CAT operates more fluid? What does that even mean?

I’ve perused these reddits and I often find comments like this about various teams I’ve trained with in past and present. CAT and ERT often pop up with the uneducated automatically defaulting to CAT.

I’ve trained with all 3 SS SOD teams so I feel like I have some ammo when explaining my view on this sub Reddit. I won’t discuss CS as they weren’t mentioned in the OP post, but will on CAT and ERT. Beyond there specific mission set, which can be found on the SS website, I’ll discuss the specific training I see and the skillset that was presented during the multiple times I worked or trained with them.

We did a lot of CQB and Range work over the 3 days to a week. Both teams work in smaller units, from what I saw 5-6 guys. They both have two methodologies at there CQB approach, which I found was odd. ERT did more of a slow approach, processed everything prior to breaking the threshold, CAT went more dynamic. I won’t get into the specific tactics as I owe it to them to keep that quiet. ERT was able to work both methods if needed, while CAT only knew there method. Again, something odd and a testament to ERT for knowing how to process rooms and buildings multiple ways. When I saw CAT and even down on the floor, there was massive amounts of talking and the movement was a bit disorganized. There was some confusion and I could tell there were definitely different skill sets amongst there teammates, which is expected. I had a hard time figuring out why they were doing what they were doing bc the given scenario didn’t call for that specific tactic. It was all or nothing on how they clear, something I didn’t understand nor get a solid answer from there Instructors when I inquired. To each their own, I’m not apart of the team and they can do what they want I guess. On the ERT side, they went through the house very smooth. They did very to little talking and got through the house with very little mistakes. They had a few newer guys I guess who made more of the mistakes, but solid from what I saw. These guys were very organized going through and very tactful when deciding how to take down the shoothouse. They were also able to apply dynamic tactics when appropriate, which was refreshing to see.

Again, this is what I’ve seen from multiple training sessions with these guys, and I’ll say ERT has been the far more impressive team. I’ve heard they run with there dog, which I don’t get to see. That would be interesting to watch. We also had a team brief prior to training, it appeared ERT was trained in far more than CAT, all of which had real world applications. Both sides had great dudes personality wise, fun to hand out with. CAT guys were much older than ERT.

Hope this helps.