This Veterans Day, we invite our fellow South Carolinians to take a moment to reflect on the commitments and sacrifice our fellow Americans have made and continue to make in order to protect those freedoms which we hold most dear.

In an effort to empower service members, veterans, and military spouses as entrepreneurs and small business owners, Uber launched UberMILITARY in September 2014. We’ve since onboarded tens of thousands of military personnel onto the Uber platform where they are able to take advantage of flexible earning opportunities that conform to their busy schedules, geographic relocations, and transitions into civilian life.

We caught up with one of our South Carolina-based Uber partners who is a retired member of the U.S. military, and we’re honored to share his stories about what he’s enjoyed most while serving his country and moving his community.

To all of our military affiliated South Carolinians, thank you for all that you do to keep our country safe and strong. We salute you.

Nate

NAME: Nate

MILITARY BRANCH: Air Force

YEARS OF SERVICE: 24

STARTED DRIVING: August 2016

CITY HE MOVES: Charleston

Could you tell us a little bit about your background, both personal and military?
I was born in Dayton, Ohio and joined the military right after high school in search of learning a trade and meeting people. I completed 24 years in the Air Force and by joining I learned a job in Airport Safety and along the way had the opportunity to meet a great group of people.

What would you say are the most important life lessons you took away from your time in the military?

  1. Treat others exactly how I want to be treated.
  2. Never burn any bridges.
  3. Find a way to make any new assignment, any new location, any new work center, better than the way I found it.

How long have you lived in Charleston? What’s your favorite hidden gem?
I have lived in the Charleston, SC area for about four years now. My gem is not really hidden; everyone that knows me know that my gem would be my wife. She has supported me along the whole way! I could not be where I am today without her support.

What do you enjoy most about driving with Uber? Any favorite stories from the road?
I started driving for Uber while in between jobs after I retired from the military. I enjoy the freedom of working my own schedule. I can drive for as many hours I decide to drive, and I can start and stop when I choose to. I don’t have a specific favorite story while on the road, but I will say that I have had the chance to meet a lot of amazing people traveling in the Charleston area. If you think that, there are not good/great/interesting people out in the world today, I’d have to disagree! We need to step outside our normal box, our normal routine, and look and see. Driving for Uber easily reminded me of this fact.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?
I spend free time hanging out with friends and family. Laughter is food for the soul, mind, and body; can’t live without it. Smile!

Do you think driving with Uber is a good activity for current or former military members? What advice would you give to other military personnel who might be considering driving with Uber?
In my humble opinion, if a military member is looking for part time work or decides to drive full time after finishing their military time, they would enjoy driving for Uber. Self-employment/partnership is a wonderful thing. If a military member is interested in driving for Uber, I say scan the required documents, get your vehicle inspected, and give it a try.

Any special shout-outs you’d like us to mention or fellow service-members you’d like us to honor this Veteran’s Day?
Well, I have had two trips to Iraq, three trips to Afghanistan, and a total of seven deployments in my 24 years of service. Any shout-outs would have be to ALL our service members currently serving, especially our men and women serving overseas in harm’s way! I pray our nation will continue to support and pray for all of our men and women of the Armed Forces, Civilian Forces, and Coalition Forces until EVERYONE makes it home.

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