What is the primary purpose of conducting after-action reports?

The primary purpose of conducting after-action reports is to identify and correct problems, while disseminating results. This process involves analyzing what occurred during an operation, assessing both successes and shortcomings, and discussing recommendations for improvement. By focusing on identifying issues and communicating findings, after-action reports serve to enhance organizational learning and performance.

Through this thorough analysis, organizations can implement necessary changes to address any identified gaps, ensuring that future operations are more effective and efficient. While collecting data for future missions, preparing for the next operation, and evaluating personnel performance are important components of organizational development and readiness, they are secondary aspects that stem from the insights gathered through the identification of problems and sharing of results in after-action reporting.