An after-action review is a structured review process used to examine performance and improve future action after training or operations.
The concept matters because command depends on organized learning, not only on orders during execution. An AAR turns performance into shared assessment and gives a unit a repeatable way to identify what happened, what needs to change, and how to prepare the next iteration.
Recent Army training guidance treats AARs as central to training and leader development rather than as optional reflection [@tmdtc2025; @tmdtcseries2026].