Navy SEALs and After-Action Reviews
I’ve become fascinated with the Navy SEALs this past year as I read: Make Your Bed and Sea Stories by Admiral William McRaven, Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, Transformed by Remi Adleke, and Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
The fascination grew as my grandson, a high school senior, committed to the Navy’s Delayed Entry Program (DEP). While finishing school, he spends time each week with a Navy SEAL Instructor preparing to meet the demanding physical and mental requirements that will come when he heads to “boot camp” in June.
One of the things I’m learning from the Navy SEALs is nothing is left to chance. Nothing. From the time a recruit expresses interest in becoming a Navy SEAL. To the rigors of BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs). To the planning and execution of a mission. To the debriefings that follow. Everything is done with intention. Everything.
Many of us start a year with good intentions, setting goals, objectives and resolutions. Some of it comes to fruition. Most doesn’t. Less than 25% of us stay committed to our resolutions after 30 days. Only 8% accomplish them. A lot left to chance. As the military adage goes, “hope is not a strategy.”
So, what’s an effective strategy?
While many things separate Navy SEALs from you and me, I’m learning and applying several things.
Following every initiative or mission, Navy SEALs go through what’s called an After-Action Review (AAR). The AAR was developed by the United States Army in the 1970s to help its soldiers learn from both their mistakes and achievements. It’s used throughout the military today.
There are essentially four After-Action Review questions:
- What did we intend to accomplish?
- What happened?
- Why did it happen that way?
- What will we do next time for a better outcome or to repeat our success?
This is much more than identifying “lessons learned.” A lesson learned is not really learned until it is carried forward and put in action. An AAR is always furthering the learning for future action and success of the next initiative.
This week I’m taking time to look back and reflect on 2019 and develop my 2020 objectives and plan. But I’m doing it differentially than I have in the past. I’m being intentional and following the AAR process.
What did I intend to accomplish in 2019? In my faith journey, my marriage, my relationships, my work, and stewardship of my time and resources?
What actually happened during the year compared to my intent in each of these areas? Where did my intent and actions line up? Where didn’t they?
Why did it happen that way? What were the root causes of the successes and the misses – the “why behind the why?”
With quiet introspection and prayer, what changes or adjustments do I need to make for 2020? What are my intentions and desired outcomes in the important areas of life? What are the strategies and actions required to achieve such? What help might I need and from whom? What commitments I’m I willing to make?
This may sound like a lot to go through. But that’s part of my wanting to be intentional and not leave some things to chance like I did this past year.
How about for you? What’s your 2019 review and 2020 planning process look like? What would you like it to look like? What’s your next step forward?
Let me know your thoughts or anyway I can be of help.
Steve
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Lawrence Davis)