1-18 CAT Role

CAT: The Crisis Action Team, or CAT, falls under the staff cognizance of the G-3. It is usually formed in the initial stages of a crisis with the requirement to rapidly collect and manage information, to include force readiness status. The CAT is identified in advance and recalled, but can also be task-organized. It may initiate the planning process, develop situational awareness, and assess previously prepared and emerging planning products from the Adaptive Planning and Execution System or APEX. For extended operations, the CAT's planning and execution functions transition to the future plans division, future operations or current operations planning sections, where functions and staffing are then redefined.