This Republic Day, we want to take a moment to salute our ex-servicemen. Some of them are still working tirelessly to help us with our daily commute through the Uber platform.

Over the last 3 years of being in India, as part of our UberFAUJI program in association with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation we’ve enlisted ex-servicemen as driver-partners on our platform. We already have hundreds of ex-servicemen who are driving on the Uber platform and serving the citizens of their cities. Here are a few such stories:

Pradeep Kumar Singh

Years of service – 18 years

Area of service – Hawaldar Major Technical with EME (Indian Army Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers)

Retirement year – 2015

Work post retirement – Joined Uber after retirement

Why did you join Uber – “I had heard good things about Uber from other friends and ex-servicemen. When Uber came to the Army placement office, I felt a good sense of connect and saw a good post-retirement opportunity for myself.”

An unforgettable Military experience – “Discipline in the Army was everything. We were always in uniform and had very few opportunities to wear coloured clothes. Only on special occasions such as the birth of someone’s child, we would all get together and celebrate these moments together. On such occasions we were allowed to dress up in coloured attire and celebrate together as brothers.”

Uber city he serves – Kolkata, West Bengal

Dibakar Behera

Years of service – 17 years

Area of service – Clerk for an engineer

Retirement year – 2008

Work post retirement – Worked at the East Coast Railways and Infosys prior to becoming a partner with Uber

Why did you join Uber – “I started off by attaching a vehicle on Uber as a source of additional income over an above my military pension to ensure financial stability for my family.”

An unforgettable Military experience – “One day while testing grenades during a military drill I was careless not to throw it far enough and lie down flat on the floor to avoid the blast. I remember thinking to myself at that point, “How big could the blast be?” Though I became unconscious and sustained minor injuries, I remember waking up, grateful for being alive.”

Uber city he serves – Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Binod Borah

Years of service – 17 years

Area of service – Driver of heavy military vehicles

Retirement year – 2013

Work post retirement – Worked as a manger in the Forest Department in Assam

Why did you join Uber – “After working in the army and driving heavy military vehicles, working as a manager was not what something I enjoyed. With Uber I saw something that would complement my skills and give me flexibily in my daily life.”

An unforgettable Military experience – “As an Army driver, I used to driver tanks, big trucks, semi tractor trailers and heavy troop transports in extreme conditions. Very often driving through the narrow roads of tiger hills while being attacked on by the opposing army.”

Uber city he serves – Guwahati, Assam

For ex-servicemen looking for flexible work, to the ones looking for a full-time job, Uber provides the perfect opportunity to serve our cities better.

We salute you!