HSEEP After Action Report (AAR) and Improvement Plan (IP)

OMB No. 1660-0118
Expiration Date: May 31, 2017

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FEMA Form 091-0-1
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[Exercise Name]
After-Action Report/Improvement Plan
[Date]

The After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) aligns exercise objectives with
preparedness doctrine to include the National Preparedness Goal and related frameworks and
guidance. Exercise information required for preparedness reporting and trend analysis is
included; users are encouraged to add additional sections as needed to support their own
organizational needs.

FEMA Form 091-0-1

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

EXERCISE OVERVIEW
Exercise Name

[Insert the formal name of exercise, which should match the name in the
document header]

Exercise Dates

[Indicate the start and end dates of the exercise]

Scope
Mission Area(s)
Core
Capabilities

This exercise is a [exercise type], planned for [exercise duration] at [exercise
location]. Exercise play is limited to [exercise parameters].
[Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and/or Recovery]
[List the core capabilities being exercised]

Objectives

[List exercise objectives]

Threat or
Hazard

[List the threat or hazard (e.g. natural/hurricane, technological/radiological
release)]

Scenario

[Insert a brief overview of the exercise scenario, including scenario impacts
(2-3 sentences)]

Sponsor

[Insert the name of the sponsor organization, as well as any grant programs
being utilized, if applicable]

Participating
Organizations

[Insert a brief summary of the total number of participants and participation
level (i.e., Federal, State, local, Tribal, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and/or international agencies). Consider including the full list of
participating agencies in Appendix B. Delete Appendix B if not required.]

Point of Contact

[Insert the name, title, agency, address, phone number, and email address of
the primary exercise POC (e.g., exercise director or exercise sponsor)]

Exercise Overview

1

[Sponsor Organization]

[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

ANALYSIS OF CORE CAPABILITIES
Aligning exercise objectives and core capabilities provides a consistent taxonomy for evaluation
that transcends individual exercises to support preparedness reporting and trend analysis. Table
1 includes the exercise objectives, aligned core capabilities, and performance ratings for each
core capability as observed during the exercise and determined by the evaluation team.

Objective
[Objective 1]

Core Capability

Performed
without
Challenges
(P)

Performed
with Some
Challenges
(S)

Performed
with Major
Challenges
(M)

Unable to
be
Performed
(U)

[Core capability]
[Core capability]

[Objective 2]

[Core capability]

[Objective 3]

[Core capability]

Ratings Definitions:
 Performed without Challenges (P): The targets and critical tasks associated with the core capability were
completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s) and did not negatively impact the performance of other
activities. Performance of this activity did not contribute to additional health and/or safety risks for the public or
for emergency workers, and it was conducted in accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures,
regulations, and laws.
 Performed with Some Challenges (S): The targets and critical tasks associated with the core capability were
completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s) and did not negatively impact the performance of other
activities. Performance of this activity did not contribute to additional health and/or safety risks for the public or
for emergency workers, and it was conducted in accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures,
regulations, and laws. However, opportunities to enhance effectiveness and/or efficiency were identified.
 Performed with Major Challenges (M): The targets and critical tasks associated with the core capability were
completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s), but some or all of the following were observed:
demonstrated performance had a negative impact on the performance of other activities; contributed to
additional health and/or safety risks for the public or for emergency workers; and/or was not conducted in
accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
 Unable to be Performed (U): The targets and critical tasks associated with the core capability were not
performed in a manner that achieved the objective(s).

Table 1. Summary of Core Capability Performance

The following sections provide an overview of the performance related to each exercise
objective and associated core capability, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

Analysis of Core Capabilities

2

[Sponsor Organization]

[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

[Objective 1]
The strengths and areas for improvement for each core capability aligned to this objective are
described in this section.

[Core Capability 1]
Strengths
The [full or partial] capability level can be attributed to the following strengths:
Strength 1: [Observation statement]
Strength 2: [Observation statement]
Strength 3: [Observation statement]
Areas for Improvement
The following areas require improvement to achieve the full capability level:
Area for Improvement 1: [Observation statement. This should clearly state the problem or
gap; it should not include a recommendation or corrective action, as those will be documented in
the Improvement Plan.]
Reference: [List any relevant plans, policies, procedures, regulations, or laws.]
Analysis: [Provide a root cause analysis or summary of why the full capability level was not
achieved.]
Area for Improvement 2: [Observation statement]
Reference: [List any relevant plans, policies, procedures, regulations, or laws.]
Analysis: [Provide a root cause analysis or summary of why the full capability level was not
achieved.]

[Core Capability 2]
Strengths
The [full or partial] capability level can be attributed to the following strengths:
Strength 1: [Observation statement]
Strength 2: [Observation statement]
Strength 3: [Observation statement]
Areas for Improvement
The following areas require improvement to achieve the full capability level:

Analysis of Core Capabilities

3

[Sponsor Organization]

[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

Area for Improvement 1: [Observation statement. This should clearly state the problem or
gap; it should not include a recommendation or corrective action, as those will be documented in
the Improvement Plan.]
Reference: [List any relevant plans, policies, procedures, regulations, or laws.]
Analysis: [Provide a root cause analysis or summary of why the full capability level was not
achieved.]

Analysis of Core Capabilities

4

[Sponsor Organization]

[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN
This IP has been developed specifically for [Organization or Jurisdiction] as a result of [Exercise Name] conducted on [date of
exercise].

Core Capability
Core Capability
1: [Capability
Name]

Issue/Area for
Improvement
1. [Area for
Improvement]

Capability
1
Element

Primary
Responsible
Organization

Organization
POC

Start Date

Completion
Date

[Corrective Action 1]
[Corrective Action 2]
[Corrective Action 3]

2. [Area for
Improvement]

1

Corrective Action

[Corrective Action 1]
[Corrective Action 2]

Capability Elements are: Planning, Organization, Equipment, Training, or Exercise.

Appendix A: Improvement Plan

A-1
[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

[Sponsor Organization]

After-Action Report/
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

[Exercise Name]
[Exercise Name Continued]

APPENDIX B: EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS
Participating Organizations
Federal

State

[Jurisdiction A]

[Jurisdiction B]

Appendix B: Exercise Participants

B-1

[Sponsor Organization]

[PROTECTIVE MARKING, AS APPROPRIATE]
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)