What Is DA Form 5690-R

DA Form 5690-R is the Reserve Components Career Counselor Interview Record. U.S. Army career counselors use this form to document formal counseling sessions conducted with soldiers who are transitioning from active duty to a Reserve component, or who are making major career decisions within the Army Reserve or National Guard. The form creates an official record of the counseling session and confirms that the soldier received and understood all required information about their Reserve service obligations.

The form operates under the authority of AR 601-280 and Title 5, USC, Section 301. It applies to soldiers transitioning to the Army National Guard (ARNG), the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), or the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The career counselor at the soldier's installation completes the form during a scheduled appointment, which is typically held near the end of a soldier's active duty service.

DA Form 5690-R is organized into the following sections:

  1. Identification block — soldier's name, SSN (last four digits), rank, and MOS
  2. Gaining unit block — unit name, address, UIC, and POC contact information
  3. Component selection — CHECK ONE box for ARNG, USAR, or IRR
  4. Service commitment — number of years and any bonus agreement details
  5. Assignment DMOS — the MOS the soldier is assigned to in the gaining unit
  6. Remarks block — counselor notes and any special conditions
  7. Signature lines — signed by both the career counselor and the soldier

All fields must be completed accurately before either party signs. The three most commonly corrected fields are the appointment date, the UIC, and the bonus type. Errors in these areas can delay a soldier's transition processing or force the form to be redone before the transition is approved. Based on the form requirements under AR 601-280, experienced career counselors recommend gathering all unit details before the scheduled appointment to prevent common errors.

Once the form is signed, the career counselor retains a copy for the unit's records and forwards the original to the appropriate administrative office. The soldier receives a copy for their personal records. The soldier does not submit this form directly to any headquarters. The submission is handled through the unit career counselor as part of the formal retention and transition management process.

Soldiers completing a transition may also need the DA Form 5960 for BAH recertification, the DA Form 87 for training certifications, and for soldiers who need someone to manage administrative matters during the transition, a military power of attorney. These related forms are typically coordinated through the same career counselor who completes the 5690-R, ensuring all transition paperwork is handled at once.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameDa Fm 5690 R Form
Form Length1 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out15 sec
Other names5690 form, army form 5690, da form 5690 fillable, da 5960 fillable no download needed

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Who Needs to Complete This Form

Soldiers who are separating from active duty and joining the Army Reserve, National Guard, or Individual Ready Reserve must go through a formal career counseling session. DA Form 5690-R is the official record of that session. The career counselor at the soldier's installation completes the form and walks the soldier through their transition options. The soldier reviews the completed form, confirms that all information is accurate, and signs at the conclusion of the session. This process is required before the transition can be finalized in Army administrative systems.

Before Your Counseling Appointment

Gather the following information before your session to ensure accurate, error-free completion:

  • Your gaining unit's full name and mailing address
  • The unit identification code (UIC) for the gaining unit
  • The name and contact information of your point of contact (POC) at the gaining unit
  • Your selected Reserve component (ARNG, USAR, or IRR)
  • The number of years in your service commitment
  • Any bonus agreement you have already signed with the retention NCO
  • Your assignment DMOS if it differs from your current MOS

Having this information ready allows the counselor to complete the form without interruption. FormsPal users completing Army transition forms find that bringing a printed copy of their bonus addendum to the session prevents the most common data mismatch errors. If you are unsure about any of these details, contact your gaining unit POC at least one week before the scheduled appointment.

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Stage number 1 of completing da 5690

2. After the previous segment is done, you have to include the essential particulars in CHECK ONE, GAINING UNIT, ARNG, USAR, IRR, NUMBER OF YRS, BONUS, ADDRESSLOCATION City state ZIP, UIC, POC, REMARKS, YES, CONTROL NO, ASGT DMOS, and APPOINTMENT DATE so you're able to move forward further.

APPOINTMENT DATE, YES, and ADDRESSLOCATION City state ZIP of da 5690

Many people frequently make mistakes while filling in APPOINTMENT DATE in this area. Don't forget to revise everything you enter right here.

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Field-by-Field Instructions

Working through the form section by section reduces errors. The header block requires the control number assigned by the processing office and the soldier's full name, last four digits of SSN, rank, and MOS. If you are reviewing the form before your counseling session, leave the control number blank since the counselor assigns it at the time of the session.

The gaining unit block needs the complete unit name, address including city, state, and ZIP code, and the UIC. The UIC is a six-character alphanumeric code assigned to each Army unit. Your career counselor or gaining unit POC can provide this code if you don't have it. The POC field should include the name and contact information of your point of contact at the gaining unit.

The CHECK ONE block requires a single selection among ARNG, USAR, and IRR. This selection must match your actual transition plan. The number of years field records the length of your commitment. The bonus section captures the dollar amount and type of any reenlistment or affiliation bonus you have been offered. If no bonus applies, leave this field blank rather than entering zero.

The assignment DMOS (ASGT DMOS) field records the military occupational specialty you are being assigned to in the gaining unit. This may differ from your current MOS if you are changing specialty during the transition. Confirm this with your career counselor before the session to avoid the need to correct the form afterward.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent error is leaving the UIC or control number blank when the form is submitted. Both fields are required for administrative processing. If the UIC is not yet assigned for a new unit, note that in the remarks block and follow up to add it before final submission.

The second most common problem is selecting the wrong component in the CHECK ONE block. Selecting USAR when the soldier intends to join the ARNG, or vice versa, voids the form and requires a new counseling session in some cases. Confirm the component with both the gaining unit and the retention NCO before the counselor marks this field.

Entering mismatched bonus information is the third common error. If the bonus amount on this form does not match the addendum signed with the retention NCO, the discrepancy must be resolved before the transition package is forwarded. Keep a copy of all bonus addenda and compare figures against the form before signing.

Finally, many soldiers forget to verify the appointment date. This date must match the date of the actual counseling session. Post-dating or entering a future date that does not match the actual interview date can create compliance issues with AR 601-280 requirements.

Related Army Transition Forms

Several other Army forms are commonly needed alongside DA Form 5690-R during the transition process. The Army Leaders Book form is used by unit leaders to track soldier information and is often referenced during counseling sessions. The Army Bonus Annex B form documents the specific terms of any reenlistment or affiliation bonus and must match the bonus details entered on the 5690-R. The DA Form 87 documents training certifications that may be required by the gaining unit. In some cases, career counselors also reference the Army Risk Assessment form when evaluating a soldier's transition readiness. Coordinating all of these forms through the same career counseling appointment keeps the transition package complete and reduces processing delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DA Form 5690-R stand for?

DA Form 5690-R stands for Department of the Army Form 5690-Revised. The "R" suffix designates this as a revised version of the original. Its official title is the Reserve Components Career Counselor Interview Record.

Who completes DA Form 5690-R?

An Army career counselor completes most of the form during a formal counseling session. The counselor records all identifying information, unit details, and component election based on the soldier's stated intentions. The soldier reviews the completed form and signs it at the end of the session to confirm that the information is accurate and that they understand their Reserve obligations.

Is DA Form 5690-R required for every Reserve transition?

Yes, this form is required for all soldiers transitioning from active duty to ARNG, USAR, or IRR status under AR 601-280. It is not optional. The transition package cannot be forwarded to the gaining unit without a completed and signed copy.

How long does it take to complete the counseling session?

The average career counseling session that includes completing this form runs 15 to 30 minutes. The length depends on how many questions the soldier has and whether all unit information is readily available. Soldiers who gather their gaining unit details ahead of the appointment typically have shorter sessions.

Can I fill out the form before my counseling appointment?

You can use FormsPal to review the form fields and gather the information you will need before your appointment. However, the official form must be completed with your career counselor present. The counselor is required to certify the recorded information with their signature, and the form must reflect the date of the actual session.

Where can I get the official form?

The official form is available through the Army Publishing Directorate at armypubs.army.mil. A fillable version is also available here on FormsPal so you can review the fields and prepare your information before your appointment.

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