What is the purpose of an After Action Review?

• A. The AAR is a tool that provides valuable feedback essential to correcting training deficiencies.
• B. To document personnel achievements for awards
• C. To track logistics
• D. To assign blame for failures

Answer: (A)

An After Action Review is a candid, structured discussion held after a training event or operation to turn experience into improvement. Its purpose is to gather what happened, why it happened, what went well, and what didn’t, and to translate those insights into concrete actions. The focus is on learning and readiness, so feedback is used to correct training deficiencies and adjust procedures, drills, or plans for future performance.

This isn’t about documenting achievements for awards, tracking logistics, or assigning blame. It’s about identifying gaps, understanding causes, and specifying who will do what and by when to enhance future outcomes. In short, the AAR helps turn lessons learned into tangible improvements.