AFTER-ACTION REVIEWAFTER-ACTION REVIEW(AAR)(AAR)

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After-Action ReviewAfter-Action Review“We must continue to look critically at our abilities to achieve decisive victory and aim to improve.I believe that one of the single most important innovations of the past 20 years...one of the keys to our edge today...is the After-Action Review.At all levels, the AAR provides us an honest appraisal of our performance and directs our efforts to correct shortcomings.”

General Gordon R. Sullivan, CSA ( Ret) 2

Action : Identify the procedures for planning, preparing, and conducting a After Action Review. (AAR)

Conditions : In a classroom environment and access to TC 25-20

Standard : The new OC/T will be able to plan,prepare, and conduct a After Action Review

Terminal Learning ObjectiveTerminal Learning Objective

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AgendaAgenda• Definition • Objective• Purpose • Key points• Guidelines • Formal AAR• Informal AAR• The four phases of an AAR• Summary

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DefinitionDefinition• An AAR is a professional discussion of

an event, focused on performance standards, that enables soldiers to discover for themselves What happened, Why it happened and How to sustain strengths and improve on weaknesses.

• It is a tool leaders and units can use to get maximum benefit from every mission or task.

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ObjectiveObjective The objective of an AAR is to

improve individual and collective task performance by providing immediate feedback about how the training or tasks could have been done better.

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Purpose Purpose • Guide the unit towards achieving

training objectives• Identify lessons learned so they can be

applied to subsequent training or task performance

• Increase confidence in unit leaders• Increase proficiency of all participants

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AAR Key PointsAAR Key Points• Involve all participants• Are conducted during or immediately

after each event• Focus on intended training objective• Focus on soldier, leader and unit

performance

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AAR Key Points AAR Key Points (cont)(cont)

• Use open-ended questions• Are related to specific standards• Determine strengths and

weaknesses• Link performance to subsequent

training

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GuidelinesGuidelines• Maintain order and discipline• Emphasize the goal is to achieve Army

standards• Make AARs positive in nature• Avoid---

–Lecturing–Critiquing, criticizing or judging performance–Embarrassing soldiers or leaders–Comparing units

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Formal Formal • External OC/Ts• Takes more time• Complex training aids• Scheduled beforehand• Conducted when best supported• Conducted to gain maximum training

benefit• Normally for Platoon-level and above

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InformalInformal

• May be conducted by either the internal Chain of Command or external OC/Ts

• Takes less time

• Use simple training aids

• Conducted when needed

• Held at training site

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Informal Informal (cont)(cont)

• Uses standard AAR format• Limited resources• Normally for soldier (leader), crew,

squad and platoon-level training• Supports higher-level formal AAR• Held prior to higher-level formal AAR

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Phases of the AARPhases of the AAR

• Planning• Preparation• Conduct• Follow-up

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Enabling Learning ObjectiveEnabling Learning Objective• Action : Identify the steps followed

during the After Action Review planning phase

• Conditions : In a classroom environment and access to TC 25-20

• Standard : Successfully describe the steps followed during the planning phase of the AAR

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PlanningPlanning • Establish objectives for the AAR• Select and train qualified OC/Ts• Review the training and evaluation plan,

Army Training and Evaluation Program (ARTEP), mission training plans (MTPs) and soldier training publications (STPs)

• Determine when AARs will occur and identify participants

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•Plan for stop points during exercise•Select potential AAR sites•Select/prepare training aids•Draft/review AAR plan

PlanningPlanning (cont)(cont)

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AAR PlanAAR PlanObserver

Element

Priority Tasks

Who Attends

When Held

Location

Special Requirements

1LT Jones

1st PLT

Occupy, prepare and defend a BP

All

1 hour after change of mission

Behind 2d squad GH44319218

LTC Smith will provide closing comments

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Enabling Learning ObjectiveEnabling Learning Objective• Action : Identify the steps followed

during the After Action Review preparation phase

• Conditions : In a classroom environment and access to TC 25-20

• Standard : Correctly describe the steps followed during the preparation phase of the AAR

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PreparationPreparation• Review training objectives, orders,

METL and doctrine• Identify key events OC/Ts are to

observe• Observe the training and take notes• Collect observations from other

OC/Ts• Begins once mission starts

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AAR Observation AAR Observation Worksheet ExampleWorksheet Example

Training/exercise title:

Event:

Date/time:

Location of observation:

Observation (player/trainer action):

Discussion (tied to task standard if possible):

Recommendations (indicate how the unit could have executed the task(s) better or describe training the unitwill need to improve future performances):

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Preparation Preparation (cont)(cont)

• Organize observations (Identify key discussion or teaching points)

• Gather observations from OPFOR representative

• Recon and prepare the selected AAR site

• Conduct rehearsals22

• Position all players in the AAR Site– Keep sub-unit integrity– Put leaders in the front– OPFOR on the side

• Brief unit on how the AAR will be conducted

SAMPLE AAR SITE SET-UPSAMPLE AAR SITE SET-UP

OPFOR LDR

1SGCDR

WATER PTOC/T

TO LANE

SANDTABLE 1s

t

Plt

2nd

Plt

3rd

Plt

4thPlt

AAR

BOARD

Map Board

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Discussion TechniquesDiscussion Techniques• Leading/thought-provoking questions• Have unit members describe what

happened in their own words

• Explore alternative courses of action• Avoid detailed examination of events not

directly related to major training objectives24

Enabling Learning ObjectiveEnabling Learning Objective• Action : Identify the steps followed

during the conduct of the AAR• Conditions : In a classroom

environment and access to TC 25-20• Standard : Correctly identify the steps

followed during the conduct of the AAR

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• Introduction and AAR rules of engagement (ROE)• Review of objectives and intent

–Training objectives–Commander’s mission/intent (what was supposed to

happen)–OPFOR commander’s mission/intent–Relevant doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures

(TTPs)• Summary of recent events (what happened)

Format of the AARFormat of the AAR

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Sample AAR ROESample AAR ROE• This is a learning event, not a

critique• Everyone should participate• Does not grade success or

failure• No EXROE discussion• Be “thick-skinned”• No sleeping, eating, dipping or

smoking27

• Discussion of key issues–Chronological order of events–Battlefield operating systems (Co level)–Key events/themes/issues–Plan, Prep and Execute (technique)

Format of the AAR Format of the AAR (cont)(cont)

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Format of the AAR Format of the AAR (cont)(cont)

•Discussion of other issues –Soldier/ leader skills –Tasks to sustain/improve–Fratricide–Others

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Key Leader AssessmentKey Leader Assessment Position Sustain ImproveCDR1SGFSO

1st Plt PL 2nd Plt PSG

Guide comments to your key issues

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Format of the AAR Format of the AAR (cont(cont))

• Discussion of force protection/ safety

• Closing comments

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Enabling Learning ObjectiveEnabling Learning Objective• Action : Identify the steps followed

during the follow up phase of the After Action Review

• Conditions : In a classroom environment and access to TC 25-20

• Standard : Correctly identify the steps followed during the follow up phase of the AAR

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Follow-upFollow-up• Identify tasks requiring retraining• Fix the problem - retrain• Revise SOPs, integrate into future training

plans• Use to assist in making assessment

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SummarySummary• Definition, objective and

purpose• Participation and key

points • Types of AARs• The four phases of the

AAR• AAR videotape

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We are all trainers and the AAR is the primary training tool. Good AARs get results. Focus your AAR on the major issues. Modify your technique based upon the situation and adjust the format to accomplish the mission. Get the unit to admit their shortcomings and work together to develop a solution.

As the OC/T, you are providing feedback on the unit’s performance as well as teaching the unit how to conduct their own AARs.

BOTTOM LINEBOTTOM LINE

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