DA Form 8016-R: Tick Survey & Drag Data (LRA) PDF – If you’re a U.S. Army Preventive Medicine (PM) technician, entomologist, or installation health officer responsible for vector surveillance, DA Form 8016-R is an essential tool for tracking tick populations and assessing Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease risks on military installations.
This official Army form, officially titled Tick Survey Data / Tick Drag Data (LRA), supports systematic tick surveillance programs that protect Soldiers, families, and DoD civilians from serious health threats like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis.
What Is DA Form 8016-R?
DA Form 8016-R (December 1991) is a specialized entomological data collection form used exclusively for recording results from tick drag surveys and general tick surveys. It is prescribed by TB MED 561, Occupational and Environmental Health – Pest Surveillance (proponent: Office of The Surgeon General).
The “LRA” designation refers to its role in Lyme Risk Assessment and similar local risk evaluations at U.S. Army installations. The form captures critical field data including:
- Weather conditions at the time of survey
- Exact drag distance and site location
- Tick counts by life stage (larvae, nymphs, adults)
- Tick density index
- Species identification and lab submission details
This data helps Preventive Medicine teams calculate tick density (ticks per unit area), identify high-risk training areas, and guide targeted control measures—directly supporting force health protection and mission readiness.
Why Tick Surveillance Matters for U.S. Military Personnel?
Ticks are among the most significant disease vectors in the United States, especially in training areas across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. The Department of Defense maintains robust vector surveillance programs because tick-borne illnesses can sideline troops and impact readiness.
DA Form 8016-R is part of the broader Army pest surveillance system outlined in DA PAM 40-11, Army Public Health Program. Data collected on this form feeds into installation risk assessments and supports programs like MilTICK (Military Tick Identification and Infection Confirmation Kit), which provides free testing for ticks removed from DoD personnel and beneficiaries.
Accurate tick drag data helps commanders:
- Avoid high-tick-density training sites when possible
- Time habitat modification or acaricide applications effectively
- Track trends in tick populations over seasons and years
How to Properly Conduct a Tick Drag Survey? (and Fill Out DA Form 8016-R)
The standard tick drag method involves dragging a 1-meter square piece of white flannel or denim attached to a dowel over low vegetation and leaf litter. Ticks questing for hosts attach to the cloth and are easily spotted.
Step-by-step process using DA Form 8016-R (blocks referenced from the official form):
- Block 1: DATE – Record the survey date.
- Block 2: COLLECTOR – Name of the person or team performing the drag.
- Block 3: WEATHER DATA
- a. Temperature (°F or °C)
- b. Wind speed
- c. Cloud cover (Weather dramatically affects tick activity.)
- Blocks 4–10: Survey Details
- Number of the drag transect
- Distance dragged (in paces – typically 40–50 paces per segment)
- Site/Grid coordinates
- Time of day
- Area description
- Calculated index (Total ticks ÷ dragged area)
- Comments (habitat type, vegetation height, etc.)
- Block 11: TICK COUNTS
- a. Larvae
- b. Nymphs
- c. Adults
- Total Number of Ticks Divided by Dragged Area (this gives your density index)
- Blocks 12–14: Identification & Lab Submission
- Date specimens sent
- Species identified
- Comments
- Note if specimens were sent to USAEHA (U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, now part of Defense Centers for Public Health) for identification.
Always use the official fillable PDF for accurate, legible records that can be archived in DOEHRS-IH (Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System – Industrial Hygiene).
Official Download: DA Form 8016-R PDF
Download the current official fillable DA Form 8016-R here: https://armypubs.army.mil/pub/eforms/DR_a/pdf/A8016_R.pdf
This is the direct link from the Army Publishing Directorate – always use the latest version hosted on armypubs.army.mil.
Related Forms and Resources
- DA Form 8017-R – Tick Survey Data / Carbon Dioxide Trap Data
- DA Form 8015-R – Filth Fly Survey (LRA)
- TB MED 561 – Full guidance on pest surveillance procedures
- AFPMB TG 26 – Tick-Borne Diseases: Vector Surveillance and Control
For personal tick bites, use the MilTICK program – free identification and pathogen testing for all DoD personnel and beneficiaries.
Best Practices for U.S. Army Installations
- Conduct surveys during peak tick season (typically April–October, varying by region)
- Survey high-traffic training areas, ranges, and housing perimeters at least quarterly
- Combine drag sampling with CO₂ traps and vegetation/habitat assessments
- Enter data promptly into DOEHRS-IH for trend analysis and reporting
- Share results with installation commanders and range control to inform training schedules
Stay Protected – Download DA Form 8016-R Today
Proper use of DA Form 8016-R is a key part of the U.S. Army’s proactive approach to vector-borne disease prevention. Whether you’re stationed at Fort Drum, Fort Campbell, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, or any other CONUS installation, accurate tick surveillance data saves lives and maintains readiness.
Download your copy now: DA Form 8016-R PDF
Need help with related forms or vector surveillance planning? Reach out to your local Preventive Medicine or Environmental Health section. Protect the force – one drag at a time.