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thedrifter
12-23-08, 02:35 PM
Swartz Creek man gets waiver from the military to continue new career as state trooper
Posted by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal December 23, 2008 13:54PM

SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan -- Jeffery Rodgers spent nearly five months training for a job he wasn't sure he would be able to keep.

The Marines wanted him back and Rodgers couldn't say no -- even if it meant the end of his chance to become a state trooper.

As he studied and ran beside his classmates at the state police training academy in Lansing, Rodgers didn't know if he would end up patrolling I-75 or Baghdad.

The mystery didn't help an already rigorous regime that weeded out 18 of his 101 classmates along the way.

"There wasn't a minute of wasted time," said Rodgers, one of only two Genesee County recruits in the state police academy.

His training was nearly derailed in October when the military ordered him to report to Kansas for a day of tests to determine if he was fit to return to duty.

Rodgers had already finished four years of active duty but his military contract included a condition that he serve four years of inactive duty, during which he could be called back to serve.

But missing just a couple of days of state police training could have meant his dismissal from the academy, so he was granted a waiver to delay the test.

He continued his schooling, waiting for word from the military.

It wasn't until the eve of his graduation Friday that Rodgers found out he was staying put.

"It was a relief," said Rodgers.

Although the Department of Navy put him on notice in late September that Rodgers could be called back to active duty, he got word from a staffer in the office of U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee, D-Flint, last Thursday that he had been granted a waiver.

"It's good news," said Kildee.

Rodgers had already requested a waiver and Kildee said he pushed for it to be granted, telling military officials that Michigan does not hold training academies every year and it could be a long wait before the next one.

"(Dropping out of this academy) could have changed his whole life," said Kildee.

Rodgers has been assigned to a state police satellite post in Groveland Township and will spend the next 17 weeks finishing his training on the road.

His first day, Monday, was spent handling traffic crashes.

His wife, Nikki, is thrilled he won't be leaving her and their two young children and Rodgers said he is excited about his new career.

"I'm looking forward to making a difference," he said.

Ellie