Which statement best describes the leadership in a Formal AAR?

• A. Conducted by the unit commander
• B. Conducted by internal or external leaders and external OC/Ts
• C. Conducted exclusively by external consultants
• D. Conducted by the observer crew

Answer: (B)

Formal AAR leadership is about guiding a structured, objective debrief that surfaces learning and actionable follow-up. The best approach is to have someone who can effectively facilitate the discussion, keep participants engaged, and run through the required agenda. That facilitation can come from internal leaders who know the unit and mission well, or from external leaders brought in for the event. In addition, having external OC/Ts—Observer/Controller/Trainers—involved as part of the leadership ensures neutral, trained oversight of the process, helping keep the discussion on track and focused on learning rather than blame.

This combination—internal or external leaders plus external OC/Ts—captures the need for both domain understanding and impartial facilitation. It’s not limited to internal commanders alone, and it’s not confined to external consultants, nor is it solely the observer crew’s job to lead. The observer crew’s role is typically to observe and coach, while the formal AAR leadership concentrates the debrief’s structure and learning.