Rooted in Service
We’re not just a company that employs veterans—we’re a company that was founded by veterans. These shared values are why veterans who work at UPS today still feel a sense of camaraderie and true community on our team.
Decades of Support for Our Troops
For UPS, our commitment to veterans isn’t new. We’ve gone through our archives and found some examples of how UPS has been here for veterans all throughout history. Take a look at how we’ve always supported vets as they left service and entered the workforce.
1919: Our Foundation
Our history with military members runs deep—back to the start of our organization. In fact, one of our founders was a veteran. George Casey served with honor in the US Navy during World War I before returning to grow UPS into the company we are today. The values he learned in the service remain at the heart of our operations.
1944: Brown Betties
During World War II, the men who worked at UPS were deployed—so the women back home stepped up to keep our operations running. Early UPSers were known as "Brown Buddies" thanks to our iconic uniforms, which is why these women soon got nicknamed "Brown Betties" as they paved the way for future women in the delivery industry.
1971: Operation Hire
In the early 70s, UPSers met with the New York City mayor, labor leaders, and Veterans Administration officials to discuss finding employment for the troops. One UPSer named John was able to share his story and success with “Operation Hire” and the other programs that led us to win a Plaque of Appreciation from the Queens County American Legion.
1973: Vet Job Fairs
From England, Germany, and Italy to Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, UPS went on the road to address crowds of hundreds and even thousands of soon-to-be-discharged veterans. These Job Fairs brought exciting UPS opportunities to Army, Air Force, and Navy bases where military members were starting to consider plans for a future outside the service.