What does CAO stand for?

Civil Affairs operations are no longer as before, some say.

Assisting in these humanitarian efforts would potentially be several new units called Security Cooperation MAGTFs, which would build partnerships with host nations, through military to military training, include native-language speakers, and conduct civil affairs operations, such as improving host nation agriculture and access to water and electrical power.

For example, the document amply describes Air Force special operations command's responsibility, as the air component of USSOCOM, to organize, train, and equip AFSOF to provide the necessary air capabilities to conduct USSOCOM's nine core tasks: * counterproliferation of weapons of mass destruction * counterterrorism * special reconnaissance * direct action * unconventional warfare * foreign internal defense * information operations * civil affairs operations * psychological operations In the process, AFDD 2-7 provides short explanations of each of these tasks.

The question of moving civil affairs operations to the Army is quietly being debated inside the Pentagon.