• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

AG units at all levels are prepared to defend themselves in order to successfully conduct their wartime mission. Base defense operations, as described in FM 90-12, and FM 90-14, Rear Battle, are the cornerstone of defensive operations in the rear area. Base defense operations include all actions that units occupying a base take to protect themselves from enemy acts. They consist of a combination of passive and active measures including the assistance of the MP patrolling and reconnaissance operations, cover and concealment, and immediate reaction to enemy threat or attack. Base defense operations are enhanced by the extensive use of reinforcing and natural obstacles, sensors, surveillance devices, and observation and listening posts.

Personnel units participate in base defense as part of a base and base cluster, under the direction of the rear area operations center (RAOC). Commanders of personnel units, if senior to other commanders, plan, coordinate, and supervise base defense operations.

The ability of a base to defend itself is dependent on the threat. There are three categories of threat: Levels I, II, and III.

• Level I are threats which can be defeated by base or base cluster self-defense measures. They include sabotage by enemy sympathizers, terrorists, and guerilla activity.
• Level II are threats which are beyond base or base cluster self-defense capabilities but which can be defeated by response forces, normally military police with supporting fires. They include unconventional forces such as the former Soviet Union's SPETZNAZ or reconnaissance/ambush conventional units.
• Level III are threats which necessitate the command decision to commit a combined arms tactical combat force (TCF) to defeat the threat. They include battalion level, or above, infiltration or penetration into the rear by airmobile, airborne, amphibious, or deliberate ground operations.

The three levels of organization having direct effect on the conduct of base operations are discussed in the following paragraphs.

REAR AREA OPERATIONS CENTER

The RAOC plans, coordinates, advises, and directs the execution of the rear battle. As the tactical operations center for fighting the rear battle, the RAOC responds to the requirements of the echelon rear battle officer.

BASE CLUSTER

The base clusters contain several bases that are grouped together to enhance security as well as to facilitate their support of combat forces. A base cluster normally does not have a defined perimeter or established access point. It is the command and control headquarters for the bases in the cluster. The base cluster commander is normally the base commander who has the capability to establish a base cluster operations center. This operations center is the command and control link from the bases to the RAOC.

BASE

The base is a geographically small, defendable area with a defined perimeter and established access controls. The base commander is the senior unit commander. The base is responsible for defending itself against Level I attacks. In cases of Levels II and III attacks, the base engages enemy forces and delays them until reinforcing MP or tactical combat forces arrive and assist in defeating the incursion. Each base will establish, plan, coordinate, and supervise base defense operations. The position of the base will be determined by the G3, support commander, and the RAOC.