What does an AAR do to performance?

• A. It expands the mission scope
• B. It reduces training needs
• C. It links performance to subsequent training
• D. It resets personnel records

Answer: (C)

An After Action Review is about learning from what happened and turning that learning into concrete next steps for practice. The core value is that it ties how well performance happened to what needs to be trained or trained differently next time. By analyzing what went right and what didn’t, identifying root causes, and outlining specific actions, the AAR creates a direct link from performance outcomes to targeted training and follow-on improvement. It isn’t about expanding the mission, changing records, or reducing training on its own; it’s about using the results of performance to shape the next round of training so future performance improves.