I welcome you to the Marine Corps Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue Association (MCAFFRA). In the late 1980s, our association was formed by a group of Vietnam War-era crash crew Marines to be able to reconnect with those they served with. We have since reorganized and become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which will lead us into the future.
We strive to be the first place Marines that have served as Aircraft Firefighters come for camaraderie and information. Whether they are looking to connect with other crash crew Marines, glean new information about how our hazardous exposures and service-related disabilities are being handled by the VA, or learn about post-service employment opportunities and associated hiring processes, our goal is to be a readily available resource to help make those connections.
We recently established a scholarship fund to assist Marines and their families in furthering their education, and continue to hold annual reunions to maintain that camaraderie we all enjoy. These reunions are held in various locations and have allowed Marines from multiple generations to share memories and experiences from their time in service.
We are just scratching the surface of what this organization can accomplish and look forward to helping it evolve and grow. The Marines of crash crew are the fuel that drives the association as well as the glue that holds it together.
I am proud to be associated with all of you and hope to see you at a reunion or online in the near future.
Semper Fi!
Isaac ‘Ike’ R. Diehl
President, Marine Corps Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue Association
