devices, led by Conservation Officer Shannon Kritz and Cpl. Patrick McManus, assistant Recruit School commander. Recruits braved wintery conditions to learn about controlling  accident scenes and using equipment such as roadside flares to maintain traffic safety.
There was no let-up Wednesday evening as recruits had to tackle their MCOLES exit physical fitness test, which consists of a vertical jump, situps, pushups and a half-mile shuttle run. It was the same test recruits took when they entered the academy, and each recruit successfully passed the exit standards.
The lessons continue
The end of the week was just as busy as the beginning. Thursday began with a class on mental illnesses and how people who are diagnosed or undiagnosed with one may act. This type of education is important for law enforcement officers because it may help differentiate between individuals who are under the influence of drugs and those who need medical assistance.
Thursday evening brought recruits to the second-to-the-last academic hurdle they must pass to complete the academy. A cumulative legal exam tested their knowledge based on the 60 hours of legal instruction they’ve received.
A little variety
Friday, Sgt. Jason Wicklund, Recruit School commander, added some welcome variety to the academy’s routine by treating the class to a few hours of imaginative physical training at District 5 Extreme Air Sports in Lansing. Recruits couldn’t get enough of the ninja warrior course, and competed in a few wicked rounds of basketball and dodgeball. It was a fun perk that recruits earned for making it this far.
Within reach
Recruits wrapped up their last full week at the academy when they left Friday. It’s not hard to imagine the thoughts that raced through their minds as they walked to the parking lot. It’s been a long haul, but their goal is within reach. The next time they pack their bags and walk out the door, it will be with gold badges on their chests.
Subscribe to the weekly conservation officer academy blog, which also will be posted on the Michigan DNR Facebook page. View previous blogs from Recruit School #8.
/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Snowy_serenade: Heavy snowfall during a recent training exercise prompts cheerful recruits to sing a Christmas carol. Instructors always have their fingers on the academy’s pulse, and with graduation fast approaching, they decided a little levity was in order to ease recruits’ stress.
Grinding_it_out: Sgt. Jason Wicklund, Recruit School commander, stands watch as recruits undergo their final physical fitness tests before graduating the academy. The tests included a vertical jump, situps, pushups and a half-mile shuttle run.
A_‘flare’_for_training: Conservation officer recruits practice lighting roadside emergency flares during training. Recruits must learn to control accident scenes and maintain safety for all motorists, as they likely will respond to such situations during their careers.
Having_a_ball: Recruits take a break from a fun bout of physical training at Lansing’s District 5 Extreme Air Sports. The class was treated to a few hours of enjoyable, team-centered physical activity such as the ninja warrior course, basketball and dodgeball. It was a perk granted by instructors as graduation approaches.
Illuminating_discussion: Cpl. Patrick McManus, assistant Recruit School commander, demonstrates the use of a roadside emergency flare during a recent practice session. Flares are important tools for law enforcement officers when controlling accident scenes to ensure the safety of motorists.
Letting_loose: Recruits squeeze in some fun during training by singing a Christmas carol as Cpl. Patrick McManus, assistant Recruit School commander, plays conductor. With graduation only days away, instructors are rewarding recruits for their hard work by lightening up the academy’s atmosphere a bit, without compromising its serious mission./
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.
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