Army 365 Guide: Login, Email, and Access (2026)

## Quick answer Army 365 is the Army’s secure cloud-based suite of Microsoft 365 tools (Teams, Outlook, OneDrive) that replaced the old Army Knowledge Online (AKO) portal and webmail. To log in, you must use a government-furnished computer or a personal device with a CAC reader via the [Army 365 web portal](https://webmail.apps.mil), using your @army.mil email address.

## In detail The transition from the legacy AKO system to Army 365 represents a shift from a custom-built portal to a standardized, Department of Defense-wide implementation of Microsoft Office 365. This environment is hosted on the Impact Level 5 (IL5) cloud, allowing for the storage and transmission of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

### Core Components of Army 365 * **Microsoft Teams:** The primary hub for collaboration, replacing Skype for Business. It includes chat, voice, video conferencing, and file sharing. * **Outlook Online:** The replacement for AKO Webmail. Users now have a 100GB mailbox (as of 2026 standards) and use the @army.mil domain. * **OneDrive for Business:** Provides 1TB of personal cloud storage, allowing soldiers to access documents from any CAC-enabled device without needing a VPN. * **SharePoint Online:** Replaces legacy AKO folders for unit-level document management and intranets.

### How to Access and Log In As of April 30, 2026, access methods are strictly regulated based on your hardware:

1. **Government Hardware:** Log in via the desktop applications (Teams, Outlook) or the web portal. Digital certificates on your CAC are required. 2. **Personal Hardware (BYOD):** * **Web Access:** Use a CAC reader and navigate to `https://webmail.apps.mil` for email or `https://teams.microsoft.com` for Teams. * **Hypori Halo:** The Army’s approved "virtual mobile infrastructure" (VMI) solution. It allows you to access Army 365 on a personal smartphone without "on-boarding" the device or giving the Army access to your private data. 3. **Authentication:** You must select your **Authentication Certificate** (not the Email Certificate) when prompted by your browser.

### Army 365 vs. Legacy AKO | Feature | Legacy AKO | Army 365 (2026) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Email Domain** | @us.army.mil | @army.mil | | **Storage Capacity** | Limited (4GB - 10GB) | 100GB Outlook / 1TB OneDrive | | **Collaboration** | Basic Folders / Forums | Live Teams Chat & Video | | **Mobile Access** | Browser Only | Hypori Halo / Secure Web | | **Security Level** | IL2 / IL4 | IL5 (CUI Authorized) |

*Disclaimer: AKO.org is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or Department of Defense entity. For official Army IT policy, visit the [Army CIO website](https://www.army.mil/cio).*

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Soldiers:** Required for daily operations, official orders, and communication. * **Army Reserve & National Guard:** Essential for maintaining readiness and receiving drill schedules; access is primarily via the @army.mil email. * **Department of the Army (DA) Civilians:** Primary tool for administrative and operational tasks. * **Army Contractors:** Provided with "alternate" accounts (usually ending in .ctr@army.mil) for contract-specific collaboration. * **Retirees & Families:** **Note:** Unlike the old AKO, Army 365 is *not* generally provided to retirees or family members. These groups should use the [DS Logon](https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/) portal to access benefits and records.

## Common scenarios 1. **The Remote Reservist:** A Sergeant in the Army Reserve needs to check their orders from home in April 2026. Instead of driving to the armory, they use their personal laptop with a $15 CAC reader, navigate to the Apps.mil portal, and securely sign their OER in the cloud. 2. **The Deployed Soldier:** A Captain deployed overseas uses the Hypori Halo app on their personal iPhone. They pay $0 out-of-pocket for this service (funded by the Army), allowing them to check encrypted @army.mil emails without needing a bulky government laptop. 3. **The Civilian Onboarding:** A new DA Civilian is issued an @army.mil identity. Since Army 365 is unified, their email, calendar, and Teams contacts are automatically synced across the entire DoD 365 "tenant," allowing them to find any other soldier in the global address list (GAL) instantly.

## Related terms * **IL5 (Impact Level 5):** A security classification for cloud service providers that allows for the handling of CUI and unclassified national security systems. * **Hypori Halo:** The specific software used for the Army's Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) mobile program. * **Global Address List (GAL):** The central directory within Army 365 where you can find the email addresses of every person in the DoD. * **CAC (Common Access Card):** The physical smart card required for multi-factor authentication into Army 365. * **NIPRNet:** The Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network, which provides the backbone for Army 365 communications.

## Sources * **Army Enterprise Service Desk (AESD):** [https://sn-usarmy.service-now.com/](https://sn-usarmy.service-now.com/) * **Army CIO (Chief Information Officer):** [https://www.army.mil/cio](https://www.army.mil/cio) * **Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) - DoD365:** [https://www.disa.mil/](https://www.disa.mil/) * **Army 365 Web Portal:** [https://webmail.apps.mil](https://webmail.apps.mil)