Current Practice and Theoretical Foundations of the After Action Review

摘要

This report presents a research effort to investigate After Action Review (AAR) practices, relevant science-based principles and theories, and develop actionable conclusions. The effort investigated theoretical foundations, doctrinal guidance, and the perceptions of Army personnel regarding the importance of AAR to training effectiveness. The key findings from this research show that AAR is a fundamental part of the Army training culture with recognized value at the trainer and trainee level. A reference model, the Integrated Theory of AAR (ITAAR) is described together with educational and information dissemination recommendations that will strengthen Army-wide expertise and enhance the practice of AAR as a key methodology for supporting the training process.