Trying to get on or off a military base without a personal vehicle can be a frustrating experience.

Public transportation on most Army installations is inconsistent at best, and using popular ride-share apps like Uber or Lyft often leads to delays.

That’s because civilian drivers must stop at the gate and undergo a time-consuming process to obtain a visitor’s pass each time they enter.

Now, the Army is rolling out a new initiative designed to tackle that problem.

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In an effort to simplify transportation for service members and their families, the Army has announced a two-month pilot program aimed at standardizing ride-share access procedures on six major Army installations.

The program, which officially launched this week, seeks to streamline entry requirements for ride-share drivers, making it easier and faster for them to pick up and drop off passengers on base.

“This program demonstrates our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by our military communities,” said Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll in a news release Monday. “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.”

According to Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler, the idea for the program originated after Secretary Driscoll attempted to take an Uber to Fort Myer, Virginia, this past winter.

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Driscoll had to be dropped off at the front gate due to access restrictions, which highlighted the inefficiencies of the current system—particularly for young soldiers who have just arrived at their first duty station and might not own a vehicle.

The pilot program is being tested at Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii. If successful, the initiative could be expanded to other installations across the Army.

Currently, ride-share drivers are required to obtain a visitor’s pass for every entry onto a military post. That includes verifying their identity, driver’s license, and insurance information at the visitor center—steps that vary slightly from one base to another, making the process even more cumbersome.

The new pilot program attempts to standardize and simplify this. Under the initiative, participating ride-share drivers will undergo a one-time identity vetting process through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center and the Terrorist Screening Database.

Once cleared, these drivers will no longer need to acquire a new visitor’s pass each time they access a base. Instead, they’ll show their ride-share app and identify their passenger at the gate.

“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,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer.

“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.”

Uber confirmed that, over time, rides requested from within the six participating bases will be matched with pre-cleared drivers, further reducing wait times and confusion at entry points.

“We are proud to partner with the Army to expand rideshare operations for service members and their families,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.

“This initiative underscores Uber’s commitment to reliable transportation access, and will help to strengthen connections with surrounding communities and boost the local economies around these bases.”

Although not included in the pilot program, Fort Carson in Colorado has already developed its own ride-share partnership model.

Garrison spokesperson Dee McNutt said that since June 2023, Fort Carson has worked with local ride-share companies to provide both transportation and food delivery services for soldiers and their families.

“Over 800 ride-share drivers have been vetted through the program,” McNutt said. “Upon verification, authorized drivers receive ride-share and delivery passes that remain valid for up to one calendar year, enabling access through Fort Carson access control points.”

The Army’s ride-share pilot could serve as a model not just for military bases, but for other large-scale institutions with similar security concerns and logistical challenges. For now, the focus remains on improving the everyday lives of soldiers and their families—one ride at a time.

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