Step 8: Prepare the After Action Report (AAR) and Improvement Plan (IP) and conduct the After Action Conference

AARs and IPs are the main product of the TTX evaluation process. The AAR is a summary of the exercise that:

• • Describes what happened during the exercise
• • Identifies exemplary practices
• • Highlights issues that need to be addressed
• • Recommends improvements, responsible parties and a timeframe for implementation

The AAR captures observations during the exercise and makes recommendations for post-exercise improvements. The AAR also contains an IP, which identifies specific corrective actions, assigns them to responsible parties and establishes targets for their completion. The exercise facilitator and other members of the EDT (as appropriate) draft the AAR and IP and submit them to the players for comment.

After completion of the draft AAR and IP, an After Action Conference (AAC) can be conducted with the players. The AAC is where the facilitator presents the draft AAR and IP for feedback and validation. The facilitator then incorporates the results, corrections or clarifications of the AAC into the AAR and IP for distribution to all affected parties. This can also be accomplished by circulating the draft AAR and IP by email for comment.