Air & Space Force · Counseling & Performance · DAF Form 174, 20221014 edition

DAF 174: Record of Individual Counseling

The current DAF 174 (the old AF 174 renumbered): personal data, a factual summary, the counselor's advice, the member's comments, referrals, and the commander's comments.

Fill it out free Browse all worksheets

Every block on the DAF Form 174

Laid out block for block like the official RECORD OF INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING (20221014 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.

Ii. personal data

1
Name (Last, First, MI)
The member being counseled, Last, First, MI.
2
Pay Grade
3
AFSC
4
Duty Phone
5
Unit/Office Symbol
6
Reason for Counseling
A short title for the session, not the whole story.
7
Other Information (i.e., marital status, course graduation date, date assigned, etc.)
Context that matters for follow-up: date assigned to the unit, upcoming course, recent PCS. Leave out anything sensitive the session doesn't need.

Iii. counseling

8
Summary of Counseling (Give details, facts, specific dates, times, names, sequence of events, etc.)
The facts in order: what happened, when, where, who was involved, and what the standard is. Write what you observed or verified, not conclusions about character.
9
Recommendations and Advice of Counselor
What you expect from now on, the specific steps the member will take, the help you'll give, and the consequence if it continues.
10
Name, Rank and Duty Title of Counselor
11
Signature
Sign the printed or digitally signed form. Leave blank on the draft.
12
Date
The date you counseled the member.

Iv. acknowledgment of counseling

13
Summary of Counselee's Comments (Indicate if none)
The member's own comments. If they have none, write "None." Don't write this for them.
14
Name and Rank of Counselee
15
Signature
The member signs to acknowledge the counseling took place, not that they agree.
16
Date

V. referral/follow-up

17
Referral Agencies Recommended (Personal Affairs, Chaplain, Legal Assistance, Medical, Social Actions, Red Cross, etc.)
Agencies you recommended and whether you made the contact for the member. The form's tips say to follow up so referrals are actually completed.

Vi. commander's comments

Commander's Comments
Only when the commander reviews the record. Most RICs never reach Part VI.
18
Name and Rank of Commander
19
Signature
20
Date

Draft / worksheet aid. Prepare it here, then transcribe into the signed DAF 174 kept in the supervisor's record (PIF/UIF if the commander files it). This is not an official submission. Check it against the current official DAF Form 174 before use.

How to fill out the DAF Form 174

The DAF Form 174 records a verbal counseling session, positive or negative. DAFI 36-2907 calls it the least severe written administrative action, below an LOC, LOA, or LOR. The AF Form 174 (1986) was renumbered DAF Form 174 in October 2022; use the DAF edition. When: After you have counseled an Airman or Guardian face to face and need a written record: a missed standard you want documented, a pattern starting to form, or strong performance you want on file for the evaluation. If verbal counseling has already failed, step up to an LOC.

Step by step

Hold the counseling session first. The 174 documents a conversation, it doesn't replace one.
Fill Part II from the member's records: name, pay grade, AFSC, duty phone, unit and office symbol.
Write the reason for counseling in a few words (block 6), then the facts in block 8: what happened, on what dates and times, and which standard applies.
Write your recommendations and advice in block 9: what you expect, how the member can get there, and what happens if the behavior continues.
Sign and date blocks 10–12. Hand the form to the member for comments (block 13) and signature (blocks 14–16).
List any referral agencies in block 17. Route to the commander for Part VI only if your unit requires it or the commander asks.

What a strong one looks like

The printed counseling tips on the form are good advice: decide the objective first, hear the member out, give the facts whether pleasant or not, and follow up on referrals.
Dates, times, and the standard beat adjectives. "Reported to the 0700 shift change at 0725 on 3 and 10 Sep 2026" is a record; "is often late" is an opinion.
A positive 174 is legitimate and useful. Documented wins make evaluation writing easier and balance the record.
Keep a copy for your supervisor's notes; the member may request removal later, so the facts need to stand on their own.

Common mistakes

Using the 1986 AF Form 174. The current form is the DAF Form 174 (20221014).
Writing it without ever having the conversation. A RIC documents verbal counseling.
Leaving block 13 blank. If the member declines to comment, write "None" as the block instructs.
Entering a full SSN on a draft. The current form doesn't ask for one; don't add it.

References: DAFI 36-2907, Adverse Administrative Actions (14 Oct 2022, incl. Change 2, 18 Jul 2025), paras 2.3.2 and 2.4; AFI 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems (feedback); DAFI 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure (supervisor responsibilities) Checked against the official source: Sep 2026 Official blank form

Related Counseling & Performance worksheets

Fill, save & export this worksheetPrefilled from your profile · autosaves to your account · export to PDF. Free to preview, Pro to save & export.

Open it in the toolkit