Uber reaches military hiring milestone

Uber said Thursday it has made good on a 2014 pledge to hire 50,000 drivers with links to the military within 18 months.

It also announced it would donate a million dollars to veterans and military families charities to mark the milestone, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a program linked to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

{mosads}“We believe programs like these can make a big difference in the lives of veterans and their families,” Emil Michael, an Uber executive, wrote in a blog post. “And we’re only just getting started.”

The ride-hailing app launched its UberMILITARY program in September 2014 with the goal of signing up 50,000 drivers within 18 months with ties to the military, whether they are active-duty service members, veterans or military spouses.

The company said it would now try to meet a goal of delivering $500 million in earnings to drivers with military backgrounds by 2020, and would also take other steps as part of the program.

“To make transportation more accessible around military installations, we want to work with base commanders to pilot a program that would allow drivers to earn more when they start or end a trip at a military base,” said Michael. “We’re also talking to the Department of Defense about other ways we can work together to encourage more people to drive with Uber in these areas.”

The company said it would also look to add more perks for military drivers.

The UberMILITARY program was launched about a month after the company hired David Plouffe, a former top adviser to President Obama, to help clean up its reputation. The involvement of top figures with military backgrounds gave the program credibility. Controversy over the company has since calmed somewhat.