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The CRM designates people they find as A's and B's. A's have a strength. A's will die for what they believe in. People follow A's. The people we cross in the world, the few we bring in, they're classified as B's. Everyday people who are just trying to survive. B's get in. A's are sent away and killed, except you two.
A's and B's is a recurring topic in The Walking Dead television universe. Generally, it refers to the CRM's ranking system, but there have been other instances of A's being used that have no known connection to the CRM.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Donald Okafor, the CRM uses "A" and "B" as a ranking system for other survivors that they encounter out in the world. "A's" are considered to be leaders willing to die for their cause while "B's" are ordinary people just trying to survive.
Due to a belief that "A's" are too dangerous to bring in, the CRM disposes of any "A's" that they encounter. However, rather than just killing the "A's", the CRM takes them to the Civic Republic Research Facility where they become Dr. Lyla Belshaw's test subjects in studying reanimation. According to Lyla, most of them are already bitten when they come in, suggesting that the CRM has the "A's" bitten before transport. It's unknown if this has changed since Lyla's death and the research facility getting overrun by a massive horde.
The only "A's" allowed to survive and join the CRM are Rick Grimes and Pearl Thorne. Rick was falsely labeled as a "B" by Jadis and then later protected by Okafor who had been the one to bring in Thorne. Okafor's reasoning was that "A's" hold the key to changing the CRM for the better from the inside. Major General Beale noted that under normal circumstances, Rick wouldn't have been allowed into the consignment program much less the organization itself. Rick later successfully helps Michonne to cover up her status as an "A" so that the CRM will see her as a "B" instead and let her in. This is in part due to Thorne speaking on Michonne's behalf at Rick's request. Jadis later tells Rick that the CRM suspects that Michonne is an "A", but they let her in because of Thorne's intervention, impressing Jadis that Rick had managed to pull it off.
"B's" are taken to the Civic Republic Military Base and placed into the consignment program, working on the outskirts culling walkers for energy and protection, growing food, and managing water and waste, essentially becoming indentured servants for six years to earn themselves a place in the Civic Republic itself. After finishing out their consignment, "B's" become full citizens and are given jobs based on their skills and experiences, such as Esteban Garcia being made Deputy Manager of Water and Power of Ward 3 as soon as his consignment's over, subsequently receiving a promotion to manager.
Due to trading Rick to the CRM, Jadis was allowed to skip consignment and become a citizen of the Civic Republic right away.
After Rick comes to the Scavengers for help, Jadis imprisons him and marks an "A" on the shipping container that he's imprisoned in, signifying her intention to trade Rick as an "A" to the CRM. (The King, the Widow, and Rick) Jadis subsequently tries to have Rick bitten by one of her walker pets as a part of this, but Rick manages to overpower the walker and force Jadis to concede. (Time for After)
After The Scavengers Massacre, Jadis captures Negan (The Key) and tries to have him bitten by another one of her walker pets so that she can trade him as an "A" and get a new life with the CRM. However, the struggle between the two causes Jadis to miss her chance. (Still Gotta Mean Something)
After spotting a CRM helicopter flying overhead, (The Bridge) and being wrongly accused of murder, Jadis returns to the Heaps and makes contact with the pilot who at first asks if she has an "A" or a "B" for them and confirms that the CRM had nothing to do with the missing Saviors. After some haggling, the pilot tells Jadis that it will take an "A" for the CRM to pick her up and instructs her to meet with the "A" the next day. (Warning Signs)
After overhearing the conversation, Gabriel confronts Jadis who admits that she had traded people and had intended to do that with Rick and Gabriel when she'd had them captive. Jadis had traded "A's" and "B's" to the CRM for supplies for her people. (Warning Signs)
After Gabriel refuses to go with her, Jadis knocks him out, commenting that she had always thought that Gabriel was a "B." (Warning Signs) Although Jadis tries to have Gabriel bitten to trade as an "A," she can't go through with it as Jadis cares about Gabriel too much. (The Obliged) Subsequently, Jadis lies to the CRM that she has an "A," and appears to be planning to force her way onto the helicopter instead. (What Comes After)
After the bridge explosion, Jadis finds Rick, badly wounded but still alive, washed up downriver. As the CRM helicopter arrives, Jadis contacts the pilot and tells the man that she has a "B" and lied about having an "A." Calling Rick a friend who had saved her life and stating that she wants to do the same in return, Jadis begs the pilot to help Rick. The pilot ultimately accepts this and airlifts Jadis and Rick out. (What Comes After)
The helicopter that takes Rick has an "A" painted on the side. (What Comes After)
Huck confronts Jadis about trading someone's life to get into the Civic Republic. Jadis admits that she had someone special, an "A", but she lied that he was a "B" so that Rick wouldn't end up as a test subject because Jadis owed him that much. (The Last Light)
"B's" are revealed to work for six years in the CRM's consignment program doing labor for the CRM at the end of which they are allowed into the city. Esteban Garcia finishes out his consignment and is given a job as the Deputy Manager of Water and Power for Ward 3, later receiving a promotion to manager. (Years)
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Okafor reveals the truth about "A's" and "B's" to Rick Grimes and Pearl Thorne and that they're both considered to be "A's." Okafor reveals that the only reason that Rick and Throne were allowed to live is because of Okafor who believes that "A's" hold the key to changing the CRM for the better. Major General Beale also references this, mentioning that under normal circumstances, Rick wouldn't be allowed into the consignment program, much less the military itself. (Years)
Although not stated, the little girl that Rick and Thorne bring in is presumably classified as a "B". (Years)
When Rick agrees to join his plan, Okafor comments that if they succeed, there will be no more "A's" and "B's". (Years)
After reuniting with Michonne, Rick helps her to concoct a cover story, ordering Michonne not to let the CRM see that she's strong and a leader. Michonne manages to fool the CRM and is allowed into the consignment program as a "B." (Gone) It's later revealed that while the CRM suspected that Michonne was an "A", Rick got Thorne to speak up on her behalf. Jadis admits that she's impressed that Rick actually pulled it off. (Bye)
After arriving in the Civic Republic, Jadis reveals the story behind the Scavengers' trading deal with the CRM to Rick, insisting that she had saved his life as Jadis could've identified Rick as a threat instead. Jadis is also allowed to skip consignment because of her trading Rick. (Bye)
After realizing that Jadis is dead, a heartbroken Gabriel creates a giant A in the rocks of a beach as a makeshift grave marker for her. (Become)
In her dossier, Jadis reveals the truth about her knowing all along about Rick being an "A" instead of a "B" and the true threat that he and Michonne pose to the CRM. (The Last Time)
What do you have? An "A" or a "B"?" "Was it you? Did you takethem?" "No pickups. But the deal still stands. Will you have an "A" or a "B"?" "Neither. It's just me. I paid my share." "You've been compensated." "What will it take?" "An "A"." "An "A"." "Tomorrow.
Tell me the truth. Answer my questions. You traded people, yes?" "Yes." "That's what you were gonna do with me, with Rick." "Yes." "Why?" "For supplies. For my people. It didn't start that way. It just... It just ended up there.
Jadis, confirm location. Confirm location and status of your "A"." "I'm in a clearing. East bank of the Accotink. 1.6 miles due north of the Junkyard." "You have the "A"?" "I have the "A", and it's ready for transport." "We hadn't heard from you since the aborted pickup. We know your group vacated the landfill. If this is a trick, there can still be consequences." "It's not a trick. If I need evacuation, you know that I'm desperate. I need to leave this place. You know where to find me. And I'll be ready.
I have a "B." Not an "A." I never had an "A." He's hurt, but he's strong. Can you help him?" "I warned you there'd be consequences if you tried something." "It's not a trick, not anymore. I'm trying to save a friend -- a friend who saved me. I have something for you now. Do we have a deal? Do we have a deal?
My mother lost her way. But this -- This was always who you were. You traded someone to get into the CR, right? That was your ticked in? Somebody's life?" "People are a resource. I had someone special. I had an "A," but I said that he was a "B" so that he wouldn't end up in your mother's lab. I owed him that much. So, yeah, I traded someone to get into the city.
My people and I -- when I had people -- we were approached by one of them. They proposed a resource exchange, and if we, uh, came across lost souls who needed saving, we would hold them and give them to the CRM. And if we found a threat, well, we'd give them to the CRM too. In exchange, we got supplies.
―Jadis explains her trade deal with the CRM to Rick.[src]
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I could have chosen to let you die on the riverbed, or I could have told them you were a threat. The CRM doesn't take chances, but I did 'cause I owed you.
Why aren't you working consignment? It's me, right? Me. Giving them me.
―Rick deduces why Jadis was allowed right into the Civic Republic.[src]
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I'm letting you in on a secret. You are here because of me. People like you, they're not let in. You're a leader, what we call an "A". If you are allowed to live in the city, you won't work, farm, shop, read. No. You'll look for answers. You'll ask what happened here and why and to whom, and you'll seek justice based on a feeling in your gut, a feeling you can't name.
Heath may have been a "B" as he better fits the description of an ordinary person who is just trying to survive.
The meaning of "A's" and "B's" was one of the biggest mysteries of The Walking Dead universe, particularly starting with Rick's departure in "What Comes After". It wasn't until "Years" of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live that it was finally explained.
Terminus and the Wolves both painted "A's", but it's unknown if they had any connection to the CRM.
