Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police Recruitment

This page includes information and requirements for applicants for positions with the Fish and Wildlife unit of the DNREC Natural Resources Police.

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant must:

Be at least 20 and a half years old
Completed of an academy approved by the Delaware Council on Police Training (COPT)
Have a valid driver’s license
Complete of a NASBLA-approved boating education course within 90 days of employment

Educational Requirements

Preferred Qualification: Possession of hunting and trapping education certifications

The applicant must have an associate’s degree or higher in criminal justice, natural resources, conservation, environmental science, sociology or related field or (in lieu of a degree):

Possession of a high school diploma
Six months experience in conducting investigations which includes conducting interviews to obtain confidential information, gathering evidence and documenting findings
Six months experience in applying natural resources laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures
Six months experience in narrative report writing

Conditions of Hire

Pass a written test
Interview
Pass a physical fitness test (requirements below)
Pass Swim Assessment (requirements below)
Pass a Criminal Background Check
Pass a Pre-Employment Drug Screening
Pass Medical and Psychological Examinations

Physical Fitness Test

The physical fitness test includes three elements — sit-ups, push-ups and a 1.5 mile run. Applicants will be given short recovery periods between each test. They will not be allowed a second attempt to pass any test they fail on their first attempt.

One-Minute Sit-up Test

The sit-up test is used to measure the muscular endurance of your abdominal muscles. You will be asked to perform as many sit-ups as possible in a one-minute period. Your score will be the total number of correct sit-ups that you are able to perform in one minute. The minimum standards required to pass the sit-up test are as follows:

	Age 20 – 29	Age 30 – 39	Age 40 – 49	Age 50 – 59	Age 60+
Male	33	30	24	19	15
Female	24	20	14	10	3

One-Minute Pushup Test

The pushup test is used to measure the muscular endurance of your upper body. These muscles include your anterior deltoid, pectoralis major, and triceps. You will be asked to perform as many push-ups as possible within a one-minute period. Your score will be the total number of correct pushups that you are able to perform in one minute. Female applicants may perform modified pushups. The minimum standards required to pass the pushup test are as follows:

	Age 20 – 29	Age 30 – 39	Age 40 – 49	Age 50 – 59	Age 60+
Male	22	17	11	9	6
Female	10	8	6	N/A	N/A
Female Modified	17	11	6	6	2

1.5 Mile Run

The 1.5 mile run test is used to measure your aerobic capacity. You will then be asked to run 1.5 miles as quickly as possible. The minimum finishing times required to pass the 1.5 mile run test are as follows:

	Age 20 – 29	Age 30 – 39	Age 40 – 49	Age 50 – 59	Age 60+
Male	14:06	14:34	15:32	17:30	19:10
Female	16:46	17:38	19:43	21:57	22:44

Water Confidence Assessment

The water confidence assessment is made up of three elements – swimming, treading water and diving. The inability to complete any of the portions of the test as described will result in a failure being recorded.

100-Yard Swim

This test will be used to verify that the participant has some basic swimming skills. For this portion of the testing, the participant, wearing only a bathing suit, will begin in the shallow end of the swimming pool. The participant may employ any desired swimming stroke or combination of swimming strokes for the completion of the assessment. The participant may use the end walls of the pool for the completion of turns but may NOT use the sides or the bottom of the pool for the attainment of rest periods during the event. This assessment is untimed.

Treading Water

This test will be used to verify the participant’s ability to tread water for a minimum of five (5) minutes. For this portion of the testing the participant will disassociate from the pool edge and will tread in water at least seven (7) feet deep, for a minimum of five (5) minutes. Treading water is defined as pumping your arms and/or legs, maintaining an upright position, and keeping your head above water. Floating is not permitted.

The participant may NOT use the edges of the pool for the attainment of rest periods or contact the bottom of the pool during the event.

Headfirst Surface Dive

This test will be used to verify the participant’s ability to dive and retrieve an object at a minimum depth of seven (7) feet. For this portion of the testing, the participant will begin in a least seven (7) feet of water and no deeper than twelve (12) feet of water. The participant may have physical contact with the pool edge at the start of this event. At the audible start signal, the participant sill disassociate themselves from the pool edge, tread water and perform a head first surface dive in at least seven (7) feet of water and no deeper than twelve (12) feet of water and retrieve an object.

The participant will have a maximum of three attempts to retrieve the object from the bottom of the pool.