A career as a conservation ranger / a publication of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Law Enforcement Section

GA-
~OOGZA CAREER AS A
2001
C\> CONSERVATION RANGER
A Publication of: GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTION IEPT. UTIUI. IUIIICES

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION RANGER?
A Conservation Ranger (more commonly known as a "Game Warden") is a peace officer certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and is employed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A Conservation Ranger enforces wildlife, environmental, boating, and other State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations in assigned areas. Patrols are made by vehicle, boat, aircraft, ATV and on fool. Conservation Rangers conduct hunter and boater education classes and informative presentations for interested groups concerning hunting, fishing, boating, anti-littering, and environmental laws.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT
Necessary legal requirement: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, be a citizen of the United States, be eligible to obtain a valid Georgia driver's license at the time of appointment, and meet all requirements for certification as a peace officer by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Minimum Education and Preferred Experience: Requirement: Completion of an associate's degree OR completion of at least 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university.

Preference: Preference will be given to those applicants who already possess experience and knowledge in the areas of hunting, fishing, boating, and other related outdoor activities. Also, preference will be given to applicants with an associate degree or higher with a major in a related field such as Wildlife Management, Criminal Justice, Natural Sciences, or Forestry.
THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
Georgia Merit System examination: Applicants must pass a written examination, which is administered by the Georgia Merit System the second Monday of every month. Depending on the exam score, an applicant may be contacted to continue the employment process.
Background investigation: An applicant may not have been convicted of any crime, for which the punishment has been imprisonment in a federal or state prison, nor shall he/she have been convicted of sufficient misdemeanors to establish a pattern of disregard for the law. Each applicant must successfully pass a polygraph examination. The polygraph examination will consist of a series of questions dealing with substance abuse and/or criminal activity.
Physical skills: An applicant must pass a physi cal agility test demonstrating physical skills, which may be used in the performance of duties as a Conservation Ranger. The physical agility test
consists of the following events: l/4 mile run, 1/4mile
obstacle run, and 50-yard fully clothed swim. Oral interview: Each candidate must compete for
current vacancies before a panel of experienced Conservation Rangers. The panel of Rangers will ask each candidate a series of structured questions to determine the applicant's experience and knowledge in the areas of hunting, fishing, boat ing, and related outdoor activities. The applicant's appearance, demeanor, verbal skills, and ability to make sound judgments will also be assessed during the interview. Medical Examination, Drug Screening, and Psychological Evaluation: All applicants must successfully pass a thorough medical examina-

tion by a licensed physician. All medical standards must be met in the areas of vision, hearing, ENT, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, rectal, hernia, genital/urinary, back and neck, extremities, nervous system, emotional stability, and laboratory analysis. (For a complete description of the above medical standards, contact the Department of Natural Resources' Training Academy at (478) 9934540 or (478) 993-4545.
ASSIGNMENTS
Applicants for Conservation Ranger positions must be available and willing to work anyWhere in the state of Georgia. ASSignments vary from county responsibilities to boating safety positions on lakes and reservoirs and coastal saltwater.
TRAINING
Each Conservation Ranger must successfully complete 18 weeks of mandate law enforcement training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia. Upon completion of this training, the applicant will become both a Conservation Ranger and a certified Peace Officer. The next step in the training process is a probationary field-training period. Conservation Rangers also receive annual in-service training updates consisting of a minimum of 20-hours each year. Conservation Rangers may also apply for advance training, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, National Boating School, Federal Marine Law Enforcement Training Program, and the FBI National Academy.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Starting Salary: $27,185 - $29,382 Regular salary increases: Employees are con-
sidered for performance based salary increases annually. Health/Hospitalization insurance: Under the State Health Benefit Plan, employees may choose single or family coverage. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) are also available to employees in some portions of the state. Optional insurance programs: Life and dependenl life, accidental death and dismemberment, short and long term disability, dental, vision, and legal insurance are available to all stale employees. Leave accumulation: Employees with up to 5
years of service may accumulate lV. leave days
per month; from 6 - 10 years of service, lVJ leave days per month; beginning with the 11th year of service, 1% leave days per month. State Employees' Credit Union: All state employees are eligible to join the credit union. Deferred Compensation Program: This program allows eligible employees to put aside a portion of their pay before state or federal income taxes are deducted and to build financial security for retirement above and beyond what their basic retirement plan may offer. Retirement: Minimum qualifications are age 60 with at least 10 years of creditable service. With

30 years service, employees may retire at any age. To qualify for disability retirement, one must have at least 13 years and 4 months of service and be permanently disabled from further performance of duties. Death benefits: Generally, employees are insured at 18 times their monthly salary under the Employees' Retirement System Group Term Ufe Insurance program.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTION
VISION STATEMENT The vision of the Law Enforcement Section is to ensure that Georgia's natural resources will be conserved for our present and future generations.
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Law Enforcement Section is to conserve our natural resources and to protect the people we serve. We maintain public support through fair and vigorous law enforcement, quality education, and community involvement. We commit ourselves to our Vision and Mission by practicing our core beliefs, which are 1D.1, fairness, and professionalism.
TRUST IS OUR FOUNDATION The people we serve are entitled to the highest level of integrity in our public and private actions.
FAIRNESS IS OUR DOCTRINE We conduct our duties without favoritism or bias.
PROFESSIONALISM IS OUR CREED We are committed to courteous, effective, and efficient service.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Write or call the DNR Training Academy at 1000 Indian Springs Drive, Forsyth, Georgia 31029, (478) 9934540 OR (478) 993-4545 or send an e-mail 10: DNR_Training_Academy@dnr.state.ga.us
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer.
Printed 02/01/01