How often should after-action reviews (AARs) be conducted after training exercises?

Conducting after-action reviews (AARs) at the end of each training exercise is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of training and improving future performance. AARs provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on what took place during the exercise, allowing them to discuss successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This practice fosters an environment of continuous improvement, where insights gained can be immediately applied to enhance skills and operational readiness.

Regularly scheduling AARs ensures that feedback is gathered while experiences are still fresh in participants' minds, promoting engagement and facilitating open dialogue. This process helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement leading to better preparedness for actual operations.

In contrast, conducting AARs only when problems are identified can lead to missed opportunities for learning from both successes and failures, and doesn’t promote the same level of continuous improvement. Similarly, holding AARs once every quarter or at the beginning of each day does not provide timely feedback that can directly influence the immediate next training exercise, reducing their effectiveness as a tool for real-time learning and adaptation.