AKO Login Guide: Where to Sign In Now (Army 365 & milConnect)

*AKO.org — Army Knowledge Online is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or Department of Defense portal. For official policy and secure portal access, visit TRICARE.mil or the official [Army.mil](https://www.army.mil) sites.*

## Quick answer The original Army Knowledge Online (AKO) portal was permanently decommissioned in 2021. Today, Soldiers and civilians use **Army 365** (Microsoft Teams and Outlook) for daily work, **milConnect** for administrative record management, and **MyPay** for financial documents. There is no longer a single "AKO login" page; you must access specific DoD enterprise services directly using your CAC or DS Logon.

## In detail The "sunsetting" of AKO 2.0 marked the end of the centralized portal era. The Army moved toward a decentralized, cloud-based environment to improve security and collaboration. Here is where the functions of the old AKO sign-in page live as of 2026:

### 1. Army 365 (The Work Hub) Managed by Army Cyber Command, Army 365 is the primary replacement for AKO’s communication tools. * **Email:** Accessible via Outlook Web Access (OWA). * **Collaboration:** Microsoft Teams is the standard for chat, meetings, and file sharing. * **Storage:** OneDrive has replaced the old AKO "Files" section. * **Access:** Requires a Common Access Card (CAC).

### 2. milConnect (The Admin Hub) For personnel and benefits data, milConnect is the authoritative source. * **DEERS Updates:** Change your address or phone number to ensure TRICARE coverage remains active. * **Health Benefits:** Use the **eCorrespondence** section to view TRICARE enrollment letters. * **SGLI:** Manage your Service Members' Group Life Insurance (SGLV 8286).

### 3. MyPay (The Finance Hub) Maintained by DFAS, this is where you handle all pay-related tasks previously linked through AKO. * **LES:** View and download Leave and Earnings Statements. * **Tax Forms:** Access W-2s and 1095-C forms (for ACA proof of health coverage). * **Allotments:** Start or stop pay allotments.

Comparison: AKO vs. Modern Replacements (2026)

| Old AKO Feature | New Service Hub | Access Method | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | AKO Email | Army 365 Outlook | CAC Only | | File Storage | OneDrive / SharePoint | CAC Only | | Training (ALMS) | ATIS (Army Training Information System) | CAC Only | | Benefit Records | milConnect (DMDC) | CAC or DS Logon | | Pay/W-2s | MyPay (DFAS) | MyPay Login or CAC | | TRICARE Info | TRICARE.mil / MilConnect | DS Logon |

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Soldiers:** Must use Army 365 for all official mission business and milConnect for DEERS management. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Use Army 365 for drill communication and MyPay for civilian-to-military pay transitions. * **Army Retirees:** No longer have Army 365 access; must use **DS Logon** to access milConnect, TRICARE East (Humana Military), or TRICARE West (TriWest). * **Military Spouses/Dependents:** Do not have AKO accounts; they use **DS Logon** to manage TRICARE enrollment and DEERS via milConnect.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: A Retired E-7 updating health insurance A retiree in the West Region needs to update their address for a TRICARE Prime enrollment. Under the 2025/2026 T-5 contract, they do not look for an AKO login. They log into **milConnect** using a DS Logon, update their address in DEERS, and then visit the **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** portal to confirm their primary care manager (PCM). There is no "AKO fee," but they ensure their 2026 TRICARE enrollment fees are set up via allotment in MyPay.

### Scenario 2: Active Duty Specialist (E-4) checking a W-2 The Soldier attempts to find "AKO Login" to download their W-2 for tax season. Instead, they must navigate directly to **MyPay (DFAS)**. They use their CAC on a government computer (or a home computer with a CAC reader) to download the 2026 tax year forms.

### Scenario 3: New Recruit setting up SGLI A Soldier at AIT wants to change their life insurance beneficiary. They previously would have looked for a link on AKO. Now, they must log into **milConnect** and use the **SOES (SGLI Online Enrollment System)** tab.

## Related terms * **DS Logon:** A secure identity username/password created by the DoD for those without a CAC (retirees/spouses). * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the master database for military benefits. * **T-5 Contract:** The current TRICARE contract structure (started 2025) involving Humana Military (East) and TriWest (West). * **CAC:** Common Access Card; the physical smart card required for Army 365 and milConnect government-side access. * **IPPS-A:** Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army; the modern platform for human resources actions that replaced many legacy AKO-linked systems.

## Sources * **IPPS-A Official Site:** [https://ipps-a.army.mil/](https://ipps-a.army.mil/) * **milConnect (DMDC):** [https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) * **MyPay (DFAS):** [https://mypay.dfas.mil/](https://mypay.dfas.mil/) * **TRICARE Official:** [https://www.tricare.mil](https://www.tricare.mil)