- The US Army is partnering with Lyft and Uber for a military base access pilot program.
- The pilot aims to improve transportation for over 600,000 personnel on six Army bases.
- If successful, the initiative could expand to over 20 military bases nationwide.
The US Army wants to open its base gates to Uber and Lyft drivers to give soldiers more options for getting around.
A new partnership and pilot program starting Monday morning involving the US Army and ride-share companies Lyft and Uber seeks to increase the number of drivers approved to enter six military bases. The program aims to expand driver opportunities and improve transportation for troops on and off base.
Access to military bases is normally only granted to servicemembers, their families, and government civilians. Now, company drivers without any government affiliation will be allowed to sign up for base access.
Testing the waters
The new pilot program, currently set to last just two months, will initially focus on six Army installations home to over 600,000 service members, families, and government civilians, Uber said.
Locations include Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, and three base locations in Hawaii. If the new program is successful, the Army hopes to expand the initiative to over 20 bases.
“This pilot is our response to see if we can safely collaborate with the ride-share industry to simplify transportation options for everyone living on, working on, or even visiting our camps, posts, and installations,” Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer said in an Army statement.
“We heard you and agree, it shouldn’t be so hard to coordinate transportation onto our installations, but also in and around some of our larger ones,” he said, addressing people affected.
Military bases tend to be in isolated locations outside major metropolitan areas, leaving servicemembers with few public transportation options. Many junior enlisted troops don’t own cars either, making it tough for some to secure reliable off-base travel during weekends.
“Through collaboration with the ride-share industry, we’re able to provide our Soldiers and their families with safe, reliable and convenient transportation options that support their unique needs and enhance their overall quality of life,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a statement.
How it’s going to work?
Uber and Lyft drivers approved for military base access will receive a base access credential which could be digital or physical, according to an Army spokesman. But they won’t be able to access base without an official work requirement.
Drivers must display their ride requests on their phones to military gate guards, proving they are servicing a rider who already has base access credentials.
Those who choose to opt in must pass the Army’s base access vetting process, including an in-person background check, according to Uber. Such checks are normally performed at a military base’s visitor center.
It’s unclear if additional incentives will be provided to ride-app drivers who can seek on-base credentialing, beyond expanding their pool of riders to base personnel. To gain base approval, they’ll have to head to base access centers on their own dime and time.
The companies will also aim to hold a military recruiting drive to boost contract employment for on-base personnel seeking to make a little extra money by breaking into the gig economy with ride-share work.
News of the partnership with the Army comes as some ride-share drivers have sought to fight back against their statuses as “contractors,” instead of employees. Being a full time employee provides more rights and benefits to drivers. But as contractors, a driver has the option to refuse rides and set their own hours.
Data and insights from the initial six pilot locations will be used to refine and expand the Army program for expansion.
While the initiative appears to be the most comprehensive effort from the DoD to expand transportation options for troops in a meaningful way, a few military bases have sought ad hoc partnerships with companies in the past, including Joint Base San Antonio in Texas and a handful of southern California Navy bases.
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