Security Brutalist After Action Review
An After Action Review (AAR) is a structured process used to analyze what happened, why it happened, and how future performance can be improved after a project, event, or activity. It involves gathering team members to discuss successes, challenges, and lessons learned, with a focus on continuous improvement rather than assigning blame. AARs help organizations capture insights, reinforce good practices, and make adjustments for better outcomes in the future.
A highly effective AAR for a Security Brutalist team, styled after special operations best practices, should be structured, concise, brutally honest, and focused on actionable outcomes. The Security Brutalist philosophy emphasizes fundamentals, transparency, and cutting through unnecessary complexity. Here’s a recommended AAR format tailored for a Security Brutalist team.
Security Brutalist AAR Format
1. Introduction & Ground Rules
- State the purpose: To improve team performance through honest, no-nonsense reflection.
- Set the tone: No blame, no ego—focus on facts and improvement.
- Appoint a facilitator (ideally not directly involved in the operation) to ensure objectivity. This person also fills in the AAR log.
2. Event Summary
- Briefly describe the objective and scope of the operation, project, or incident.
- State the expected outcome: What did we set out to achieve?
3. What Actually Happened?
- Present a factual timeline of events.
- Use data, logs, and observations—avoid opinions at this stage.
4. Brutalist Gap Analysis
- Compare Expected vs. Actual: Where did reality diverge from the plan?
- Root Cause: Why did these gaps occur? Focus on fundamentals—was it a process, tool, or human factor?
5. What Went Well?
- Identify strengths and actions that contributed to success.
- Highlight fundamental practices that proved effective.
6. What Didn’t Go Well?
- List failures, inefficiencies, or vulnerabilities exposed.
- Be direct and specific—avoid vague statements.
7. Lessons Learned and Action Items
- For each issue, define a concrete lesson and a recommended fix.
- Assign responsibility and deadlines for follow-up actions.
- Record what should be continued and what must change.
8. Next Steps
- Summarize key takeaways.
- Set a date for follow-up to review progress on action items.
Sample AAR Table
| Section | Key Points/Questions |
|---|---|
| Objective | What was the mission/goal? |
| Actual Outcome | What happened (timeline, facts)? |
| Gaps & Causes | Where did we diverge? Why? |
| Successes | What worked and why? |
| Failures | What failed and why? |
| Lessons & Actions | What do we change? Who owns it? By when? |
Best Practices for Security Brutalist AARs
- Keep it short and focused—avoid long-winded sessions that dilute value.
- Document everything—record insights and action items for accountability and future reference.
- Break down hierarchy—encourage input from all participants, regardless of rank or role.
- Immediate feedback—conduct the AAR as soon as possible after the event to capture fresh insights.
This approach ensures the AAR is direct, actionable, and aligned with the Security Brutalist ethos: fundamentals first, transparency always, and relentless improvement.