Rear services were those agencies in Warsaw Pact and Soviet style military forces concerned with military logistics and support. The Rear Services supplied the armed forces with ammunition, fuel, spare parts, food, clothing, and other material. They included the Central Military Medical Administration. Usually a deputy minister of defence served as chief of Rear Services for the armed forces. Rear Services encompasses mainly the Rear Services' Staff, several main and central departments and other services.

Structure

Major departments were: In 1984 main components included food supply, fuel supply, Central Military Medical Administration, Clothing Supply, Main Administration of Trade (Voyentorg, military stores & military post exchanges), Rear Cadres (personnel), Railway Troops, Pipeline Troops, Central Administration of Military Communications (VOSO), veterinarian, Motortransport Service (provides vehicles while Automotive Troops provides drivers), Highway Directorate, Chief, Tourism and Excursion Administration, and the Tyl Political Section. The last five departments were all headed by general-majors. Later the agricultural department was separated from food supply. The Rear Services also included the Topographic Troops (ru:Трубопроводные войска). On the dissolution of the Soviet Union much of the former Soviet component became the Rear Services of the Armed Forces of Russia.

Chiefs of the Rear Services