What is the primary role of after-action reporting for TERT leaders?

The primary role of after-action reporting for TERT leaders is to summarize the response efforts. This process involves a comprehensive review of the actions taken during a response to evaluate what occurred, the effectiveness of the response, and how the team performed under the given circumstances. Summarizing these efforts is crucial for identifying strengths and weaknesses, and it allows teams to learn from their experiences. This summary can also facilitate communication with stakeholders, which is vital for accountability and for improving future responses.

While assessing team member fitness, providing financial reporting, and checking equipment effectiveness are important aspects of a team's operations and may be addressed in various contexts, they are not the primary focus of after-action reporting. Instead, this reporting serves as a reflective tool to enhance readiness and improve procedures through collective learning derived from the observed outcomes of the response efforts.