AAR Conduct and Documentation - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The unit training manager and the senior trainer present at the event own AAR conduct. The S-1 chief tracks AAR completion against MCTIMS calendar entries and ensures every assessed T-R event lands a completed performance evaluation checklist per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(5)(h). The S-1 officer reviews aggregated AAR findings to inform next-cycle training plan revisions.

Source documents flow from the unit training plan, the T-R event standard, the risk assessment, and the observations captured during the event. AAR reports route to MCTIMS as the performance evaluation checklist for the assessed event. Outputs include the signed AAR report, the MCTIMS calendar entry update, the lessons-learned log, and the action items rolled into the next training cycle.

MCAAT and the IGMC UTM functional area inspectors check MCTIMS calendar entries for completed performance evaluation checklists per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(5)(h). An assessed T-R event without a completed checklist triggers a finding. Upload the AAR at the moment of completion, not at the end of the cycle.

Trigger events

• A scheduled T-R event completes per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7000.3.
• A formal evaluation completes (MCCRE per MCO 3501.1E or unit-level formal evaluation).
• A High Risk Training event closes requiring a safety review.
• A pre-deployment training exercise concludes.
• A combined arms exercise or field training exercise ends.
• A live fire event closes requiring a safety AAR.
• An ancillary training event closes requiring an evaluation roll-up.

Processing workflow

1. Plan the AAR format. Identify the AAR lead, the recorder, the participants, and the timeline before the training event begins per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7000.3 (continuous evaluation tenet).
2. Capture observations during execution. The senior trainer or designated observer records performance against the T-R event standard from the T-R Manual.
3. Conduct the AAR. Run the review immediately after the event closes. Cover what happened, why it happened, and what the unit sustains, improves, and learns per MCRP 7-20A.4MCRP 7-20A.4.
4. Capture sustains, improves, and lessons learned. The recorder documents each in the AAR report.
5. Generate the AAR report. Format the report against the unit AAR template. The senior trainer signs.
6. Upload to MCTIMS. Attach the AAR report to the MCTIMS calendar event as the performance evaluation checklist per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(5)(h).
7. Brief findings to the chain. The unit training manager briefs the commander on aggregate trends per MCRP 7-20A.4MCRP 7-20A.4.
8. Action items into the next training plan. The S-1 officer routes lessons learned into the next cycle plan per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(2).
9. Track AAR completion. The S-1 chief reconciles AAR completion against the MCTIMS calendar weekly.
10. File supporting documents. Place the AAR report, observation notes, and any related photographs or video in the unit training folder.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTIMS UTM Module. Holds the calendar event and the performance evaluation checklist upload.
• DRRS-MC. Receives readiness reporting that draws on AAR findings per MCO 3000.13BMCO 3000.13B.
• Unit training folder. Local repository for AAR reports and supporting media.

Forms

• Unit AAR Template. Local form documenting sustains, improves, and lessons learned.
• Performance Evaluation Checklist. T-R event-specific checklist uploaded to MCTIMS.
• T-R Event Standard from the T-R Manual. The basis for evaluation.

Common pitfalls

• AAR conducted but not uploaded to MCTIMS. The performance evaluation checklist is missing from the calendar event. MCAAT writes the finding under MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(5)(h). Upload at the moment of completion.
• AAR conducted past the event close window. Observations decay. Conduct the AAR within 24 hours of event close per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7000.3.
• AAR captures opinions, not performance against standard. The report does not support readiness reporting. Anchor every observation against the T-R event standard per MCRP 7-20A.4MCRP 7-20A.4.
• Lessons learned not actioned. The next cycle repeats the same gaps. The S-1 officer routes action items into the plan per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(2).
• Unit AAR template not used. AAR formats vary across events making aggregation hard. Use the unit template for every AAR.

Decision points

• Formal versus informal AAR. Informal AAR runs after most scheduled training. Formal AAR runs after MCCRE and unit-level formal evaluations per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7000.3. The unit training manager calls the level.
• AAR scope on chained events. The training session covered a 5000-level event with chained 4000 and 1000-level events. The AAR covers the upper-level event with chained credit per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 4005.1.
• HRT AAR safety integration. The event was HRT under MCO 5100.29CMCO 5100.29C. The AAR includes a safety review with the unit safety officer present.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7000.3 (AARs after all scheduled training) and MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(5)(h) (completed performance evaluation checklists in MCTIMS). MCRP 7-20A.4MCRP 7-20A.4 Unit Training Evaluation provides the doctrinal AAR procedure. NAVMC 3500.3ENAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0170-OPER-2001 covers the 01XX training plan including AAR-driven plan revisions.

Related references

• MCO P3500.72A Marine Corps Ground Training and Readiness Program. Paragraph 7000.3 sets the AAR requirement.
• MCO 1553.3C Unit Training Management Program. Paragraph 4.c.(5)(h) requires AAR upload to MCTIMS.
• MCRP 7-20A.4 Unit Training Evaluation. Doctrinal AAR procedure.
• MCO 3000.13B Marine Corps Unit Readiness Reporting. AAR findings inform readiness reporting.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0170-OPER-2001 governs 01XX training plan revisions.