AAR: The Operator’s Habit

What is an AAR?

AAR stands for After Action Review. It’s a structured debrief used by military and professional units after missions or training. The goal is simple: turn experience into improvement.

An AAR is not about blame. It’s about capturing what happened, understanding why, and deciding what to change next time.

1. Keep it Short and Timed

Limit the AAR to 5–15 minutes. Do it while details are fresh. Long discussions lose focus.

Why it matters: Short, disciplined reviews actually get done.

2. Use a 3-Question Format

Ask only three things:

• What happened? (objective facts)

• Why did it happen? (causes, not excuses)

• What will we change? (a single, practical action)

Why it matters: Simple structure = useful outcome.

3. Facts Over Blame

Stick to facts, not personal attacks. “The left door took longer to clear” is useful. “You messed up” is not.

Why it matters: Blame shuts people down; facts keep them honest.

4. One Action, Not Ten

Finish with one clear change to apply next time. Assign someone to track it.

Why it matters: Small, steady changes add up to big improvements.

5. Track Trends

Keep a log of takeaways. Review every few months. Look for repeated issues.

Why it matters: Single fixes help, but patterns reveal where real training is needed.

Final Word

An AAR is the operator’s habit of learning. Done right, it’s short, blame-free, and produces one clear takeaway. Make it routine, and you and your team will improve every time it hits the field.