Pounding out a rhythmic beat with their heavy boots, 89 men and women marched into the Lansing Center's Main Ballroom as Michigan State Police recruits - and left as troopers.
Recruits from the 120th Trooper Recruit School graduation were sworn in and received their trooper badges on Thursday, after about five months of intense training. It was the first class of troopers in four years to go through the school.
Willie Hulon, the Acting Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, addressed the recruits and commended them for graduating into "a world transformed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."
There is now a need for the communities and the state and national levels of law enforcement to work together in the fight against terrorism, Hulon said.
"We all play together in a big puzzle ... that comes together in the end to protect our country," Hulon said.
Graduate Trooper Nathan Hopp, 24, from Rogers City, is the third of his family to earn a badge. One of his cousins is a sergeant in Washtenaw County, and another is a Michigan State Police post commander at the Traverse City Post number 71.
"It's overwhelming. I can't believe it's here," Hopp said. "It's a dream come true - something I've been waiting four years to do."
The school provided training in first aid, writing reports, firearms, patrolling and defensive tactics, which includes high-speed driving techniques.
Michigan State Police Trooper Chris Croley, who taught defensive tactics at the recruit school, said he was proud of the graduates.
"It's a great accomplishment and the staff feels just as good," said Croley, who works at the Lansing Post number 11, 7119 N. Canal Road. "It's a great feeling, to see how these people were and how far they've come."
He said the amount of time between recruiting classes depends on state funding.
"This helps the workforce out in the field," Croley said of the large class. "It helps each post a little."
He said the recruits now move on to probationary trooper status for the next 18 weeks and that it takes about six years to get to upper-level positions. He added he did not think any future classes were planned yet.
Graduate Trooper Carissa Schneider, who is assigned to the Lansing post of the Michigan State Police, was one of four graduates honored with a special award at the ceremony. She received the Outstanding Performance Award, and said she was honored.
"This is the toughest thing I've ever done," she said of the training. "It's an accomplished class and I feel - it's so hard to describe - like I just climbed the biggest mountain and made it.
"There is still a long way to go, but it feels great."
