Warden trainees receive firearms training from F.B.I, instructors. 



LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 



During the past biennium, outdoor recrea- 

 tion has continued to expand. The use of Mon- 

 tana wildhfe resources reflects this expansion. 



An efficient and well-trained field force of 

 wardens is important to the proper administra- 

 tion of the wildlife resource. Basic to having 

 this type of force is the selection and training 

 of new wardens. 



Training and Supervision of Personnel 



To meet this need for competent and well- 

 trained personnel, the Department has entered 

 into a new training program for its law en- 

 forcement officers during the past biennium. 

 The training program is designed to have the 

 trainees as close as possible to full job knowl- 

 edge when they step into their newly assigned 

 districts. 



The game warden's job has grown to a 

 complex job involving not only law enforce- 



ment but also assistance in game management, 

 fish management and public relations. 



The new warden is no longer given a badge 

 and law book and sent into the field to sink or 

 swim, nor is he taken under wing by an old 

 hand. These methods may have been less 

 costly money-wise but were less effective and 

 expensive public relation-wise. With the new 

 training program, the warden after his one 

 year probationary period has a greater job 

 knowledge. 



The program, an individual training and 

 development program, was designed to in- 

 crease the versatility and efficiency of the em- 

 ployee in work assignments, thereby develop- 

 ing a well-trained work force to improve the 

 cooperation, efficiency and economy of de- 

 partment operations. 



Upon employment, the new warden is in- 

 troduced to the first of four portions of the pro- 

 gram. He attends an orientation and training 



27 



