DA FORM 4856 Developmental Counseling Form

A blank copy of DA FORM 4856. Used to document counseling sessions. We offer this blank document below in both XFDL (Pure Edge/Lotus Forms Viewer) and PDF formats. Both versions can be edited, saved, and printed easily. The fillable PDF DA Form 4856 offers you a quick way to counsel your Soldiers if you are away from your copy of Lotus Forms Viewer.


***If you experience problems download the forms, right-click the link above and choose “Save Link as…” or “Save Target as…”



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30 comments

  1. LTC Richard Spencer says:
    April 26, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    “Preperation” is mispelled on your home page

  2. SGT Michael Hall says:
    October 3, 2011 at 9:18 am

    I was wondering if you could post a downloadable version you could type on and print or save. That would be greatly appreciated.

  3. SGT Michael Spires says:
    December 4, 2011 at 10:48 am

    Why can’t you save a completed 4856? Just wondering, that’s kind of why I need it, haha.

  4. Matt.Dail says:
    December 5, 2011 at 8:12 am

    SGT Spires, we’re sorry for the confusion. PDF’s always open inside of your web-browser by default rather than automatically downloading to your computer. If you’d like to save the form to your computer right-click the link and choose “Save Link/Target as…”. We’ll be sure to include a note below the link for future users. Thank you for the input!

  5. SSG Laughlin says:
    January 27, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    I have searched every where for an updated DA Form 4856 (AUG 2010) that is compatible with Mac or the word on my Mac. Can you point me into the right direction?

    • Joshua Sutton says:
      June 24, 2012 at 1:53 am

      You have to download the mac-compatible version of Pure Edge. Once you do that, you can open any .xfdl file.

  6. cairo says:
    March 16, 2012 at 4:11 am

    are either of these compatible with the mac? or must i have windows?

  7. Matt.Dail says:
    March 16, 2012 at 8:18 am

    To the best of our knowledge the XFDL version is not suitable for Macs as it uses Lotus Forms Viewer, which is designed for Windows systems. However, the PDF version should open fine on a Mac as long as you install the most recent version of Adobe Reader found here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?platform=macintosh&product=10

  8. SSG Blackmar says:
    April 13, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I’m trying to cut and paste into a 4856 Lotus Form. In the “key points” block I cannot paste into it. I can see a quick flicker of it pasting but it does not actually stay in the block. Does anyone else have this problem? What is the fix?

  9. TASHA says:
    May 29, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    So happy that there is a fillable PDF of the updated 4856 on this site. Thank you very much 🙂

  10. Ulysses D. Lang says:
    May 30, 2012 at 1:27 am

    I’ve been home and horonablly discharaged from the army for eight years I’m still always depressed,stressed and I’m tired of my thoughts of my family being better off without me.

    • ArmyCounselingOnline says:
      June 5, 2012 at 7:48 pm

      Ulysses,
      I am certain your family loves you and cares about you. I am in no way qualified to discuss such issues but there are local resources available that can assist you in several ways. The Army has a website called Army One Source that provides immediate assistance over the phone and then works through detailed plans. They maybe able to provide assistance to veterans. I believe the local Veterans Affairs office can also provide assistance. Then there are other local activities that typically include Wounded Warrior Foundations, Veterans Groups, Civic Organizations, and Church groups that can assist you with some of the issues you described. The key is to find someone who is a qualified professional and start working through these issues. Don’t let this get the best of you. Keep a positive attitude and tone.
      I found the following information online that may be of assistance: http://veteranscrisisline.net The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. More about the Veterans Crisis Line. Here is a link to there Frequently Asked Question page as well: http://veteranscrisisline.net/About/FAQs.aspx#Faq6

      Please take the time to speak with someone so you can begin to work through these issues. Talk to your family and let them know what you are going through.

  11. D says:
    August 6, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Does this product work with MAC. I brought it but it doesn’t work. It must be something I am doing wrong.

    • ArmyCounselingOnline says:
      August 6, 2012 at 8:48 pm

      D,
      Mac’s are not supported. However we have heard that the software works in a windows emulation software. We are currently looking at plans for a MAC version of our software.

  12. Jim Burnell says:
    January 7, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Your home page indicates DA Form 4856 (PDF) or DA Form 4858 (XFDL)…..4856/4858???

  13. SGT Slater, Torrence says:
    March 4, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    Is there anyway you can make it where you can download updated forms from the update menu? I got all the quick counselings 1-3 and i would like to see a promotional counseling in quick counsel 3.

    • ArmyCounselingOnline says:
      March 5, 2013 at 5:53 pm

      SGT Slater,
      What type of promotional counseling are you looking for? CQV1 has a counseling statement concerning promotion for PV1-SPC, and a counseling for Soldiers that are fully eligible but not recommended for promotion. It also contains monthly performance counselings that the counselor can add promotion potential to. If you can provide me so of the specifics you are looking for I might be able to point you in the right direction or perhaps prepare a special counseling for you.

  14. SSG Montalvo says:
    September 7, 2013 at 1:30 am

    Fillable PDF version does not offer Warrant Officer ranks. Waiting for a help ticket before PureEdge can be put on the gvt computer. Kinda stuck until then. Just a heads-up, though. Great job on the fillable pdf…just missing some ranks.

  15. SGT O'Rourke says:
    October 20, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Could you please add a “Continuation Page” to your downloadable version of this DA form 4856?

  16. chris windsor says:
    October 23, 2013 at 7:09 am

    great stuff