Recruit Training School
What to expect at ICO Recruit School
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) Recruit School is run by the ICO Training Section and is a 16-week long para-military-type academy split up into three (3) phases. The first phase is six (6) weeks long and designed to push the recruit to his or her limits. It is physically demanding and the recruit is pushed to a point where he or she wants to quit and will show that you can push past that point.
CO Recruit School is physically and mentally demanding. The job of an Indiana Conservation officer puts you in harm's way not only because of the environment we work in, but often dealing with armed subjects far away from backup with no option to quit.
During ICO Recruit School you will run more the 200 miles and do more than 15,000 pushups among other physical training (PT). This culminates during graduation week in the 10-mile run held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Led by the training staff and recruit school drill Instructors, the 2006 Recruit School time was 91min., 26 sec.
During the first 6 weeks, along with PT, you will learn military drill, case management, report writing, fish kill investigation, evidence collection, boater education, hunter education, watercraft enforcement and laws among other topics and be introduced to firearms training with our issued .45 cal. sidearm, M16-A4 patrol rifles and Remington 870 shotguns.
The second phase is the field observation phase (FO) which lasts four (4) weeks. The ICO Recruit will ride with a veteran ICO in the area the recruit lives. This phase is designed to allow the recruit to observe the day to day duties of ICOs in the field. This is an observation phase only and at no time can the recruit take enforcement action. The recruits are evaluated daily during all three (3) phases and the points received determine the ranking of the recruit at the end of Recruit School.
Phase three (3), which is the final six (6) weeks, consists of continued physical training (PT). The Recruit is introduced to firearms law, wildlife identification and ATV/snowmobile laws and operation. Recruits will travel to Warsaw, IN, for a week of waterfowl law and scenarios, get river patrol training on the Wabash and Ohio rivers and cave rescue training, the recruits will travel to South Bend, IN, for a week of ICO River Rescue School where you will learn victim and self rescue. During week five (5), phase three (3) you must qualify with your issued firearms and will be introduced to defensive tactics (DTs).
During graduation week you must pass DTs and the 10 mile run. Recruits will have an exit interview with members of the executive staff and training section and at that time the recruit will be notified where he or she will be assigned around the state based on operational needs. Graduation is held at the State Capital and your oath will be given by the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.
ICO Recruit School is not for everyone. But if you have a strong commitment to protecting the natural resources and the citizens of the state of Indiana and meet the minimum requirements, we encourage you to send your name and mailing address to ICOrecruit-testing@dnr.IN.gov you will be put in a data base to be notified of the dates and location of our next testing sites.
Lt. Kerry Griffith
ICO Training Section
317-232-4014
