Da Fm 5690 R Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

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.