after-action report

noun

af·​ter-ac·​tion report

: a detailed critical summary or analysis of a past event (such as a military action) made for the purposes of re-assessing decisions and considering possible alternatives for future reference

Prior to leaving Saigon for Honolulu, Harkins had requested and received from Vann a special after-action report on the July 20 engagement.

—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988

—called also after-action review

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

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