There are many reasons why the US Army has developed such an excellent reputation as a training organization over the years. Excellent equipment, superb training areas, master trainers in the form of non-commissioned officers who have perfected their expertise in task training under all conditions. Success also comes from the knowledge that Army training may have to be used someday under the most extreme conditions of life and death.
An absolutely critical component of the Army training program though is known as the After Action Review or AAR. A thorough understanding and application of this key process will unlock the door to your own training success.
Army training is built on a foundation of standards. These standards specify the task that must be performed, the conditions that will affect the task, and the standards that define success. These 3 components are the foundation that the After Action Review examines. But that’s not all. It’s how the AAR is conducted and by whom that really makes the difference, otherwise the AAR might simply be a checklist.
3 highlights of the AAR are crucial.
First, it is the soldiers themselves who critically examine their own performance throughout the stages of planning, preparation and execution. They look for themes that link together the reasons for their performance, both good and bad. They are their own harshest critics, because they know that sweat saves blood. In war there is no second chance, so they appreciate the opportunity to do it until they get it right in practice.
Second: the observer/controller acts as the honest broker and as a resource to the soldiers going through the training. Their job is to ensure that the appropriate lessons are examined in detail and to provide an objective record of what actually occurred or didn’t occur. This is important because often soldiersmay not have a clear perception of what actually occurred. The observer/controller is a great help in this situation. Their experience in seeing many units and soldiers performing the same tasks gives them the insight needed to be at the right place and the right time.
Third: the AAR process itself gets to the heart of the self-reflection.
- It looks at why things were done, not just how and when
- We link critical decisions with decisive outcomes
- We focus on the most important aspects of the operation.
- We connect our actions to doctrine and best practices.
- We avoid war stories and matters of opinion, and go to the heart of the training exercise.
- observer controllers guide the process, but in the truly great units it is the leaders and their soldiers who take charge of their own self-assessment.
This willingness to face up their own performance, to measure themselves, to leave the ego at the door, is what makes the AAR so powerful for the US Army.
By adopting these 3 essential elements of the AAR in the review of your own personal and business performance, you have an opportunity to dramatically improve your own performance.