Army Lessons Learned Program
THE UNITED STATES ARMY
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
28 July 2022
*Army Regulation 11–33
Effective 28 August 2022
Army Programs
Army Lessons Learned Program
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
JAMES C. MCCONVILLE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army
History. This publication is a major revision. The portions affected by this major revision are listed in the summary of change.
Authorities. This regulation implements CJCSICJCSIChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3150.25H.
Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.
Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this publication is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this publication that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this publication by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements
Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app B).
Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Deputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7 (DAMO–SS), usarmy.leavenworth.mccoe.mbx.call-rfi-manager-mailbox@army.mil.
Committee management approval. AR 15–39 requires the proponent to justify establishing/continuing committee(s), coordinate draft publications, and coordinate changes in committee status with the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Special Programs Directorate (AARP–ZA), 9301 Chapek Road, Building 1458, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–5527. Further, if it is determined that an established "group" identified within this regulation later takes on the characteristics of a committee as found in AR 15–39, then the proponent will follow AR 15–39 requirements for establishing and continuing the group as a committee.
Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
*This regulation supersedes AR 11–33, dated 14 June 2017.
AR 11–33 • 28 July 2022
UNCLASSIFIED
TOCTable of Contents
Chapter 1Introduction
Chapter 2Responsibilities
This regulation takes account of Army Directive 2018 – 07 – 11, which eliminates commander’s requirement (brigade and below) to participate in the lessons learned process. The DCSDCSDeputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7, G – 3/5/7 may issue orders directing Army units to provide observations and/or after action reports (AARs) for specified key exer-cises, deployments, tests, and experiments. This regulation still applies to Army commands (ACOMs), Army service component commands (ASCCs), direct reporting units (DRUs), and force management pro-ponents, to include corps and division headquarters.
Chapter 3Army Lessons Learned Program
Chapter 4Organization Lesson Managers
Chapter 5Joint Lessons Learned Information System Administrators
Appendix AReferences
Appendix BInternal Control Evaluation
Glossary
Army Lessons Learned Program community Individuals and organizations that participate in the ALLP.
Best practice A validated method or procedure which has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and appears to be worthy of replication.
Issue An observed, analyzed, and validated shortcoming, deficiency, or problem that precludes performance to standard and requires resolution-focused problem solving.
Joint Lesson Learned Information System administrator Appointed person that has overall responsibility for the management of an organization’s JLLIS account.
Lesson Validated observation(s) that summarize a capability, tactic, technique, or procedure to be sustained, dis- seminated, and replicated (best practice); or that identifies a capability or performance shortfall requiring corrective action (issue).
Lessons learned A resolved issue or best practice that improves operations or activities and results in an internalized change to capability, process, or procedure.
Observation Notes or comments on an operation, event, or exercise from the perspective of the person(s) who per- ceived or experienced it first-hand.
Office of primary responsibility The office responsible for the daily execution of the program.
Organization lesson manager Appointed person that has overall responsibility for the management of an organization’s lessons learned program. May also have specified duties as a lesson manager in the lessons learned process.
Trend An identified lesson or best practice supported by three or more validated observations from multiple sources within a reasonable period.
Validation The review of submitted observations to determine if they are accurate, relevant, and contain potential issues or best practices that may improve future performance.
Summary of ChangeSummary of Change AR 11 – 33
Army Lessons Learned Program This major revision, dated 14 July 2022— • Revises the term “lessons and best practice” to “lessons” (throughout). • Replaces “Army Force Generation and Sustainable Readiness Models” with “Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model” (throughout). • Adds term “Joint Lessons Learned Information System administrator” (throughout). • Revises the purpose of the Army Lessons Learned Program (para 1 – 1). • Adds DA PamDA PamDepartment of the Army Pamphlets 11 – 33 as an associated publication (para 1 – 3). • Incorporates Army Directive 2018 – 07 – 11, Prioritizing Efforts—Readiness and Lethality (Update 11) (chap 2). • Consolidates and revises responsibilities for Army organizations (chap 2). • Adds “organization lesson manager” as a term (chap 2). • Revises Army lessons learned terms to align with Joint doctrine (glossary).
