Does the army do background checks?

Yes, the Army does background checks. Your recruiter checks locally in all areas you claimed to have lived or worked in the past three years and they also check all areas you admit to having a criminal charge in. In addition to that, when you go to enlist at the Military Entry Processing Station they scan your fingerprints and go through the FBI database. In case you're thinking of hiding a charge don't do it. You can get a waiver for your charges as long as none of them were felony or drug convictions. Also, if the charge was dismissed you still have to reveal the charge but it won't be held against you if your paperwork shows you was wrongfully charged. On the other hand, if you lie and don't reveal the charge and the Army finds out later you will be discharged for fraudulent enlistment.