rear echelon

noun

1. (in a military operation) the troops, officers, etc., removed from the combat zone and responsible for administration, matériel, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rear echelon¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Ukrainian military officials have also discussed with American officials the importance of increasing pressure on Russia’s rear echelon in Crimea, which supports military operations elsewhere in Ukraine.

From New York Times

Often in wars frontline soldiers are more disciplined than rear echelon troops who follow them.

From BBC

“When you are at war, you should have no racial division. And you don’t when you are in the heat of battle, but when you come back and you’re in the rear echelon, there is a lot of tension, and a lot of it really dealt with music,” he said.

From Washington Times

Everything from the rear echelon to the forward echelon and back was sent through us.

From Literature

But in an era when combat no longer occurs on clear-cut front lines, supported by a rear echelon, these rules, established after World War II, have created some peculiar quandaries.

From Time Magazine Archive