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After Action Reviews: Seizing the Chance to Learn Submit Your AAR
What is the After Action Review?
An After Action Review (AAR) is a learning tool intended for the evaluation of an incident or project in order to improve performance by sustaining strengths and correcting weaknesses. An AAR is performed as immediately after the event as possible by the personnel involved. An AAR should encourage input from participants that is focused on (1) what was planned, (2) what actually happened, (3) why it happened, and (4) what can be done next time. It is a tool leaders and units can use to get maximum benefit from the experience gained on any incident or project. More...

After Action Reviews conducted at the team level, such as during an Incident Management Team meeting after an incident, will benefit from a few changes in the four questions participants should be focusing on. For a team AAR, the suggested focus points are (1) what was the most notable success that others may learn from, (2) what were the most difficult challenges and how were they overcome, (3) what changes, additions or delections are recommended to wildland fire training curriculums, and (4) what are your recommendations for any unresolved issues. These are the AAR Rollup questions. See below for further examples.

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AAR TRAINING PACKAGE

The Conducting Effective After Action Reviews is a training product that was developed in 2005 as a cooperative effort between the NWCG Leadership Committee and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center. This training is designed to explain the intent and facilitation techniques for the After Action Review (AAR) process. The material is delivered through PowerPoint presentation and video. The target audience is anyone participating in, or desiring to facilitate an After Action Review. Instructors should have experience in conducting basic After Action Reviews. The time required to present this package is 1 to 2 hours.

The package consists of a PowerPoint presentation on a CD and two videos segments on a single DVD. The components which comprise the package are designed so that they may be utilized as separate stand-alone items or presented together for an integrated lesson.

The complete Conducting Effective After Action Reviews training package costs approximately $12.95, which includes the cost of shipping, and can be obtained by ordering directly from the following source: Custom Recording and Sound Phone: (208) 344-3535, FAX: (208) 323-0373, Email: customorders@cableone.net

Supplemental Documents that will help you learn about and facilitate effective AARs.

The After Action Review (AAR) Rollup Submit Your AAR Rollup

The After Action Review (AAR) Rollup is a tool that can serve the information collection and distribution needs of you and your staff at the end of an incident or project. The AAR Rollup can also supply much needed information to the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in a timely way. The lessons and practices you provide the Center are distilled and distributed as knowledge products to the wildland fire community as soon as possible. More...

Below are the (15) most recent AAR related documents submitted to the Center.

HRO Implementation at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
(832KB pdf posted 8/11/2008)
Through the efforts described in this High Reliability Organizing (HRO) case study, SEKI created an institutional structure enabling bottom-up empowerment, effectively institutionalizing self-empowerment in their safety program. Park personnel began their efforts by consciously actualizing one HRO principle; preoccupation with failure.

The Learn Curve, April 2008 - 12 Edition (196 KB, Posted 4/23/2008)
(196KB pdf posted 4/23/2008)
Lessons Learned and Effective Practices from the 2006 AAR Rollups featuring OPERATIONS (Water Conservation with Dust Palliative), PLANNING (Using Local Felling Groups and Contractors), and LOGISTICS (Using Spike Camps Decreases Safety Problems, Streamlining Spike Camp Deliveries, Coyote Camps Deliveries During Red Flag Conditions, Logistical Challenges in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and Successful Approach to Recognizing a Potential MRSA Infection).

The Learning Curve, April 2008 - 12 Edition
( pdf posted 4/23/2008)
Lessons Learned and Effective Practices from the 2006 AAR Rollups featuring OPERATIONS (Water Conservation with Dust Palliative), PLANNING (Using Local Felling Groups and Contractors), and LOGISTICS (Using Spike Camps Decreases Safety Problems, Streamlining Spike Camp Deliveries, Coyote Camp Deliveries During Red Flag Conditions, Logistical Chanllenges in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and Successful Approach to Recognizing a Potential MRSA Infection.

2008 S-520 AAR Power Point
( pdf posted 4/1/2008)
This presentation focuses on how Incident Management Teams can best use the AAR process during incidents. Curtis Heaton presented this at the 2008 I-520 Advanced Incident Management course.

Learning Curve 11th Edition
(158KB pdf posted 3/25/2008)
Lessons Learned and Effective Practices from the 2006 AAR Rollups featuring operations, planning and logistics.

Build A Healthy Safety Culture Using Organizational Learning And High Reliability Organizing
(742KB ppt posted 12/18/2007)
A presentation for leaders in the wildland fire community interested in significantly and continuously improving the safety of firefighters.

Build a Healthy Safety Culture Using Organizational Learning and High Reliability Organizing
( pdf posted 12/8/2007)
A paper presented at the Wildfire2007 international conference of wildland firefighters in Seville, Spain, May 2007. This paper introduces people to successful techniques in the integration of organizational learning and high reliability organizing that can lead to building and sustaining a healthy safety culture.

The Emotionally Intelligent Firefighter
(56.0 KB pdf posted 9/20/2007)
An unspoken human dimension of wildland firefighting

Cascade Complex ICP Burn-By AAR
(29.0 KB doc posted 9/4/2007)
"Subsequent to the Cascade Complex Burn-by Event of 08/13/07, I requested each Section Chief to conduct an After Action Review (AAR) of the event within their section, and to give the results to the Safety Officer for inclusion into a revised, updated Camp Safety Plan."

Battle Creek Fire AAR Rollup
(42.0 KB doc posted 8/10/2007)
The Battle Creek Fire AAR Rollup details what Chris Hoff's type I IMT learned during this fire.

Greensburg, Kansas Tornado FEMA Assist - Final Narrative, Lessons Learned
(919 KB pdf posted 6/18/2007)
"According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a weekend of severe weather battered southwest Kansas, beginning May 4, 2007. At 2138 hours the Dodge City National Weather Service Office reported a “wedge tornado with a satellite tornado and rope tornado” in Kiowa County. Forecasters in Dodge City issued two Tornado Warnings."

Ham Lake Fire, Type I - AAR Rollup
(33.5 KB doc posted 6/18/2007)
This AAR Rollup is from the Ham Lake Fire, May 9-19th, 2007, which took place on the Superior National Forest.

2006 Wildland Fire Use AAR
(84.5 KB doc posted 6/15/2007)
"In November 2006, a gathering of wildland fire managers assembled to review that season’s Wildland Fire Use activities and incidents. Participants included national level program leaders from the federal wildland agencies, regional and geographical managers, Agency Administrators, members of Interagency Fire Use Management Teams, and experienced interested practitioners." This is the AAR from the 2006 widland fire use season.

Promontory Fire AAR - Tonto NF 2007
(26.0 KB doc posted 5/29/2007)
An incident occurred during 5/18 day operational period that involved a situation that resulted in an IHC crew losing situational awareness during a burnout operation. This is the AAR from this incident.

East Roaring Fire Helispot Burnover LLA
(32.0 KB doc posted 2/2/2007)
On Sept 5, 2006 a helispot on the East Roaring Fire (ID-BOF) burned over during extended attack, resulting in the loss of 45 PG bags that were staged there earlier in the day. No injuries or entrapments occured as a result of the burn-over, but this was a significant loss in equipment and personal possessions. On Nov 9, 2006 a Lesson's Learned Analysis was conducted by Paul Chamberlin. The attached document is the summary narrative of the LLA.

Disclaimer: Information is provided with the intent to share knowledge to improve safety, performance, efficiency and organizational learning throughout the entire wildland fire community. However, no warranties or guarantees are implied because much of the data provided is beyond the control of the Center. No endorsement of any company or product is given or implied.