After Action Reports (AARs) provide a retrospective analysis of critical actions to evaluate performance, document effectiveness and efficiency, and analyze procedures and policies to recommend improvements. AARs benefit policymakers, administrators, responders, and communities by providing a broad understanding of events and enhancing future planning. They should be used anytime an organization undertakes a project, event, or incident, both large and small. AARs have a simple structure including an overview, goals/objectives, performance analysis, lessons learned, and recommendations. Their value is in preventing future issues and improving responses.

1. The basic value ofAfter Action ReportsSteve Finney, Jr.© 2009 Steve Finney, Jr. – All rights reserved.

2. Presentation objectivesUnderstand value and importance of the basic concept of an After Action Report.Recognize situations appropriate for After Action Reports.Identify the structure/elements of an After Action Report.2

3. What is an After Action Report?After Action Report (AAR): retrospective analysis on critical actions previously undertaken. Evaluates performanceDocuments effectiveness and efficiency of responseAnalyzes critical procedures/policiesRecommends improvements3

4. AAR goalsIdentify strengths and areas for improvement Propose measures to counteract problematic areas Obtain and document “lessons learned”4

5. Who benefits from an AAR?Policy makersAdministratorsOrganization officialsPractitioners/respondersOther partnersClients/customersThe communityWe All Do!5

6. What’s the value?Broad understanding of event(s)/action(s)Enhances future operational planningAssists policy development/revisionProtects resources in the futureImproves overall future responseInformation sharing 6

7. When to use an AAR...VIP MeetingsPublic WorksConferencesNew StrategiesNewDeploymentsSporting EventsSpecial ProjectsNatural EventsAnysmall/large simple/complex project/event/incidentTrainingNew AppsSeminarsLegal7© 2009 Steve Finney, Jr. – All rights reserved.

8. AAR formats are simpleOne page or several pagesSimple written narrative form (memo)Internal organizational AAR formatFormal HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program) standardized or modified format8

9. Structure of an AAR Situation overview(description/timeline) Goals/objectives of critical actionsAnalysis of action outcomesPerformance analysis of critical tasks (strengths/weaknesses) Summary of situation (lessons learned)Recommendations for improvement9

10. Critical considerationsObjectivity: actual responses/outcomesEffectiveness of policies and proceduresAreas of strength to maintainCandid areas for improvementRecommendations for improvement10

11. Other elements of an AARObtain feedback. May be through debrief/hotwash (formal or informal)If you use acronyms, create glossary Circulate AAR draft to participantsPublish final After Action Report11

12. Simply statedPreventPrepareRespondRecoverAARs provide a formal opportunity to better prevent, prepare, respond and recover from events/projects/incidents12

13. Additional resourcesHomeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, Volume III: Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning, Rev. Feb. 2007. https://hseep.dhs.gov/support/VolumeIII.pdf A Leader’s Guide to After Action Reviews, Department of the Army, TC 25-20, 1993.Federal Emergency Management Agency- www.fema.gov Lessons Learned Information Sharing- www.LLIS.gov HSEEP AAR Template- https://hseep.dhs.gov/support/AAR-IP_Template%202007.doc Other keywords: Lessons Learned, Corrective Action Plan, Improvement Plan, After Action Review13

14. ReviewWe discussed 1) the basic concept of an AAR, 2) what situations you may use an ARR and 3) what structure and elements to include in an AAR.AARs help us to do better in the future!14

15. Steve Finney, Jr.stevecfinney@gmail.comtwitter.com/stevecfinneylinkedin.com/in/stevecfinney© 2009 Steve Finney, Jr. – All rights reserved.