How to write an After Action Report?

[Pup town]

Things I am interested in knowing, in no particular order. Relevant: I evaluate and/or host public safety training product and instructors so my needs may be a little different.

reviewer info - creds, previous training experience, context of their interest
quality of customer service and communications with scheduler/instructor
information lead time - each piece
training facility information and amenities, directions, particular benefits and problems
training host/site staff conduct, professionalism
availability of other support (food, retail, lodging)
students in the class, general make-up
student:instructor ratio
packing list accuracy, required, recommended, optional - were items actually used?
same, especially for ammo or any specialty items (shields, gas masks, helmets/tac gear, etc) if applicable
instructor conduct and professionalism
instructor teaching ability
instructor ability to perform instructed task - demos?
instructor hand-outs, curriculum / course outline or reference information
instructor time management
organization of task/material/POIs
summary of class activities through TDs and course objectives, not a play-by-play
in the event of extra class time or opportunities, how utilized
if time or task shortage, how managed to still meet objectives
high and low points for the class, major take-aways
high and low points for the students
things that distinguish this instructor and course from others offering same topic
end of course performance standard administered, reviewer's performance, class performance if available

This looks like a good list.

A couple of things I don't care about but many seem to include is the gear the author wore (or 'ran') and which guns had malfunctions (It's just way too anecdotal to draw any conclusions. Did it malfunction because student's wasn't seating his primers properly, or because the fellow hadn't lube it, or because the manufacturer has let quality control slip?)

Remember the other golden rule -- if you can't say something positive, don't say anything at all.

Why not? If the goal is to accurately portray the class, you may have to include some negative aspects.

I take most class reviews with a big grain of salt, because I think most class reviews are too positive. Not every class and instructor is the the best ever, though you wouldn't know that from some of the reviews. Some of that is natural. You are on a little training high after the class, and that slants the review. Or maybe you haven't trained a lot and don't know that that particular class wasn't that great compared to other classes out there.

Plus, if you are known to others in the community, I suspect there's a tendency to censor yourself because you don't want the backlash that can come from a negative review (or maybe a positive review that dares to point out a negative aspect or a neutral comment that someone else reads as negative.)

[GJM]

Speaking as adults, we all know that there are many consequences to writing a candid, but negative, review. As a result, I view reviews on a forum to largely be PR pieces, and instead rely on verbal reviews from people I know, for the real skinny on a course or instructor.

[Pup town]

Speaking as adults, we all know that there are many consequences to writing a candid, but negative, review. As a result, I view reviews on a forum to largely be PR pieces, and instead rely on verbal reviews from people I know, for the real skinny on a course or instructor.

Fine, but I don't know why you told people to not write anything negative. Not everyone has a network of training junky friends that they can call on to get private reviews of all the training courses out there.

[Chance]

This statement is why I don't think the AARs posted on public forums are as useful as people make them out to be, since a negative AAR posted on a public forum is an exceedingly rare thing. Hell, even AARs that are merely luke-warm in their praise aren't easy to find, for multiple reasons... and I suspect that some of those reasons are less-than-savory. I've personally been asked more than once to alter AARs on purely publicity grounds, and I've also witnessed first hand a close friend of mine being burned by a less-than-enthusiastic (but still overall fairly positive) AAR of a class taught by a popular, top-tier instructor, who took the criticism in the AAR poorly.

Responding to criticism is probably the best litmus test of professionalism there is. If someone responds poorly to a frank observation of a shortcoming, that person is not going to receive my money.

I've written negative things in my reviews. I do ultimately try to put a positive spin on things, because I think that's the civil thing to do, but if something didn't run well in a course, I'll say so. If a course had no redeemable qualities, I would say so, too.

Ultimately, I don't write AARs for industry professionals who have to be concerned about burning bridges. I write AARs for people with limited money to spend, and I want to provide an indication if this instructor/venue would be a good place to spend it.

[RJ]

My dad told me never put anything on paper that couldn't be on the front page of the Washington Post.


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[GJM]

Fine, but I don't know why you told people to not write anything negative. Not everyone has a network of training junky friends that they can call on to get private reviews of all the training courses out there.

I was actually sharing for the benefit of the new guys, what others have learned the hard way. Does "you have been warned" ring a bell?

After watching what Gary went through, it doesn't provide great incentive to spend the time to put together a thorough review, when any perceived slight, leads to forum warfare. Candid course reviews on the major forums have gone the way of employment reference checks, and what we are left with, generally, are only positive reviews.

[GJM]

Since I know GJM personally, when I read his post I imagined him laughing when he said/typed it. I took it more as commentary on the training and online AAR business than I did as sincere advice. It's VERY possible that I misunderstood his intent.

My intent was definitely humorous, but unfortunately, also serious.

[voodoo_man]

My dad told me never put anything on paper that couldn't be on the front page of the Washington Post.


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Thats not saying much now a days no disrespect to your father.

Negative is good, ive yet to have a negative experience with those ive AAR'd, specifically since I make sure I research the instructor.

[CCT125US]

This one is pretty much the gold standard.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....ght=hackathorn

Different class but same instructor......

I will not speak for the other 3 attendees I personally know and have had lengthy conversations with regarding said class , but Gary's review was very tame compared to the one I will never write. Besides, Im just sumdood on the internet.

[GJM]

If a PF member wanted to know about a specific instructor, and posted something, I bet many members would be happy to have a candid phone conversation about the strengths and weaknesses of a particular instructor. All instructors have strengths and weaknesses, although you might never know that by reading gun forum reviews.