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Training Academy No. 13 blog

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
Line of people being checked into a building

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
Group of people standing in line, jumping into pool

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
Recruits practice handcuffing in a gym

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
two people straightening cafeteria tables

Week seven: Useful skills and scenarios

Feb. 18-21, 2025: This week's author, a 23-year-old recruit from Hart writes about mental health crisis training, daily academy routines and the start of water safety week (one of the most intense trainings of the academy). 
Week seven
people practicing water rescues

Week eight: Ice bath

Feb. 23-27, 2025: This week's recruit writer shares their appreciation for the traditional four-minute ice bath and how, despite being a former competitive college swimmer, still learned new ways to move in the water, amongst many other new topics covered during Week 8.
Week eight
Two lifeguards sit next to a man who is sitting in a tub full of ice.

Week nine: Water safety

March 2-6, 2025: Recruits are halfway through their stay at the MSP training academy before they relocate Roscommon. This week’s writer, a U.S. Coast Guard active reservist from Texas, highlights the reality of CO job functions as the class faces one of the most intense training scenarios of the academy.
Week nine
person swimming under water in a pool

Week 10: First aid

March 9-13, 2025: A recruit from Coldwater, Michigan writes about first-aid training and scenarios, standardized field sobriety testing, and how they enjoyed being able to apply their previous experience and training as a pre-certified law enforcement officer with the rest of their class.
Week 10
man evaluating a baby doll during first aid scenario

Week 11: Firearm fundamentals

March 16-20, 2025: Recruits began learning basic firearm fundamentals, slowly advancing their training throughout the week. They also expanded their skillsets for working with people of various cultural backgrounds and beliefs, and they focused on the importance of self-care to prevent health and wellness risks that come with law enforcement jobs.
Week 11
people shooting firearms at a indoor range

Week 12: Community support

March 23-27, 2025: Recruits completed training that prepares them to respond to mass emergencies within their communities (such as natural disasters), participated in an event for Michigan Special Olympics, learned about the Fourth Amendment and continued lessons related to standardized field sobriety. 
Week 12
woman doing a canon ball into a tank of water outside

Week 13: Emergency vehicle operation

March 30-April 4, 2025: Despite being a longer week than usual, recruits enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere during what was voted as the best week of the academy (so far).
Week 13
A patrol truck navigates through a cone course

Week 14: Challenging week

April 6-10, 2025: This was one of the most physically and mentally challenging weeks so far, according to this week’s author, a 24-year-old recruit from Belleville, Michigan.
Week 14
people stand in a line outside with their arms locked to each other

Week 15: New tactics and challenges

April 13-17, 2025: This week's recruit writer, a 24-year-old from Fenton, shares the excitement of receiving their department-issued long guns as the class advanced to new tactics and challenges. They also write about challenges faced when preparing for their marksmanship evaluation.

Week 15
people shooting at indoor shooting range

Week 16: Furs, firearms, ST prep and more

April 20-24, 2025: Teamwork continues to be a theme throughout the 26-week Conservation Officer Training Academy. This week's author, a 26-year-old from Auburn, shares their personal growth over the course of the academy while recounting this week’s firearms training, preparation for survival tactics exams, learning about furs, and much more.

 
Week 16
Six people pushing a truck outside on a track

Week 17: Reality of the job

April 27-May 1, 2025: From rifle qualifications to long-distance runs, this week at the academy was anything but easy. Recruits pushed their limits, passed the toughest tests yet, and finally received the big news they’ve been waiting for!

Week 17
A survival tactics instructor demonstrates proper officer positioning to a student inside a gym

Week 18: On the move

May 4-8, 2025: Recruits had many milestones this week as they wrapped up 18 weeks of intensive training at the Michigan State Police Training Academy facility in Lansing, including the grueling “MURPH” workout.

Week 18
group of people standing together in a gym, smiling with an American flag

Week 19: First full week in Roscommon

May 11-15, 2025: From early morning "log" workouts and in-depth Taser certification, to honoring fallen heroes during National Police Week, the first week in Roscommon was packed with action, learning and purpose.

Week 19
recruits stand outside in ceremony formation

Week 20: Search and rescue

May 18-23, 2025: Recruits gained invaluable skills for real-world search and rescue missions, participating in land navigation, tactical tracking, fire-starting, wilderness first aid and more.

Week 20
three people use binoculars in the woods

Week 21: Earning a new milestone

May 27-29, 2025: As intensity increases, so does the excitement for TA13 recruits, who spent a week in the woods for search and rescue and dive into the basics of trapping. Meanwhile, they hit a milestone as a token of their unity and progress.

Week 21
people doing pushups outside of a cabin in the dark

Week 22: Revved and ready!

June 1-5, 2025: Recruits geared up for one of the most unique and exciting parts of becoming a conservation officer — off-road vehicle training! 

Week 22
side-by-side operates up a hill

Week 23: Bread and butter

June 8-12, 2025: Recruits focused on advanced survival tactics, big and small game laws, field dressing deer, and participated in patrol simulations. 

Week 23
student talks to a instructor in the woods during a scenario

Week 24: Getting fishy

June 15-18, 2025: This week at the academy was all about fish—identifying them, understanding laws and regulations, and practicing enforcement. 

Week 24
student checks an angler during a scenario

Week 25: On the water

June 22-26, 2025: Despite challenging weather conditions, recruits spent the week on the water for hands-on marine training on Lake Margrethe.

Week 25
boats parked on a beach

Week 26: The final week

June 30-July 3, 2025: After 26 intense weeks of grit, growth and training, the recruits of Training Academy No. 13 earned the badge. But even during the last week, there was no slowing down.

Week 26
group of people stand on stairs, smiling outside of a building

Training Academy No. 12 Blog

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

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
conservation officer talks to two duck hunters standing by a canoe in a pond during a scenario

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
officers laying in the grass target shooting with rifles

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
A man digs in the dirt to place a foothold trap

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
student and instructor run towards a injured scenario actor sitting on ground

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
four officers standing in front of a memorial

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
man on pool deck pulls someone out of pool

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
Person measuring a fish on the ground next to a bucket

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
12 officers wearing orange safety vests stand smiling by a lake

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
Group of men stand in auditorium, hugging each other and shaking hands