army.com
Army.com currently appears to redirect to GoArmy.com, the official U.S. Army recruitment website, although the domain has a documented history involving a 2018 Federal Trade Commission case against misleading military recruiting websites.
What Is Army.com Today?
Army.com is a domain associated with U.S. Army recruitment searches. As of November 2026, domain information published by IPAddress.com identifies GoArmy.com as its redirect destination.
This means visitors may be directed to the Army's official recruitment platform rather than a separate Army.com website.
The Army Enterprise Marketing Office confirms that it manages GoArmy.com, which provides information about military careers, service opportunities, benefits, and recruitment.
However, a direct connection to Army.com could not be independently completed during this review. The redirect is supported by current third-party domain information, but the domain's present registered ownership has not been established.
There is an important distinction between three similarly named websites:
- Army.com: A domain with a documented history as a privately operated recruitment-related website, currently reported to redirect to GoArmy.com.
- GoArmy.com: The official U.S. Army recruitment platform.
- Army.mil: The official U.S. Army website for institutional information, military news, and organizational resources.
Understanding these differences is especially important because Army.com was previously involved in a significant consumer protection investigation.
Why Was Army.com Investigated by the Federal Trade Commission?
Army.com was among several military-themed websites involved in a 2018 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement action concerning deceptive recruitment marketing.
On September 6, 2018, the FTC announced settlements with operators of websites that appeared to represent official military recruitment services.
The defendants included Sunkey Publishing, Inc., Fanmail.com, LLC, and associated parties.
According to the FTC complaint, the operators had used military-themed websites since at least 2010 to attract people interested in joining the armed forces.
Visitors were encouraged to submit personal information after encountering recruitment-related messages and forms.
The FTC alleged that:
- Some websites created the misleading impression of an official military affiliation.
- Personal information submitted by visitors was sold as marketing leads to post-secondary educational institutions.
- Individual marketing leads were sold for approximately $15 to $40.
- Certain telemarketers allegedly presented themselves as military representatives while promoting educational institutions.
- Statements about protecting personal information did not accurately reflect how the information was used.
The investigation concerned the former website operators and their business practices, rather than the legitimacy of military recruitment itself.
These findings are relevant to Army.com's history, but they should not be treated as evidence that its reported current redirect engages in the same activities.
What Happened to Army.com After the 2018 Settlement?
The 2018 settlement arrangements required the defendants to surrender Army.com and other military-themed domain names.
According to the FTC's announcement, the agreements also prohibited specified misleading representations involving military affiliations, educational endorsements, and personal information.
The proposed settlements included civil penalty judgments totaling more than $12 million. Much of that amount was suspended based on the defendants' reported financial circumstances.
An important outcome was the removal of the disputed domains from the control of the operators identified in the case.
The Association of the United States Army subsequently described the former Army.com operation as having been shut down.
Current domain reporting suggests that Army.com later became a redirect to the legitimate GoArmy.com recruitment platform.
However, the available records do not establish the complete timeline of changes in domain control or identify every organization that may have managed the domain afterward.
Therefore, the historical enforcement action and the domain's currently reported behavior represent different periods and should be evaluated separately.
What Can Visitors Find on GoArmy.com?
GoArmy.com provides official recruitment information for people considering service in the United States Army.
Its available resources include:
1. Army career exploration
The website provides access to information about more than 200 Army jobs. Visitors can explore occupational categories and review descriptions of different military career paths.
Its Army Career Match feature also offers a questionnaire designed to suggest potential career interests.
2. Service options
Visitors can learn about active-duty service, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard.
These options differ in their responsibilities, service commitments, and relationships with civilian employment or education.
3. Enlisted and officer careers
The website explains the distinctions between enlisted Soldiers and commissioned Officers, including their training and eligibility requirements.
4. Education and benefits
GoArmy.com describes education assistance, health care, compensation, home loans, and family-related benefits.
Actual eligibility depends on the applicable program, service status, and individual circumstances.
5. Recruitment guidance
Interested visitors can request information from an Army recruiter and learn about entrance examinations, medical screening, and other recruitment procedures.
These are features of GoArmy.com. They should not be described as services independently operated by the former Army.com website.
Who Is Eligible to Join the U.S. Army?
GoArmy.com publishes eligibility requirements that vary depending on whether someone intends to become an enlisted Soldier or commissioned Officer.
According to its current recruitment guidance, basic enlisted eligibility includes:
- Being between 17 and 42 years old.
- Being a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with a valid Green Card.
- Meeting applicable medical and physical fitness standards.
- Having a high school diploma or equivalent qualification.
- Meeting the required entrance examination standards.
Officer candidates face additional requirements, including citizenship by commissioning and applicable education and age standards.
Certain applicants may qualify for waivers, but eligibility is assessed individually.
These requirements are provided as context for visitors arriving at the official recruitment website. They are not conditions for simply reading publicly available information.
Because recruitment policies can change, prospective applicants should confirm current requirements directly with GoArmy.com or an authorized Army recruiter.
Does Army.com Require an Account, Payment, or Download?
There is no verified evidence of a separate Army.com membership program, paid subscription, or downloadable application associated with the domain's currently reported redirect.
The official GoArmy.com website makes substantial recruitment information publicly accessible, including career descriptions, service options, and educational resources.
Visitors can explore this information without purchasing a subscription or installing a separate application.
However, requesting direct contact from a recruiter involves providing personal details.
The recruitment forms may request information such as:
- Name and date of birth.
- Email address and telephone number.
- ZIP code.
- Preferred military career path.
- Relevant eligibility information.
Submitting an information request is not the same as formally enlisting.
GoArmy.com states that contacting a recruiter does not create an obligation to join the Army.
Anyone encountering an Army-branded website that demands payment for basic recruitment information should independently verify the website's identity before proceeding.
How Does GoArmy.com Handle Personal Information?
GoArmy.com publishes a Privacy & Security Notice describing its collection and use of visitor information.
According to that policy, personal information voluntarily submitted through recruitment forms is used for recruiting purposes.
The website also uses cookies and analytical technologies to understand website activity, evaluate marketing effectiveness, and personalize certain experiences.
Visitors who agree to receive recruitment communications may be contacted through telephone calls, emails, text messages, or other permitted channels.
The policy explains how individuals can revoke communication consent, including opting out of recruitment emails or replying STOP to relevant text messages.
Reading the privacy notice before submitting personal details helps visitors understand what information is requested and how communication preferences work.
The modern GoArmy.com privacy policy is distinct from the practices alleged against Army.com's former operators in the 2018 FTC case.
How Can Visitors Verify an Official Army Recruitment Website?
The most reliable approach is to access GoArmy.com directly when seeking official U.S. Army recruitment information.
The Army Enterprise Marketing Office identifies it as the recruitment website under its management.
Visitors should check several details before providing personal information:
- Confirm that the browser displays the intended official website address.
- Use Army.mil to independently locate official Army information and recruitment resources.
- Avoid assuming that a military-themed domain is official simply because it contains words such as Army, enlistment, or military.
- Review the website's privacy policy before completing contact forms.
- Independently verify unexpected recruitment calls or messages that request sensitive information.
A familiar logo, professional design, or secure HTTPS connection does not independently establish government affiliation.
For Army.com specifically, the available evidence supports a clear distinction: its former operation was subject to FTC enforcement, while current third-party domain reporting identifies a redirect to the official GoArmy.com website.
Visitors seeking verified recruitment information can bypass uncertainty about Army.com's present domain administration by accessing GoArmy.com directly.