Uber has recruited 50,000 U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses for its UberMilitary program. The ride-sharing company is expanding its operations in and around military bases.
Uber intends to lessen alcohol-related incidents in military communities by increasing people's access to reliable rides, CNET reported. The UberMilitary program, which was launched in September 2014, offers special perks and a savings program to attract more veterans and military people to be an Uber driver.
"Although 50,000 veterans and other people connected to the military have signed up, only around half have actually started driving. Uber said that's a pretty good conversion rate of people following through from signing up to actually hitting the road," CNET wrote.
Helping Jobless Veterans
Uber Technologies Inc. Senior Vice President Emil Michael was responsible for the creation of UberMilitary, the Washington Post reported. After spending some time in public service as a White House fellow and aide to then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Michael found that veterans have a hard time looking for jobs after leaving the armed forces.
According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate for veterans of the United States' most recent wars clocks in at almost 6 percent. Uber's military program aims to help solve this problem.
"The thing that was missing was an income-earning opportunity that was extremely flexible," Michael said of the military veterans' employment issue, as quoted by the Washington Post. "When you come back, maybe you're studying for your next degree, maybe you have medical issues."
Michael described UberMilitary as "a passion project," but he admitted that "it's also good for business," the news outlet added. By 2020, Uber hopes to pay out $500 million to its veteran drivers.
Donations, More Plans to Help Veterans
The company is also making a $1 million donation to charitable organizations that support veterans and military families, such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a program connected to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Hill wrote. According to Michael, they are also having discussions with the Department of Defense about other ways to encourage more Uber drivers to operate in military areas.
The donation is made on behalf of former military officials, including Gates, General James Mattis, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, CNET listed. Those men are all members of the advisory board for UberMilitary.
"Driving with Uber is an incredible opportunity," Mullen said, as reported by CNET. "It provides flexibility and allows veterans to pursue the American dream, be it furthering education, pursuing certification or starting a small business."
