Do Jargon: Whose AO is it anyway?

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

10.03.2019

Story by Collen McGee 

Fort Riley Public Affairs Office

Dear Doc Jargon,
I’m a little confused at the meaning of an acronym, which I’ve heard used two different ways. One is a place
and one is a person.
I’ve heard it used, “He’s the AO on this project.” And, “Our AO is this building.”
I could use a little help figuring out the two meanings of this one pair of over-used letters.

Sincerely,

Acrimonious Acronym Reader


Dear AAR (your initials, not the After Action Report),


There are at least two meanings for the acronym you wrote about.
The first AO, you reference is a person. That person would be the action officer — the person responsible for tracking the progress, or action, on any project or task to which they are assigned.
The second version of AO in your missive stands for area of operations. That can be as small as my desk or as big as a continent. And, since my desk is often full, I will happily stick to that
AO and be the AO for organizing it until I clear the clutter.

Sincerely,

Doc Jargon


Email your military lingo questions to Doctor Jargon
at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 10.03.2019
• Date Posted: 10.04.2019 10:30
• Story ID: 345921
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US