After Action Report/Improvement Plan
An After Action ReportImprovement Plan (AAR/IP) is used to provide
feedback to participating entities on their performance during the
exercise. The AAR/IP summarizes exercise events and analyzes performance
of the tasks identified as important during the planning process. It
also evaluates achievement of the selected exercise objectives and
demonstration of the overall capabilities being validated. The IP
portion of the AAR/IP includes corrective actions for improvement, along
with timelines for their implementation and assignment to responsible
parties.
To prepare the AAR/IP, exercise evaluators analyze data collected
from the hot wash, debrief, Participant Feedback Forms, EEGs, and other
sources (e.g., plans, procedures) and compare actual results with the
intended outcome. The level of detail in an AAR/IP is based on the
exercise type and scope. AAR/IP conclusions are discussed and validated
at an After Action Conference that occurs within several weeks after the
exercise is conducted.
The IP portion of an AAR/IP converts lessons learned from the exercise
into concrete, measurable steps that result in improved response
capabilities. It specifically details the actions that the participating
entity will take to address each recommendation presented in the draft
AAR/IP, who or what agency will be responsible for taking the action,
and the timeline for completion.
Sample AAR/IP
Improvement Planning
During improvement planning, corrective actions from the AAR/IP—such
as additional training, planning, and/or equipment acquisition—are
assigned, with due dates, to responsible parties. They are then tracked
to completion, ensuring that exercises result in tangible benefits to
preparedness.
Once recommendations, corrective actions, responsibilities, and due
dates are clearly identified in the IP, the exercising entity ensures
that each corrective action is tracked to completion. Exercising
entities review all exercise evaluation feedback and resulting IPs to
assess progress on enhancing preparedness. This analysis may identify
needs for additional equipment, training, exercises, coordination,
plans, and/or procedures that can be validated through future exercises.
Continual IP tracking and implementation should be part of a corrective
action program within each participating entity. A corrective action
program ensures IPs are living, breathing documents that are continually
monitored and implemented, and that they are part of the larger cycle
of improving preparedness.
