Conway, Arkansas – Eleven new game wardens have officially joined the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Enforcement Division after completing an intensive training program and taking part in a graduation and swearing-in ceremony in Conway.
The ceremony was held Sept. 11 at Antioch Baptist Church, marking the end of 18 weeks of training for the new officers. The graduates had spent much of that time living at the H.C. “Red” Morris Training Center near Mayflower during the week before returning home on weekends.
Their training began May 10 and included 835 hours of instruction. The program covered a wide range of skills needed for wildlife law enforcement, including self-defense, firearms, first aid and rescue, criminal law and enforcement of the state’s wildlife code.
The new wardens went through the academy after a selection process that began in the fall of last year. According to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials, hundreds of people applied, but only 16 candidates were ultimately selected to enter the academy after interviews and extensive background checks.
By the time the program ended, 11 candidates had completed the training and were ready to begin their work as game wardens.
Aarron Casey of Pocahontas was selected to speak on behalf of the graduating class during the ceremony. In his remarks, Casey reflected on what it meant to receive the badge and become part of the agency’s law enforcement tradition.
“The badge we are receiving isn’t just a piece of metal; it is a legacy that [the graduating class] has now earned the privilege to carry forward,” Casey said.
Several graduates were also recognized for outstanding performance in different areas of the training program.
Caleb Faulkner of Horseshoe Bend received the Physical Fitness Award. The honor recognized his performance in several physical tests, including the mile-and-a-half run, 300-meter run, sit-ups, push-ups and bench press.
Firearms training was another area where a graduate stood out. Ethan Johnson of Mountain Home earned the Top Gun Award after recording the highest firearms score among the cadets. He finished the training with an accuracy rate of 98.44%.
Miles Hermann of Hot Springs received the Edward H. Armstrong Memorial Excellence Award. The award is given to the cadet who achieves the highest overall grade point average during the training program.
The academy also placed a strong emphasis on water safety and rescue skills, an important part of the work for game wardens in a state with extensive rivers, lakes and other waterways.
Wesley Cornish of Warren earned the Survival Swimming Award for having the top performance in water-rescue exercises. The training is designed to prepare future game wardens to help people involved in boating accidents and other emergencies in or around the water.
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Cornish received another honor as well. Fellow cadets selected him for the Joel Campora Memorial Outstanding Achievement Award. The award recognizes the class member who best represents qualities including honor, pride, professionalism, camaraderie and selfless service.
The completion of the academy represents the beginning of a new stage for the 11 graduates. Their training covered both the physical demands of the job and the legal responsibilities involved in enforcing Arkansas wildlife laws.
The selection process itself was highly competitive, with hundreds of applicants considered before the academy class was formed. The graduates then spent 18 weeks working through a demanding schedule of classroom instruction, practical exercises and specialized training.
With their graduation and swearing-in complete, the 11 new officers are now joining the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Enforcement Division. Their preparation included not only traditional law enforcement skills but also areas specifically connected to protecting wildlife, enforcing regulations and responding to emergencies in Arkansas’s outdoor environments.
