Q: I am currently a corporal in the U.S. Marines. I am deployed at the moment but will be home on leave soon. How do I get information on becoming a state trooper? — Paul (hometown of Buchanan).
A: Paul, first, thank you for your service. Many troopers have a background with the military as the military gives us leadership skills, respect for chain of command and a physical fitness regime. The first step is the civil service test. This test is a video based test, which includes 54 video scenarios, putting the applicant in the position of a police officer responding to a situation. You are to give an answer as to what action you would take. This will test your personal interaction skills. The second part of the test is a reading comprehension evaluation and the third is a report writing test. In this portion of the test the applicant is shown a crash or crime scene with a sample police report. Another scene is then shown for the applicant who then writes the report, using proper verb usage, capitalization, and punctuation.
After the recruiting section receives your passing score, which is maintained for five years, and a recruit school is scheduled, the applicant is sent an education and experience (E&E) questionnaire and a date for the physical fitness test. The E&E is turned in and after a passing score on the fitness test, a prescreening interview is conducted. The applicant then completes another questionnaire and all results are sent to a local background investigator. The investigator will conduct a lengthy interview and begin the background check, which can take up to 40 hours in some cases. When the background check is completed and if the applicant is invited to continue the process, an oral board is conducted and, when that is passed, the applicant is offered employment. After the applicant accepts, medical and psychological testing is conducted and a beginning date is given to the applicant, who now becomes a Michigan State Police recruit.
The rewarding academy is held in Lansing and runs about 20 weeks. The day begins at 5 a.m. and concludes with taps at 10 p.m. The day includes physical fitness training, classroom instruction, driving, shooting and first aid, along with many other topics to become qualified for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) test. The training continues at the post with the Field Training Officer program.
These steps can be found in detail on the state police website, WWW.Michigan.Gov/MSP. By clicking on “Law Enforcement Training Opportunities,” another screen will appear. “Careers and Recruiting” is next and then on the next screen is “Selection Process.” The eleven steps of applicant processing can be found there. There is other information on that page also.
Sgt. Claire Coulston and I are recruiters for this area, along with Tpr. Maurice Burton at the Bridgman Post. If you have any questions or to get started with the application for the civil service test, please call.

Email your questions to trooperrob53@yahoo.com.