The Designation Process
The ARFF Designation Program is a two-level process. The first level is the Airport Master Firefighter (A.M.F.) program and the second level is the Airport Fire Officer (A.F.O.). Candidates wishing to enroll in these programs must meet certain requirements to pursue and obtain either designation.
The following are the program requirements:
Airport Master Firefighter (A.M.F.)
- Three years of documented experience as an ARFF
- Completion of a 40 hour ARFF training program
- Completion of National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, and 700 training
Airport Fire Officer (A.F.O.)
- Minimum of six years documented experience as an ARFF (not required to hold a formal rank)
- Successful completion of the Airport Master Firefighter (A.M.F.) program
- Completion of a 40 hour Incident Command/Management Level Training
- Examples of acceptable courses would be the Preparation for Initial Company Operations (PICO) and Strategies and Tactics for Initial Company Operations (STICO), Command and Control Classes from the National Fire Academy, NIMS 300 & 400, a Fire Officer I Program, or a college level management course
- Emergency Management Institute IS 120 – An Introduction to Exercises Course (on-line self-study course)
- Emergency Management Institute IS 130 – Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning Course (on-line self-study course)*
- Emergency Management Institute IS 139 – Exercise Design Course (on-line self-study course)*
*Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) L-146 class will count as equivalency for both the IS-130 and IS-139 courses
Candidates are required to provide, at the time of application, all required certificates and documentation for each of the program prerequisites. All documents must be reviewed by the candidates ARFF Chief or lead ARFF official and submitted by the candidate along with the signed cover by the ARFF Chief or lead ARFF official verifying program prerequisites.