When are formal After Action Reviews (AARs) typically conducted?

Formal After Action Reviews (AARs) are typically conducted at the company level and above to provide a structured opportunity for participants to analyze performance, identify lessons learned, and make improvements for future operations. Conducting AARs at this level allows for a comprehensive review that includes diverse perspectives from various roles within the company and higher echelons, ensuring that valuable insights are captured and disseminated throughout the organization.

This practice emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences in both training and operational environments. AARs help foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability by facilitating open discussions about successes and areas for growth based on the experiences during missions or exercises. In contrast, other options may not universally apply the same structured and formalized approach to all incidents or levels of command, making the company level the appropriate standard for these formal evaluations.