What is the purpose of an after-action report (AAR) following an incident?

• A. To document what happened, identify root causes, and capture lessons learned to improve plans and training.
• B. To assign blame to individuals involved.
• C. To document only financial costs of the incident.
• D. To produce a publicity release about the incident.

Answer: (A)

After-action reports are about learning and improving. They provide a clear, objective account of what occurred, what went well, and what didn’t, then dig into why those issues happened by identifying root causes and contributing factors. The goal is to translate those findings into concrete lessons learned that inform updates to plans, procedures, training, and future exercises. A well-crafted AAR also outlines recommended corrective actions, assigns responsibility, and sets timelines so changes actually get made. This makes the report a tool for continuous improvement and preparedness, not a vehicle for blame, a financial tally, or a public relations piece.