GlossaryEmergency management
After-action report
An after-action report (AAR) is a structured review of an incident or exercise that identifies what happened, what worked, and what needs improvement.
An after-action report (AAR) is a structured review of an incident or exercise that identifies what happened, what worked, and what needs improvement. It supports learning and future planning. It is an evaluation document, not necessarily a disciplinary finding, complete investigative record, or proof that all identified problems have been corrected.
What the review adds
Cal OES after-action guidance describes review of response actions, planning, training, and improvements in its reporting context. An AAR can draw on logs, interviews, exercise observations, and other records. Its stated scope determines which functions and organizations it evaluates.
A report can include both strengths and gaps. The presence of recommendations should not be interpreted as a finding that every part of the response failed. Conversely, describing successful activities does not resolve concerns outside the review's scope.
Example
Hypothetical example: An exercise AAR finds that resource requests were documented clearly but that participating organizations used incompatible contact lists. It recommends a shared update process.
The finding concerns performance in that exercise. It does not establish that the same communication problem caused harm during a real incident. The recommendation also remains an intended improvement until later records show implementation and testing.
Common confusion
An incident action plan directs work during an incident. An AAR evaluates afterward. An improvement plan assigns corrective work arising from the evaluation.
An AAR is also different from an independent legal or misconduct investigation. A document's title alone does not establish its legal purpose or authority.
Reading scope and follow-through
Identify the incident or exercise, covered period, participating organizations, evidence, and limitations. If the report includes an improvement plan, distinguish recommended actions from completed ones. Jurisdictional submission deadlines differ; use the applicable requirement rather than generalize one state's reporting schedule.