The After-Action Review

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The After-Action Review

• SPC Gabriel SarmientoUnited States
• Southern Command

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References

• FM 25-100, Training the Force, NOV 88
• FM 25-101, Battle Focused Training, SEP 90
• TC 25-20, A Leader's Guide to After-Action
  Reviews, SEP 93
• http//call.army.mil/

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AAR versus AAR

• After-Action Review ? After-Action Report
• Review Verbal
• Report Written
• The report should use information from the review

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What is an AAR?

• The AAR is a structured review process that
  allows training participants to discover for
  themselves what happened, why it happened, and
  how it can be done better.

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What is an AAR NOT?

• Place to determine blame
• Method to determine success or failure
• Grandstand
• Soapbox
• Whine session
• even though aspects of each will be present in
  a good AAR

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Formal AAR

• Have external observers and controllers (OCs)
• Take more time
• Use complex training aids
• Are scheduled beforehand
• Are conducted where best supported

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Informal AAR

• Conducted by internal chain of command
• Take less time
• Use simple training aids
• Are conducted when needed
• Are held at the training site

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Aspects of an AAR

• Focus on the training objectives (was the mission
  accomplished?)
• Emphasize meeting Army standards (do not
  determine winners or losers)
• Encourage soldiers to discover important lessons
  from the training event
• Allow a large number of soldiers and leaders to
  participate so that lessons learned can be shared

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When to Conduct an AAR

• After each significant training event
• At the conclusion of a large training event
• After each training event emphasized by the chain
  of command (may be iterative)

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Four Parts of an AAR

• 1. Review what was supposed to happen (training
  plan)
• 2. Establish what happened (to include OPFOR
  point of view)
• 3. Determine what was right or wrong with what
  happened
• 4. Determine how the task should be done
  differently next time

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The AAR Process

• Step 1. Planning
• Step 2. Preparing
• Step 3. Conducting
• Step 4. Following up (using AAR results)

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Step 1 Planning

• Select and train qualified OCs
• Review the training and evaluation plan, ARTEP,
  MTPs, and (STPs)
• Identify when AARs will occur
• Determine who will attend AARs
• Select potential AAR sites
• Choose training aids
• Review the AAR plan

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Step 2 Preparation

• Review training objectives, orders, METL, and
  doctrine
• Identify key events OCs are to observe
• Observe the training and take notes
• Collect observations from other OCs
• Organize observations (identify key discussion or
  teaching points)
• Recon prepare the selected AAR site

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Step 3 Conduct

• Seek maximum participation
• Maintain focus on training objectives
• Constantly review teaching points
• Record key points (assign recorder)

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Step 4 Follow-Up

• Identify tasks requiring retraining
• Fix the problem retrain immediately, revise
  standing operating procedures (SOPs), integrate
  into tutors training plans
• Use to assist in making commander's assessment

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Actions After an AAR

• Commanders update unit METL (T, P, U)
• NCOs make notes in leader books to assess
  individual and crew performance
• Commanders may wish to use an assessment
  worksheet to capture additional information or
  ideas

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Example of a Training Assessment Worksheet
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Steps to Conduct an AAR

• 1. Gather all the players
• 2. Review events leading to the activity
• 3. Give a brief statement of the specific
  activity
• 3. Summarize the key events
• 4. Encourage participation
• 5. Have junior leaders restate portions of their
  part of the activity

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6. Dont make this a critique or lecture!

• Ask why certain actions were taken
• Ask how they reacted to certain situations
• Ask when actions were initiated
• Ask leading thought-provoking questions
• Exchange war stories (lessons learned)
• What happened in your own point of view?
• Relate events to subsequent results
• Explore alternative courses of actions
• Maintain positive focus

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Steps to Conduct an AAR (contd)

• 7. Summarize
• 8. Allow junior leaders to discuss the events
  with their people in private
• 9. Follow up on needed actions

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Detail Conduct of AAR

• 1. Introduction and rules
• 2. Review of objectives and intent
• 3. Summary of recent events (what happened)
• 4. Discussion of optional issues
• 5. Discussion of force protection (safety)
• 6. Closing comments (summary)

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AAR Techniques

• Site selection
• Near the event
• Comfortable, but not too comfortable
• Training aids
• Must be appropriate
• Be judicious it either helps or hurts
• Organize site

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Conclusion

• An AAR, when done right, can make a tremendous
  impact on your unit. The AAR process, as well as
  its lessons learned, makes a powerful
  demonstration to soldiers and subordinate leaders
  about the value the commander places on meeting
  Army standards. The non-judgmental quality of the
  AAR allows us to identify and learn from our
  mistakes, and let junior leaders take initiative
  without fear of a zero-defect mentality.