What best describes a key function of after-action reviews?

After-action reviews are crucial tools for reflecting on completed missions and operations. They aim to gather insights that can lead to future improvements, ensuring that lessons learned from the experiences are effectively captured. This process facilitates a thorough analysis of what went well and what did not during an operation, allowing teams to understand the factors that contributed to success or challenges encountered. By focusing on continuous improvement, after-action reviews help organizations enhance their strategies, operational effectiveness, and readiness for future missions.

The other options, while related to operational activities, do not encapsulate the primary purpose of after-action reviews. Preparing for upcoming missions is more about planning and readiness for the future rather than learning from past experiences. Evaluating performance and boosting team morale can be aspects of the review process, but they are not the core function. Similarly, assessing regulatory compliance relates more to ensuring adherence to laws and guidelines rather than deriving insights for operational improvement. The central aim remains focused on learning and adapting for better outcomes in future endeavors.