When using video and voice recordings, ensure all participants can see and hear. Use charts to emphasize kill ratios or other data that need to be discussed. Use a chart of artillery missions fired to reveal inadequate smoke usage when disengaging. Once all the key points have been discussed and linked to future training, the AAR leader should leave the immediate area and allow the unit leader and soldiers the opportunity to discuss the events in private. The AAR process involves several leader functions requiring skill, training, and good judgment.
Leaders observe performance, then evaluate the quality of what they see.
They decide which of their observations to include in the AAR and what questions to ask. They ask open ended questions to ensure the discussion causes soldiers to compare their own performance with established Army standards. AARs tend to treat poor performance in great detail and focus on what happened and why. Trainers try not to unduly damage self-esteem or cohesion. To do so would be contrary to the AAR's goal of improving performance.