You are the senior company commander in your battalion, readying your unit for combat. The phone rings, and it is your battalion commander, who says, "I need to talk to you in my office." This office call appears like many others as you make your way to the battalion headquarters. As you enter the commander's office, he tells you to have a seat, and he pulls up a chair across from you. "There is no easy way to tell you, but I've decided you are my rear detachment commander..." This scenario occurs at every echelon from battalion to corps, and the impact of the decision is deep. Choosing the right rear detachment commander (RDC) will have a lasting effect on the lives of the Soldiers in the unit and their Families. Rear detachment (Rear D) operations are conducted at the battalion level, which make the position of RDC even more challenging. Typically, the RDC is a selected company commander with no experience as a battalion commander. This lack of experience, combined with the lack of doctrine or Department of the Army guidance/regulations on Rear D operations, magnifies the challenge. This handbook is designed to assist deploying commanders, RDCs, and Family Readiness Group (FRG) leaders in developing an effective Rear D/FRG operation. The principles outlined in this handbook apply at each echelon and for all unit types.