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Training Academy No. 13 blog

Line of people being checked into a building

Weeks 1-3: Routine

Jan. 5-23, 2025: The first few weeks of the training academy are all about routine, discipline and learning how to respond under pressure – a skill set COs will use during their entire career. 
Weeks 1-3
Group of people standing in line, jumping into pool

Week four: More than fish and game

Jan. 26-30, 2025: In the classroom, recruits learn about sensitive general criminal topics, including crimes against persons, domestic violence and sexual assault. As licensed law enforcement officers, COs must be prepared to properly handle these complex situations. Meanwhile, back in the gym, academy staff continue to push recruits with basic physical training exercises and send recruits “deep diving” in the tank.
Week four
Recruits practice handcuffing in a gym

Week five: Working as a team

Feb. 2-6, 2025: During week five, recruits realize the training becomes more intense each week. As they learn to communicate and support each other, they often find success and their determination to succeed increases.
Week five
two people straightening cafeteria tables

Week six: Facing challenges

Feb. 9-13, 2025: Recruits continue to learn how operate as a team, find value in going through hands-on scenarios and face a challenging legal exam.
Week six

Training Academy No. 12 Blog

group of officers smiling, standing outside in front of a building

Week one: Building bonds

Sept. 5-9: Twelve officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the state begin their 10-week fish, game and recreational safety, education and enforcement training. These individuals come to the DNR as established law enforcement officers who made the career change to become conservation officers.
Week one
conservation officer talks to two duck hunters standing by a canoe in a pond during a scenario

Week two: Waterfowl school

Sept. 11-15: The 12 probationary conservation officers from Training Academy #12 team up with Training Academy #11 at the Bay City State Park Recreation Center to learn the tips and tricks of everything waterfowl.
Week two
officers laying in the grass target shooting with rifles

Week three: Firearm training

Sept. 18-21: Even with several years of law enforcement and firearm experience, the probationary COs were still excited to learn new rifle, shotgun and sidearm techniques and skills.
Week three
A man digs in the dirt to place a foothold trap

Week four: Trapping school

Sept. 24-29: PCOs were excited to spend the week in the Houghton Lake area for trapping school. One of the week's highlights included learning coyote and bobcat specifics from a world-renowned wildlife biologist and trapper.
Week four
student and instructor run towards a injured scenario actor sitting on ground

Week five: Survival tactics and first aid

Oct. 2-6: Training Academy #12 gains confidence during survival tactics and first aid training to not only help others, but to also save themselves. Week 5 included intense scenarios but was described as "the most beneficial medical training that I received." 
Week five
four officers standing in front of a memorial

Week six: Big and small game, wildlife necropsies and more

Oct. 9-14: Probationary COs became certified hunter safety education instructors, had the chance to hit the skid track with their patrol trucks, were humbled by the history of those who came before and learned much more on their journey to complete Training Academy #12.
Week six
man on pool deck pulls someone out of pool

Week seven: Water safety

Oct. 15-20: Two intense scenarios and the well-known ice bath were highlights of water safety week. With varying water abilities, probationary COs learned basic water skills, then expanded on each technique to build confidence in the water.
Week sevens
Person measuring a fish on the ground next to a bucket

Week eight: Fish identification

Oct. 23-27: Things get a bit “fishy” during Week 8 of the Conservation Officer Training Academy #12. This week’s author, from Plainwell, Michigan, describes all the fish identification and enforcement activities he and the other officers experienced. 
Week eight
12 officers wearing orange safety vests stand smiling by a lake

Week nine: Search and rescue and ORV patrols

Oct. 29-Nov. 3: Training Academy #12 ventured onto public land in Roscommon County for search and rescue and off-road vehicle training. Read about the search and rescue tactics, making a fire with minimal supplies and the twists and turns of ORV training.
 
Week nine
Group of men stand in auditorium, hugging each other and shaking hands

Week ten: Graduation

Nov. 6-9: The final week of Training Academy #12 had finally arrived! But before the 12 probationary COs could walk across the graduation stage, they had to face the pressure of one last, physical test.
Week ten