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130th Support Center (CORPS RAOC)

At the CORPS level, the Deputy CORPS Commander directs Rear Operations. CORPS Support Groups manage the Combat Support and Combat Service Support units supporting the CORPS Mission on a one per division basis. At the CORPS Rear Headquarters, the Rear Operations Center (ROC) directs the tactical operations in the rear area through Rear Area Operations Centers (RAOC's). These RAOC's are assigned to each CORPS Support Group. ROC/RTOC's provide intelligence about the battle to all the RAOC's for further dissemination to units in the rear. RAOC's report all incidents, attacks, etc that occur in their areas to the ROC/RTOC. This information is then shared with the other RAOC's to give a more complete awareness of the enemy situation.

Rear Area Operations Center conducts terrain management, coordinate security, and movement control of units within its designated area of responsibility within the Corps rear area, in order to support the commander's intent and concept of the operation. The RAOC develops the Defensive Plan with respect to Terrain Management, Security and Unit Movements within the RAOC's Area of Responsibility to ensure the uninterrupted support to the main effort and protection of its AOR. The RAOC provides continuous operational support, information, and execution guidance to Base Cluster Operations Centers and Separate Base Operations Centers for execution of the Area of Responsibility Defense Plan. And the RAOC plans and executes Area Damage Control procedures to be taken before, during, and after hostile actions or natural disasters. To reduce the probability of damage and minimize its effects. To provide Engineer assistance in Rear Battle Planning and Area Damage Control operations and to coordinate Liaison between the RAOC, CRCP, and the Base Cluster Operation Centers (BCOCs).

The RAOC Commander becomes the tactical officer to the Support Group Commander, the S3. This allows all the Technical Staff of the Support Group to concentrate on supporting the battle without having to worry about running a rear battle. The RAOC Commander has the Tactical Command Authority of battalion commanders assigned as Base Cluster Commanders (BCC's). This in no way means that these commanders' technical missions are directed by the RAOC. That command authority rests with the Support Group Commander.

These Base Cluster Commanders are given TACTICAL command over the units assigned to their base defense clusters. This may or may not be units assigned to these commanders in the technical chain.

The RAOC becomes the "911 Operator" for all units in the Rear Area. When they see, hear, or have trouble, they call the RAOC (through their Base Cluster Commanders). The RAOC serves as the "CIVIL DEFENSE" for these same units by providing information and assistance in obtaining Engineer assets, Signal assets, rubble clearance, water, power, rapid response units (combat forces), etc..

The RAOC works with the technical staff of the group to place units on the Rear Battlefield where they can perform their assigned mission to the fullest extent possible. Primary interest is placed on the TECHNICAL mission with the TACTICAL concerns being secondary. The RAOC makes recommendations for unit locations that will enhance overall area security, as well as specific unit protection. I.e. Hospital units cannot defend well, so a truck company, with lots of manpower and weapons would be located nearby, to help secure the hospital in case of an attack. Also, ammunition storage units would not be placed next to fuel storage units because they would make too great a target to the enemy. The RAOC tries to work out solutions for these kinds of situations quickly so that the mission is not held up and the units can begin to HARDEN their bases as soon as possible after being placed. These actions contribute to Total Force Protection in the Rear.

As units come into the Theater, get their area assignments, report to their Support Group commander, they are assigned to a base or base cluster. The TACTICAL command relationship with their Base Cluster Commander is clearly defined by the Group S-3 (RAOC Commander) at this time. The TECHNICAL mission assignment is clearly defined by the Group SPO (Support Operations Officer) at this time.

The RAOC must analyze the terrain in the Area of Concern because the terrain will have a direct bearing on the conduct of tactical operations in the area. Passes, ridges, valleys, gorges must be identified for instant recognition by all RAOC staff, with contingency plans on hand to combat an enemy's use of them. Roads, MSR's - Are they one way, two way, unilateral use, bilateral use, track vehicle-capable, for refugees only? RAOC staff must know the answers to these questions instantly. Airports - Perimeter fences, gates, cargo holding areas, passenger holding areas, barracks, control towers, runways, taxiways, parking ramps, hardened hangars. Seaports - Docks, perimeter fences, gates, cargo holding areas, repair facilities, dry-docks, above water, below water, in harbor, outside harbor. Marshaling areas - Barracks, motor pools, mess halls, shower points, re-arm points, entrances exits, roads inside area, roads outside area, civilian population around area.

PATRIOT BATTERY locations move at will, provide their own protection, do not want to be included inside a Base Cluster, will not answer to a cluster commander, will probably not respond to RAOC calls unless their commander is persuaded to lend assistance by the RAOC. Check on this quickly upon entering an area of responsibility. RAOC must identify artillery assets located in the rear and convince the ARTY commander to detail one battery to the rear area protection mission. This may be very fragmented and short term, but it may help a great deal in the wrong situation.

The unit is a rarity in the U.S. Army: a detachment size unit with its own distinctive crest. The Unit Crest was re-designated 23 November 1973 for the 130th Support Center (RAO). The crest was originally approved 16 November 1971 for the Non-Color Bearing Units of the 30th Armored Division.

"The Insignia is a gold color metal and enamel device 1-1/4 inches in height consisting of a gold wavy scrolling base inscribed in black letters with the words, "FORREST CRITTERS", its squared ends turned up and surmounted on either sides by sprigs of gold oak leaves supporting and partially enclosing a gold five-pointed star in front of a fleur-de-lis on a black enamel background, the star with barbed points and bearing at center a blue enamel five-pointed star, the fleur-de-lis having green enamel on the center section between scarlet on the sides and each section charged at the top with a small gold five-pointed star." This description is taken from the order of authorization from the Institute of Heraldry at the Department of the Army.

The unit's participation in three World War I campaigns is represented by the stars at the top and participation in five campaigns in World War II by the barbeb five-pointed star below. The blue star refers to the organizations infantry background. The colors red and green and the fleur-de-lis refer to the award of the French Croix-de-Guerre with Palm for World War II service in France; the oak leaves and the colors black and gold (alluding to the arms of Belgium) refer to the Fourragre which the unit received for service in Belgium and the Ardennes. The motto "FORREST CRITTERS" is a reference to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Civil War cavalry leader and a native of Tennessee, the organization's home state (Lieutenant General Forrest as a commander of a cavalry corps in the Army of Tennessee was termed by a foreign military authority as the greatest commander of light cavalry among English-speaking peoples).