5 Important Parts of an Army Counseling Form

An army counseling form is often referred to as DA Form 4856. It is a developmental army form with its main purpose to file all assessment data gained by soldier counselor during counseling sessions. Counseling assists the counseled Soldier to improve their performance. It is important for leaders to help soldiers to become more capable, and prepared for current and future responsibilities.

Who is Authorized To Fill Out The Form?

From each session of this counseling, the counselor is then charged to fill out an army counseling form. A document is gathered to form detailed information regarding the counseled soldier. Army leaders could also contribute to filling out this form with the information of their subordinates during daily observations.

Army Counseling Form Example

Army Counseling Form Example
Army Counseling Form Example

Army Counseling Statement Form

Army Counseling Statement Form
Army Counseling Statement Form

Army Initial Counseling Form

Army Initial Counseling Form
Army Initial Counseling Form

Army Negative Counseling Form

Army Negative Counseling Form
Army Negative Counseling Form

Blank Army Counseling Form

Blank Army Counseling Form
Blank Army Counseling Form

Preseparation Counseling Checklist

Preseparation Counseling Checklist
Preseparation Counseling Checklist

What is Some Basic Legal Procedure For Using This Form?

The content of the counseling form includes personal data of the assessed soldier, identification of counselor incorporated in the session, and finally, a brief description of what has been discussed in the counseling session.

Both the counseled soldier and the counselor need to sign this form for conventional formality purposes. The soldier cannot be forced into signing. However, If one doesn’t approve the form, they will have to give an explanation as to why they declined to do so. Similar to most military-based documents, an army counseling form is not publicly disclosed.

After finishing this form, the counselor and military must keep a PDF copy over a period of the counseled soldier’s service. The counseling form is then submitted to the US Department of The Army whenever it is needed for future utilizations.

What Are The Structures?

There is a variety of information included in a counseling form. It’s often structured as such:

a. Soldier’s personal information

This part includes administrative data of the counseled soldiers consisting of name, rank/grade, date of counseling, and organization in which they’re administered. This part provides basic identification of the named soldier if it is needed regarding their service in the army.

b. The counselor’s information

An army counseling form also requires the counselor’s information, such as the name and title of the counselor in duty assessing that particular soldier. The main function is to ease the procedure of correction. If a mishap were to happen, the counselor can be simply asked to provide complete information regarding the written mistake.

c. The purpose of counselling

There are many cases in which a soldier is requested to attend a counseling session. In an army counseling form, it is referred to as background information. Might be it for plain behavior guidance, follow-up on performance or professional development, as well as for mental wellbeing assessment.

Background information also includes leader’s facts and observations prior to the counseling. These purposes are crucial In attending one’s characteristics and attitude throughout their service time.

d. Description of what is discussed during the session

A Summary of counseling should be filled out during or immediately after the counseling. It holds key points of discussions made during all counseling time.

e. A plan of action for the person receiving counseling services.

This section of an army counseling form covers a plan of action for a subordinate to do to reach the agreed upon goals, actions must be specific enough to modify or maintain the subordinate’s behavior and include a timeline for implementation and assessment. Moreover, this section explains whether the plan achieved the desired results or not.