During the evaluation of an exercise, what must evaluators focus on recording?

Focusing on critical tasks and the resources utilized during an exercise evaluation is essential because it provides evaluators with concrete data on how well the exercise achieved its objectives. By concentrating on these elements, evaluators can assess whether the participants effectively carried out the necessary actions and whether the appropriate resources were employed efficiently to complete these tasks. This information helps identify strengths and weaknesses in the response efforts, guides future training and planning, and ensures that lessons learned from the exercise inform improvements in emergency management practices.

While other aspects, such as emotional responses or participant suggestions, may offer insights into the experience of the exercise, they do not provide the objective and measurable data that is critical for analyzing performance and operational effectiveness. Evaluators need a clear understanding of the operational aspects to make informed decisions for future exercises and real-world applications.