Which type of After-Action Review is described as formal after the training event?

• A. Planned
• B. Informal
• C. Hot wash
• D. Formal

Answer: (D)

After-action reviews come in different levels of formality and timing. The formal type is the official, structured debrief that happens after the training event. It uses a defined agenda, a designated facilitator, and a written record of what happened, what was learned, and what actions will be taken, with assigned owners and deadlines. That scheduled, documented process is what makes it the formal after the training event.

In contrast, a hot wash is quick and immediate right after the event and is usually informal; an informal debrief is less structured; and while a planned review may be scheduled, it isn’t necessarily carried out with the formal, documented structure that defines a formal AAR.