The Marine Corps Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 39-4625906) dedicated to preserving the legacy of crash crew while supporting the Marines and their families who have served this critical mission across all eras.
Our Association was originally founded in the late 1980s by Vietnam-era crash crew Marines looking to reconnect. Since then we have grown to see nearly every decade of crash crew represented — from the very beginning of the MOS until now. During that time the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) has gone from 6461 to 7051 and the title has transitioned from Crash, Fire, Rescue (CFR), to Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (AFFR/ARFF), and to Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue (EFR). What has not changed is the dedication of the Marines serving in that role to protect the aviators and aircrews that directly support our ground combat warriors.
The Marines of crash crew have long stood at the forefront of emergency response — protecting lives while safeguarding aircraft and property in some of the most hazardous environments imaginable. Their actions have established a legacy of excellence that continues long after their service ends. Many of our members served their entire careers in the Marine Corps, with some of them becoming Warrant Officers and serving as the Officer in Charge, equivalent to a civilian Fire Chief. Many others took their real-world experience and had long careers in the fire service, serving in every rank and title within airport, municipal, industrial, and federal Fire Departments. The rest have gone on to successes in law enforcement, business, and a myriad of other professions.
