The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live — What is the CRM?

The CRM plays a major role in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live — here’s everything you need to know about the organization and what they do.

As The Walking Dead went on, viewers were introduced to several communities of survivors. From Hilltop to Alexandria, all were different, but none had a support system like the CRM.

Appearing in the main series a handful of times (and across the various spinoff shows), the CRM became a looming shadow over rest of the characters. In the latest addition to the universe, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, they’re more prominent than ever.

But what is the CRM exactly, and why are they so important? Here’s everything you need to know about the mysterious organization. Warning: minor spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

What is the CRM in The Walking Dead?

In The Walking Dead, CRM stands for the Civic Republic Military, a military force that serves the authoritarian civilization known as the Civic Republic.

The Civic Republic, founded after the outbreak, operates out of Philadelphia. With a goal of rebuilding society and human civilization, the Civil Republic consists of around 250,000, who supposedly hold democratic power.

AMC

However, they operate under complete secrecy and security, meaning they have strict laws and methods of maintaining control. While not featured in the comic books, The Civic Republic appears in The Walking Dead Seasons 8 and 9, as well as in its spinoff shows World Beyond and The Ones Who Live. (The CRM also appears in Seasons 5, 6, and 7 of Fear the Walking Dead.)

The CRM itself is the military and police force that protects and serves the Civic Republic. It’s a sophisticated organization, with a large weapons arsenal, supplies, and helicopters at its disposal.

Although their task is to protect the city, their authoritarian ways and harsh rules make them antagonists. Ultimately, they are responsible for the Genocide of Omaha, a chemical strike mission that killed tens of thousands of residents in the alliance city of Omaha, to avoid a potential famine.

The CRM in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Rick is initially rescued then held captive under the CRM at their base in Philadelphia.

He was picked up by the CRM following the Season 9 bridge explosion that almost killed him. Ultimately, he ends up spending several years with the organization after his supposed demise in The Walking Dead Season 9.

As Rick tells it, the survivors they bring in are referred to as “Consignees”, and complete tasks (such as killing walkers or growing food) for a minimum of six years before they can live in the city as residents.

They also have a rather questionable system of filtering their residents. When brought in, survivors are designated as either A’s or B’s. The former are considered to be useless, as they are either unwilling to fight or unable to. B’s, meanwhile, are strong people who can serve a purpose within the Civic Republic.

A’s are sent to the Civic Republic Research Facility in Ithaca for studies and virus research, while B’s remain in Philadelphia.

Rick doesn’t trust the CRM, and it’s quickly evident that the republic hosts a network of secrets and hidden alliances that all interfere with his mission to escape. However, he ends up training as a CRM solider under the encouragement of Lieutenant Colonel Okafor. He also’s placed in charge of the conversion of a new military base, becoming one of their most valued soldiers.

For more on The Walking Dead, find out how to watch The Ones That Live, and learn more about the last time we saw Rick Grimes and Michonne.