The After Action Review: Turning Experience into Wisdom
Everyday Bushcraft | The Everyday Way
“Every experience is an opportunity to learn. Every lesson is an opportunity to improve. Every improvement is another win stacked in your favour.”
The Difference Between Doing Something and Learning From It
There's an old military saying: No plan survives first contact with the enemy.
It's a reminder that no matter how thoroughly we prepare, the world has a habit of throwing unexpected challenges our way.
I learned a long time ago that planning is important, but so was the ability to adapt when things didn't go according to plan. And perhaps more importantly, we need to learn from what happened so we could perform better the next time.
One of the tools used to achieve this is the After Action Review (AAR).
It's a simple but powerful process for examining an activity, understanding what happened, identifying what worked, and deciding what could be improved.
The military uses AARs following training exercises and operations. But I've come to believe their real value extends far beyond military service.
We can use them after a bushcraft course, a Scout activity (plan, do, review), a difficult conversation, a job interview, a business meeting, or even a particularly challenging day.
Because here's something I've learned over the years:
Experience alone doesn't necessarily make us better. It's what we do with that experience that matters.
And that's where the After Action Review comes in.
What Is an After Action Review?
An AAR is a structured reflection designed to improve future performance.
It isn't about finding someone to blame. It isn't about dwelling on failure. And it certainly isn't about beating yourself or others up because something didn't go according to plan.
It's about learning.
At its heart, an AAR asks six straightforward questions:
What was supposed to happen?
What actually happened?
Why were there differences?
What worked well?
What needs improving?
What should we sustain or change next time?
Simple questions, aren't they?
But when we're honest with ourselves, the answers can be incredibly powerful.
Let's explore how we can apply these questions through the Everyday Way.
1. What Was Supposed to Happen?
Before we can evaluate an outcome, we need to understand what we were trying to achieve.
What was the objective?
What did success look like?
What was our plan?
Imagine we're running a shelter-building exercise at Everyday Bushcraft.
The objective might be to construct a weatherproof shelter using a tarp, cordage, and the surrounding environment.
We want participants to select a suitable location, consider prevailing weather conditions, establish a ridgeline, tension their shelter, and demonstrate that it provides adequate protection.
That's our intended outcome.
But this question is just as relevant in everyday life.
Perhaps you planned to walk five kilometres.
Perhaps you intended to have a difficult conversation with someone.
Perhaps your goal was to remain calm during a stressful situation.
Whatever the activity, we need to establish what we set out to achieve.
Without a clear objective, it's difficult to measure progress.
And remember, success doesn't always have to mean completing the entire task.
Sometimes the objective is simply to make progress.
Sometimes it's about having the courage to start.
2. What Actually Happened?
Now we examine reality.
Not what we hoped happened.
Not what we wished had happened.
What actually happened?
Back to our shelter-building exercise.
Perhaps the participants successfully erected their shelters, but when the rain arrived, water began pooling in the roof.
Maybe the ridgeline wasn't sufficiently tensioned.
Maybe the shelter was positioned in a depression where water collected.
Or perhaps everything worked beautifully, and the group remained warm and dry despite some challenging weather.
This is where we separate facts from assumptions.
We need to be honest about the outcome without becoming emotionally attached to it.
I often talk about developing situational awareness, recognising what's happening around us, and responding appropriately.
That awareness doesn't stop when the activity finishes.
It continues through reflection.
If we want to improve, we must first be willing to see things as they are.
Not better than they were.
Not worse than they were.
Just as they were.
3. Why Were There Differences?
This is where the real learning begins.
Why didn't things go according to plan?
Or, equally importantly, why did something work better than expected?
Perhaps the shelter leaked because we chose the wrong configuration for the weather.
Perhaps we rushed the setup.
Perhaps we didn't notice the ground sloping towards our sleeping area.
Maybe we simply hadn't practised enough.
The important thing is to identify the underlying cause.
There's little value in saying, "The shelter failed because we did a bad job."
That doesn't teach us anything.
But saying, "We didn't create sufficient slope in the tarp to shed the rainwater," gives us something specific to work on.
Now we have a lesson.
And here's something worth remembering:
A mistake only becomes a wasted opportunity when we refuse to learn from it.
We also need to recognise that sometimes circumstances are beyond our control.
Weather changes.
Equipment breaks.
Other people make decisions that affect us.
Life happens.
The question isn't always how we could have prevented the problem.
Sometimes it's how we could have responded more effectively.
This is where resilience begins to take shape.
4. What Worked Well?
I think this is one of the most important questions in the entire process.
And it's one we often overlook.
Human beings have a remarkable ability to focus on what went wrong.
We can complete ten things successfully, make one mistake, and spend the rest of the day thinking about that mistake.
Sound familiar?
But if we only examine our failures, we're ignoring half the learning opportunity.
What did we do well?
What decisions helped us succeed?
What skills did we demonstrate?
What attitudes or behaviours contributed to a positive outcome?
Perhaps our shelter leaked, but we selected a safe location away from falling branches.
Perhaps our knots held securely.
Perhaps everyone worked together and supported one another.
Perhaps someone noticed the problem early and suggested a solution.
Those are wins.
And they deserve recognition.
Stacking Wins
At Everyday Bushcraft, I talk about the importance of stacking wins.
It's the idea that confidence and competence are built progressively through repeated experiences of achievement.
Think about learning to light a fire with a ferro rod.
The first time, you might struggle to produce a spark.
Then you learn to control the striker.
That's a win.
Next, you manage to direct the sparks into your tinder.
Another win.
Eventually, you create an ember.
Another win.
And finally, your tinder bursts into flame.
Success!
But here's the interesting part.
The final flame wasn't your only achievement.
Every small improvement along the way contributed to that success.
When we deliberately recognise those small victories, we begin building evidence of our own capability.
And that evidence matters when we encounter the next challenge.
Instead of thinking, "I can't do this," we begin to think, "I've learned difficult things before. I can learn this too."
That's how confidence develops.
Not through empty encouragement, but through demonstrated capability.
5. What Needs Improving?
Now we turn our attention towards the things that didn't go so well.
But there's an important distinction I want to make.
We're identifying opportunities for improvement, not reasons to criticise ourselves.
If something didn't work, let's understand why.
If we lacked a skill, let's practise it.
If our equipment wasn't suitable, let's reconsider what we carry.
If we made a poor decision, let's work out how to make a better one next time.
This is where the Everyday Bushcraft philosophy of practice makes proficient becomes particularly relevant.
We don't become competent by reading about knots.
We become competent by tying them.
Again.
And again.
Until our hands understand what our minds have learned.
The same applies to emotional regulation, communication, leadership, decision-making, and resilience.
We improve through deliberate practice.
And deliberate practice requires feedback.
An AAR provides that feedback.
Don't Try to Fix Everything at Once
Here's another lesson worth remembering.
If we identify ten areas for improvement, trying to address all ten immediately can become overwhelming.
Instead, ask yourself:
What's the one improvement that would make the greatest difference next time?
Start there.
Make the improvement.
Practise it.
Then build on it.
Remember, we're stacking wins.
6. What Should We Sustain or Change?
The final question turns reflection into action.
It's not enough to identify what worked and what didn't.
We need to decide what we're going to do differently.
There are two parts to this.
Sustain: What should we continue doing because it worked?
Change: What should we adjust, improve, or stop doing?
Perhaps our shelter-building group discovered that one particular knot made the ridgeline easier to tension.
Keep using it.
Perhaps we learned that setting up camp before dark dramatically reduced stress.
Make that part of our routine.
Perhaps we discovered that poor communication caused unnecessary confusion.
Next time, establish clear responsibilities before starting.
The aim is to carry the lessons forward.
Because an AAR without action is simply a conversation about the past.
The real value comes from applying what we've learned to what happens next.
The Iteration Mindset: Getting Better Every Time
One of the ideas I try to reinforce through Everyday Bushcraft is that learning is an ongoing process.
We attempt something.
We observe the result.
We reflect.
We adjust.
And then we try again.
Each repetition gives us an opportunity to improve.
Think about building a fire.
The first attempt might fail because our tinder is damp.
We reflect on what happened.
Next time, we select drier material.
Perhaps we get a flame, but it goes out because we haven't prepared sufficient kindling.
Another lesson.
On the next attempt, we prepare our fuel before striking the ferro rod.
The fire takes.
We haven't simply learned how to light a fire.
We've learned how to observe, analyse, adapt, and improve.
That's a skill we can carry into almost every aspect of life.
The process becomes a cycle:
Plan → Act → Observe → Reflect → Adjust → Practise Again
And every time we complete that cycle, we have another opportunity to become a little more capable.
Building Resilience Through Reflection
Resilience is often misunderstood.
People sometimes think resilience means being tough enough that nothing bothers you.
That you never feel fear.
That you never become frustrated.
That failure doesn't affect you.
I don't believe that's what resilience is.
To me, resilience is about developing the capacity to face difficulties, manage our response, learn from our experiences, and keep moving forward.
It doesn't mean things won't hurt.
It means we develop better ways of dealing with the things that do.
An AAR helps us do exactly that.
Imagine you've had a particularly difficult week.
Perhaps you made a mistake at work.
Perhaps an important conversation didn't go the way you'd hoped.
Perhaps you attempted something new and weren't successful.
You could carry that disappointment around with you.
You could replay the experience repeatedly, focusing on everything that went wrong.
Or you could stop and conduct a simple personal AAR.
What was I trying to achieve?
What happened?
What was within my control?
What did I do well?
What could I improve?
What will I do differently next time?
Suddenly, the experience becomes something useful.
It becomes a lesson rather than simply a disappointment.
And when you start recognising even the smallest improvements, you begin building confidence in your ability to navigate difficult situations.
You're stacking wins.
Not because everything went perfectly
But because you're learning to become more capable with every experience.
Making the AAR Part of Everyday Life
One of the best things about an After Action Review is that it doesn't need to be complicated.
You don't need a meeting room.
You don't need a whiteboard.
You don't need a formal report.
Sometimes all you need is five minutes of honest reflection.
After a bushcraft activity, we might gather the group and ask each participant to identify one thing that went well and one thing they'd do differently.
After a Scout activity, we might invite the patrol to discuss what they learned and what they'd change next time.
After a difficult day, we might sit quietly with a notebook and reflect on our experiences.
You can even do it while walking.
In fact, some of my best thinking happens when I'm out bush, listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, and allowing myself the space to reflect.
There's something about stepping away from the noise of everyday life that helps bring things into perspective.
We don't need to analyse every minute of our lives.
But creating a regular habit of reflection can make an enormous difference over time.
A Five-Minute Personal AAR
At the end of your day, try asking yourself three simple questions:
1. What was my win today?
It doesn't have to be enormous.
Maybe you went for a walk when you didn't feel like it.
Maybe you handled a difficult conversation more calmly than you would have previously.
Maybe you learned something new.
Recognise it.
2. What did I learn today?
Perhaps something didn't go according to plan.
What did the experience teach you?
Be specific.
3. What's one thing I'll do differently tomorrow?
Choose one practical improvement.
Something you can act on.
Then tomorrow, put it into practice.
That's it.
Five minutes.
One win.
One lesson.
One improvement.
Imagine what that could look like after a month.
Or a year.
Not every day will be a success by conventional standards.
But every day can contain something worth learning.
And every lesson gives us another opportunity to grow.
AARs Work Best When People Feel Safe to Be Honest
There's one final point I want to make, particularly for parents, teachers, Scout leaders, and anyone responsible for developing others.
If we're going to use AARs with a group, we need to create an environment where people feel comfortable being honest.
That means avoiding blame.
It means listening without immediately correcting.
It means recognising effort and improvement.
It also means being willing to acknowledge our own mistakes as leaders.
When participants see that we're prepared to reflect honestly on our own performance, they're more likely to do the same.
Consider a child who has just attempted to build their first shelter.
The shelter collapses.
We could immediately tell them what they did wrong.
Or we could ask:
"What do you think happened?"
"What part worked really well?"
"What might you try differently?"
"Would you like to have another go?"
Those questions encourage ownership.
They promote curiosity.
They help the child develop problem-solving skills.
And perhaps most importantly, they teach that an unsuccessful attempt doesn't define their ability.
It's simply part of learning.
We want people to leave our courses believing they're capable of doing difficult things.
Not because everything was easy.
But because they discovered they could learn, adapt, and overcome challenges.
The Everyday Way: Never Waste an Experience
Life rarely unfolds exactly as we expect.
Sometimes the weather changes.
Sometimes the fire won't light.
Sometimes the shelter leaks.
Sometimes we make decisions we'd rather have made differently.
And sometimes life presents challenges far more significant than anything we'll encounter during a bushcraft course.
We don't always get to choose what happens to us.
But we can often choose how we respond, what we learn, and what we do next.
The After Action Review gives us a practical framework for making those choices.
It encourages honesty without self-criticism.
It promotes accountability without blame.
It recognises success without ignoring opportunities for improvement.
And it reminds us that progress is rarely a single dramatic achievement.
More often, it's the accumulation of small improvements made consistently over time.
One lesson.
One adjustment.
One successful attempt.
One more win stacked in our favour.
At Everyday Bushcraft, we teach practical skills because they provide opportunities to develop something much more valuable than simply knowing how to tie a knot, build a shelter, or light a fire.
They help us learn how to think.
How to adapt.
How to manage uncertainty.
How to keep going when things get difficult.
And how to become a little more capable each time we try.
That's the Everyday Way.
So the next time something doesn't go according to plan, don't be too quick to label it a failure.
Stop.
Take a breath.
Ask yourself what happened, what worked, and what you can learn.
Then make an adjustment and have another go.
Because there's always one more thing you can do.
Train for Life. Not the Moment.
DingoResilience Mentor | Founder, Everyday Bushcraft
Your Everyday Bushcraft Challenge
For the next seven days, conduct a five-minute After Action Review at the end of each day.
Write down:
One Win: Something you achieved or handled well.
One Lesson: Something the day taught you.
One Improvement: Something you'll do differently tomorrow.
At the end of the week, read back through your notes.
Look at the wins you've accumulated.
Look at the lessons you've learned.
And ask yourself one final question:
Am I a little more capable today than I was seven days ago?
If the answer is yes, you're moving in the right direction.
And if the answer is no, perhaps your next AAR will help you understand why.
Keep learning. Keep practising. Keep stacking wins.
Practice makes proficient.
Everyday Bushcraft — Building Confidence, Capability and Resilience Through Practical Skills for Life.
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