How Often Does the Army Require Counseling? What AR 623-3, DA PAM 623-3, ATP 6-22.1, and TC 7-21.13 Say

This post is the publications’ own wording on counseling frequency, not advice on a specific Soldier. It covers NCOs, officers and warrant officers, and junior enlisted Soldiers, in that order, because that is the order in which the publications get less specific.

// 01The short answer

Every cell in this table is our paraphrase of a passage quoted in the section named in the last column. Where the publication says nothing, the cell says so.

The word “monthly” does not appear in AR 623-3, DA PAM 623-3, ATP 6-22.1 or TC 7-21.13. We searched the full text of each. FM 6-22 uses it four times, about progress documentation, unit meetings and reports, never about counseling. Section 04 has the details.

// 02NCOs: 30 days, then quarterly or at least semiannually

The regulation’s rule for the first session, ¶3-7b(1)(a):

Shortly after the rated NCO assumes their duties, the rater will provide copies of the rater’s and senior rater’s DA Form 2166-9-1A or DA Form 67-10-1A (or equivalent and as appropriate) along with the unit’s mission, valid rating chain, duty description, and specified goals and objectives. The rater will conduct a face-to-face counseling session with the rated NCO and initiate DA Form 2166-9-1A within the first 30 days of the rating period. This initial discussion will establish duties, responsibilities, and performance objectives for the rated NCO on DA Form 2166-9-1A. AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(1)(a), p.40

The follow-up sentence, ¶3-7b(2) and (2)(a):

(2) During the rating period. Throughout the rating period, the rater will conduct periodic individual, follow-up face-to-face counseling with the rated NCO. These counseling sessions differ from the first counseling session in that the primary focus is on the rater informing the rated NCO how well they are performing and how they can perform better and to update the duty description and performance objectives as necessary.
(a) Raters will conduct follow-up counseling sessions quarterly for Regular Army and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for USAR TPU, DIMA, and drilling IRR NCOs and ARNG NCOs (in accordance with apps G and H). AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(2) and (2)(a), p.40

The pamphlet says the same thing in its process paragraph, ¶3-1b:

b. Process. DA Form 2166-9-1A use is mandatory for all NCOs, corporal (CPL) through command sergeant major (CSM); however, no NCOER is prepared for CPLs. Counseling sessions will be conducted at least quarterly for RA and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for ARNG and USAR NCOs performing inactive duty training (IDT). DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b, p.77

And in its counseling preparation table, the NCO follow-up row:

Session: Followup counseling - NCOs
DA Form: 2166-9-1A
Timeframe: Quarterly for RA and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for USAR and ARNG NCOs (including USAR NCOs performing IDT). DA PAM 623-3, Table C-1, p.188

Our reading of ¶3-7b, ¶3-1b and Table C-1: the first session is inside 30 days of the rating period (the USAR statuses have their own first-session rule in appendix G, section 06), and the interval after that is quarterly for Regular Army and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for the Guard and Reserve statuses named. The regulation says “quarterly”; the pamphlet says “at least quarterly.” The AR names statuses (TPU, DIMA, drilling IRR, ARNG); the PAM says “performing inactive duty training (IDT).” Neither defines that phrase, so we quote both. What goes on the support form at each of those sessions, with a worked example, is in the support form post.

// 03Officers and warrants: the same split, with a field grade exception

The regulation’s rule for the first session with an officer, ¶3-7a(1)(a):

(a) The rater will conduct a face-to-face counseling session with the rated officer within the first 30 days of the rating period. This initial discussion will focus on duties, responsibilities, and performance objectives of the rated officer. AR 623-3, ¶3-7a(1)(a), p.38

The follow-up paragraph, ¶3-7a(2) with (2)(a) and (2)(b):

(2) During the rating period. Throughout the rating period, the rater will conduct periodic individual, follow-up face-to-face counseling with the rated officer. These counseling sessions differ from the first counseling session in that the primary focus is on the rater informing the rated officer how well they are performing and how they can perform better and to update the duty description, as necessary.
(a) Quarterly counseling is mandatory for Regular Army, AGR, and USAR on active duty tours for CPTs, LTs, CW2s, and WO1s. Field grade follow-up counseling is on an as-needed basis. As a rated officer’s duty description, objectives, or focus areas change throughout the rating period, the rater will counsel the rated officer and update the DA Form 67-10-1A appropriately. Follow-up counseling for ARNG officers in these grades will occur at least semiannually.
(b) Raters will conduct follow-up counseling sessions quarterly for Regular Army and AGR officers and at least semiannually for USAR TPU, DIMA, and drilling IRR officers, including IMA general officers, and ARNG officers (in accordance with apps G and H). AR 623-3, ¶3-7a(2), (2)(a) and (2)(b), p.38

Our reading of ¶3-7a(1)(a) and ¶3-7a(2): the first session is inside 30 days for every rated officer, and the follow-up component split in (2)(b) is the NCO split. Sentence (2)(a) then makes quarterly counseling mandatory for captains, lieutenants, CW2s and WO1s and puts field grade follow-up counseling “on an as-needed basis,” while (2)(b) states the component intervals for officers generally without restating that grade split. The two sentences sit side by side and we quote both rather than resolve them. The paragraph names only those two junior warrant grades; it does not say how CW3 and above are treated, and neither do we.

// 04Junior enlisted: the sentence that is not there

We searched the full text of AR 623-3 (14 February 2025), DA PAM 623-3 (12 February 2025), ATP 6-22.1 (13 February 2024) and TC 7-21.13 (17 September 2025) for the word “monthly.” Zero results in each. Neither evaluation publication uses the phrase “junior enlisted” at all, and no document in that set pairs any pay grade below corporal with a counseling interval. The “monthly for E-4 and below” rule you may have read elsewhere is unit practice. It is not a quotation.

The one dated requirement for a junior enlisted Soldier in the publications searched is in the Soldier’s Guide, in the paragraph on training domains and their enablers:

each first-term Soldier will receive an initial counseling from their first-line Leader within 30 days of arrival to their first permanent duty station, as part of the Reception and Integration Process (AR 600-8-8). Leaders and Soldiers will create an IDP in Army Career Tracker and this requirement will be conducted annually until the Soldier transitions from military service. TC 7-21.13, ¶3-14, p.20

Our reading of ¶3-14: that is an arrival rule, not a recurring interval. The recurring requirement it names is the individual development plan requirement, conducted annually. AR 600-8-8 is the reception and integration regulation it points to; we do not hold it and quote nothing from it.

// 05What ATP 6-22.1 says instead of a number

The counseling manual has one sentence on frequency, in its chapter on feedback:

1-83. As Army leaders plan and provide feedback, they must consider what feedback, method, and frequency are appropriate for the individual and organization. ATP 6-22.1, ¶1-83, p.16

For the counseling the evaluation systems require, it points back to the regulation:

Performance counseling is required under the officer, noncommissioned officer, and DA Civilian evaluation reporting systems (see AR 623-3 or DODI 1400.25 volumes 430 or 431). ATP 6-22.1, ¶2-6, pp.19-20

Counseling at the beginning of and during the evaluation period ensures the subordinate’s personal involvement in the evaluation process. The leader and the subordinate jointly establish performance objectives and clear standards for the next counseling period. ATP 6-22.1, ¶2-7, p.20

And the rest of counseling is tied to events, not a calendar:

2-10. Event-oriented counseling involves a specific event or situation. It may precede events such as participating in promotion boards, attending training courses, preparing for parenthood, or preparing for deployment or redeployment. It also addresses events such as noteworthy duty performance, an issue with performance or mission accomplishment, or a personal issue. Examples of event-oriented counseling include, but are not limited to:
• Superior or substandard performance.
• Reception and integration counseling.
• Crisis counseling.
• Referral counseling.
• Promotion counseling.
• Transition counseling.
• Adverse separation counseling. ATP 6-22.1, ¶2-10, p.20

Our reading of ¶1-83, ¶2-6, ¶2-7 and ¶2-10: these passages set no numeric counseling interval. They point the required performance counseling back to the evaluation system (sections 02 and 03), describe counseling tied to specific events, and tell leaders to consider the frequency appropriate for the individual and the organization. Separately, our search of the full manual found no interval anywhere else in it (section 04).

// 06Floors, not ceilings, and the Reserve appendix

Our reading of the “at least quarterly” and “at least semiannually” wording in sections 02 and 03: those phrases state minimum frequencies. The regulation’s unmodified “quarterly” and its field grade “as-needed” rule are quoted as written. For a Guard or Reserve NCO covered by an “at least semiannually” sentence, quarterly counseling is more frequent than that stated minimum. Separately, our searches of both evaluation publications found no “no more than” or “at most” language near counseling and no passage prohibiting the more frequent interval.

For the Reserve, appendix G sets when the first session happens:

G-2. The evaluation process
The evaluation process starts with a counseling discussion between rater and the rated Soldier.
a. For TPU, DIMA, and drilling IRR Soldiers, the initial counseling session will be conducted at the first available drill (within 30 days whenever possible). Follow-up counseling for IRR Soldiers will be conducted when performing an active duty tour for more than 180 days or when attached for IDT for more than 180 days.
b. For ADOS-RC, ADOS, and CO-ADOS, the initial counseling session will be conducted within 30 days of reporting to a unit of assignment or beginning a new rating period. AR 623-3, ¶G-2a-b, p.119

Our reading of ¶G-2: for TPU, DIMA and drilling IRR Soldiers the first session is the first available drill, with 30 days as the goal rather than the rule; for ADOS-RC, ADOS and CO-ADOS Soldiers, the first session is within 30 days of reporting to a unit of assignment or beginning a new rating period. The IRR follow-up sentence is its own rule and we do not generalize it.

// 07What a missed session costs on the NCOER

The pamphlet’s instruction for the counseling dates block, Part II, block d1:

Enter the actual dates of counseling as documented on DA Form 2166-9-1A (YYYYMMDD). When counseling dates are omitted, the senior rater will enter a statement in part V, block b explaining why counseling was not accomplished. The absence of counseling will not be used as the sole basis for an appeal. However, the lack of counseling may be used to help support other claims made in an appeal. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2, p.93

Our reading of Table 3-2: the dates on the report are the actual dates from the support form. When they are omitted, the senior rater owes a written statement in Part V, block b. The passage also says the absence of counseling is not the sole basis for an appeal but may help support other claims. We make no broader claim about how any appeal is decided.

// 08Check the source

Every passage above is from AR 623-3 (14 February 2025), paragraphs 3-7a(1)(a), 3-7a(2), 3-7b and G-2; DA PAM 623-3 (12 February 2025), paragraph 3-1b, Table 3-2 and Table C-1; ATP 6-22.1 (13 February 2024), paragraphs 1-83, 2-6, 2-7 and 2-10; and TC 7-21.13 (17 September 2025), paragraph 3-14. All four are free on the Army Publishing Directorate. If this page and a publication ever disagree, the publication wins, and we want to know.

From BulletForge: the DA 4856 counseling generator drafts a DA Form 4856 session record from what you observed (the support form process above is separate), and the app’s journal tracks each Soldier’s next session on the cadence you set. Both are product notes, not regulation.

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