The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has a comprehensive basic training program for all conservation ranger recruits. The Conservation Ranger School consists of 16 weeks of vigorous training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. The training is coordinated and conducted by veteran officers who not only have years of experience, but who have prepared themselves as trainers by attending numerous instructor training programs and by spending much time involved in research and lesson preparation. Other professionals from various public safety agencies and from such institutions as the University of Georgia are involved in presenting the many subjects related to the duties and responsibilities of a conservation officer. This paper relates some of the experiences of a ranger trainee who graduated as a member of the 12th Basic Conservation Ranger Class in June 1989.
