The top of the MAR 2023 form carries a marking dropdown. A filled-in counseling contains personal data, so most units mark it CUI.
DA 4856: Developmental Counseling Form
The current (MAR 2023) counseling form: style and purpose, a readiness snapshot, the eight key points, plan of action, and the assessment.
Every block on the DA Form 4856
Laid out block for block like the official DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING FORM (MAR 2023 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Counseling style
- Classification marking
- Counseling style
Directive: the leader identifies the problem and tells the Soldier what to do. Non-directive: the Soldier leads and finds the solution. Combined: the leader guides a shared solution (the most common choice).
Part i - administrative data
- Name (Last, First, MI)
The Soldier being counseled, in Last, First, MI order.
- Rank / Grade
- Date of Counseling
The date the session is held (YYYYMMDD on the official form).
- Organization
- Name and Title of Counselor
Part ii - background information
- Purpose of counseling
Event-oriented covers a specific event (arrival, promotion, crisis, deficiency, school). Performance reviews duties over a period. Professional growth plans the Soldier's development and career.
- Period (monthly, quarterly, or other)
- Purpose
State the reason for the session in one or two sentences. Include the facts that led to it for event-oriented counseling.
Readiness snapshot
- ACFT (MM/YY)
The MAR 2023 form still says ACFT. Since June 2025 the record test is the Army Fitness Test (AFT). Enter its date here.
- ACFT score
- GT score
- DLC status
Distributed Leader Course level completed. DLC completion gates promotion and PME enrollment.
- Weapons qual (MM/YY)
- Weapons qual type
- Weapons qual score
- Height
- Weight
- ESB / EIB / EFMB
Whether the Soldier holds the Expert Soldier, Expert Infantryman, or Expert Field Medical Badge.
Part iii - summary of counseling
- Key Point 1 - Exhibited Army Values
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage. Cite specific actions, good or bad.
- Key Point 2 - Technical and Tactical Proficiency
MOS and warrior-task competence: qualifications, certifications, performance at ranges, lanes, and inspections.
- Key Point 3 - Communicated Effectively
Briefings, reports, written work, passing information up and down the chain.
- Key Point 4 - Exhibited Effort
- Key Point 5 - Exhibited Personal Discipline
Timeliness, standards and appearance, following orders, SHARP/EO and conduct on and off duty. For a deficiency, give dates, times, and the standard.
- Key Point 6 - Contributed to the Team
- Key Point 7 - Exhibited Fitness, Military Bearing, and Appearance
- Key Point 8 - Balanced Personal and Work Obligations
Family readiness, finances, leave, off-duty education. Note resources offered (MFLC, ACS, Army Emergency Relief) when relevant.
Part iv - plan of action
- Plan of Action (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-based objectives and milestones)
The steps the Soldier will take, each with a measure and a date. Tie each step to a key point above.
- Implementation start
- Assessment date / timeframe (monthly, quarterly, custom)
Session closing
- Individual counseled
The Soldier states whether they agree. Disagreeing does not invalidate the counseling. It records their position.
- Individual counseled remarks
The Soldier's own words (optional). Leave room for them to write it themselves.
- Date
- Leader Responsibilities (leader's responsibilities in implementing the plan of action)
What you, the counselor, will do to help, by when: resources, schedule changes, follow-ups, referrals.
- Date
Part v - assessment of the plan of action
- Assessment: plan of action goals reached / modified
Completed at the follow-up: did the plan work? Record results with dates, and any changes to the plan.
- Further follow-up necessary?
- Date of Assessment
Draft / worksheet aid. Prepare it here, then transcribe into the signed DA 4856 kept in the Soldier's counseling packet (and IPPS-A when it records the action). This is not an official submission. Check it against the current official DA Form 4856 before use.
How to fill out the DA Form 4856
The Army's record of a developmental counseling session. It documents what was discussed, what the Soldier will do about it, what the leader will do to help, and whether it worked. When: Reception and integration (within 30 days of arrival), at least quarterly performance counseling (monthly for E-4 and below by most unit SOPs), and any event: a promotion, a school, a crisis, a deficiency, or before any adverse administrative action.
Step by step
- Pick the counseling style: directive for urgent or junior issues, non-directive when the Soldier can own the solution, combined for most sessions.
- Pick the purpose (event-oriented, performance, or professional growth) and write the specific reason in one or two sentences.
- Fill the readiness snapshot from the Soldier's records: fitness test, GT, weapons qualification, DLC status, height and weight, badges.
- Write each key point as observed facts: what, when, where, and against which standard. Skip key points that genuinely don't apply.
- Write a SMART plan of action with start and assessment dates, then the leader's own responsibilities.
- Close the session: the Soldier agrees or disagrees and may add remarks; both of you sign. Fill in the assessment at the follow-up.
What a strong one looks like
- Quote the standard (AR, SOP, task number) and the exact dates. "On 12 Aug and 19 Aug you reported for PT at 0640, 10 minutes after the 0630 SP" beats "You are frequently late".
- Every negative key point needs a matching step in the plan of action, or the counseling reads as punishment.
- Write the leader responsibilities as things you'll actually do by a date: schedule the range, sponsor the school packet, check in every Friday.
- For adverse separation counseling, state the basis and that continued deficiencies may result in separation under AR 635-200. Get legal or S1 to review first.
Common mistakes
- Character judgments ("lazy", "bad attitude") instead of observed behavior.
- A plan of action with no dates, or steps the Soldier can't control.
- Leaving the assessment blank. An unassessed plan of action carries little weight at a board or separation.
- Using a superseded edition. Boards and JAG expect the MAR 2023 form.
Related Counseling & Performance worksheets
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