Secret Service Counter Assault Team
Specialized tactical unit of the U.S. Secret Service / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Counter Assault Team (CAT) is a specialized tactical unit of the U.S. Secret Service that provides tactical support to the Presidential Protective Division to protect the President of the United States.[1][2] This is in contrast to the Presidential Protective Division whose mission is to shield the president from an attack and to evacuate the president to a place of safety. The CAT can also provide tactical support to other designated protectees, at venues and National Special Security Events.[1][2]
Counter Assault Team | |
---|---|
Active | 1979–present[1] |
Country | United States |
Agency | United States Secret Service |
Type | Police tactical unit |
Role | Law enforcement |
Operations jurisdiction |
|
Part of | Special Operations Division[2][3] |
Abbreviation | CAT |
Structure | |
Operators | 105[4] |
The Secret Service first began fielding counter assault teams in 1979. "Hawkeye" is the designation for a CAT assigned to the president, followed by the president's Secret Service code name. For example, the code name for President Obama's CAT was "Hawkeye Renegade".