XO vs. OPSO

What's the difference between "executive officer" and "operations officer"?

A: At the battalion level, the executive officer -- a major -- oversees the human resources section (S-1) and the supply section (S-4). When the battalion commander is out, they take over.

What's not run by the XO is handled by the SPO (support operations officer), another major. This includes the S-3 (Operations) and SPO sections.

The S-3 takes care of things like firing ranges, driver licensing, and periodic mandatory classes. In combat units that have no garrison mission, this is a big deal, because they coordinate subordinate companies' daily activities. However, in support battalions like mine, it's less important.

The Support Operations section is responsible for getting mission taskings from brigade and parcelling them out to the appropriate companies. This is a much bigger deal for units with garrison missions like ours.

At the company level, however, the difference is nothing but semantics.  According to my ORB (Officer Record Brief), I'm the Operations Officer, but that's only because of the way our MTOE is written -- there is no position called "executive officer."

My previous unit was the same way, but that's not always the case. I've seen maintenance company MTOEs that have positions for both an executive officer and what's called a "maintenance control officer."

Although the only person I rate is the Operations NCO, my office is right between the company commander's and the first sergeant's. I go to the XO meetings, assume command when the boss is out, and coordinate things in the different headquarters sections. My boss even calls me "XO." For all intents and purposes, that's what I am.

The only time it really makes a difference is in emails, when I go by "OPSO."

I don't want any recipients to think I'm sending them hugs and kisses.