After six months of training, 15 men and women graduated yesterday morning as members of the state Natural Resources Police.

In a 90-minute ceremony at the Anne Arundel Community College auditorium, graduates marked the end of 23 weeks of day and night classes that included navigation and seamanship, conservation and constitutional law, firearms training and drug enforcement. The training was conducted at the Natural Resources Police Academy in Stevensville.

All 15 graduates are certified as emergency medical technicians and have earned credits toward a degree in law enforcement from Chesapeake College. Before they report for duty in eight Maryland counties, the officers will train in the field for three months with experienced officers.