At Mountain Home Air Force Base, new IDEAs take flight

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Staff Sgt. Jared Chadwick didn't plan on becoming a poster boy for good ideas benefiting the Air Force. But exasperation - what he called the cousin of all invention -- forced his hand and yielded significant savings to the work section and Air Force when his suggestion was adapted through the Air Force's Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA, program.

Sergeant Chadwick, a 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron ammunitions troop, noticed that technical orders required his shop to classify discrepancies found in 16-, 30-, 36- or 78-inch Kevlar lanyards used during bomb building as major defects and are rejected.

"We normally will rotate the use of four lanyards during exercises to build approximately 500 bombs," said Sergeant Chadwick. "Additionally, we use one lanyard during our Combat Munitions Training Program, which consists of 12 classes per year, and each class builds at least 30 bombs."

The lanyards are used to delay the deployment of the bombs fins to guide them to their targets. Mission requirements dictate the lanyard length.

Sergeant Chadwick suggested a different purpose for the defective, usable lanyards.

"I suggested that instead of rejecting the lanyards and submitting an ammunition disposition request, a note should be added to place the lanyard in condition 'B' for training use only," said Sergeant Chadwick. "I also suggested that the lanyard be marked 'For Training Only,' stenciled in white ink on the tubing to clearly identify it for training and to eliminate serviceable assets being mixed with training assets."

Sergeant Chadwick's idea earned him a $10,000 award from the Air Force IDEA program.

Sharing IDEAS for 65 years
 
Though Sergeant Chadwick's idea was new, the Air Force's IDEA program isn't. The Air Force has rewarded military and civilian members for their ideas to saving time, money and manpower since 1943. The service regularly shares approved ideas with potential to aid other military branches or the Department of Defense as a whole.

Annually, the IDEA program receives nearly 6,000 ideas from those stationed throughout the world, with approved ideas receiving monetary awards ranging from $200 to $10,000. For the 2006 to 2007 fiscal year, these ideas have saved the Air Force $530 million. Sergeant Chadwick's idea will save the Air Force roughly $86,000 annually.

"We take saving taxpayers' money very seriously," said Eric Leaming, IDEA program manager for Mountain Home Air Force Base. "Anytime an employee has a better way of doing business that will save the government time, money and resources, it is well received."

IDEA Program in action
 
Gunfighters have about 40 ideas approved a year.

"Most of our ideas involve improvements to technical orders; however, any idea that can improve the Air Force is accepted," said Mr. Leaming.

Not every idea generates a clear monetary savings; many provide value in other ways. Recognition reaps benefits, regardless of the size of the award, said Mr. Leaming. "We've found that folks who get a cash award definitely feel a morale boost."

"The Air Force receives between 5,000 and 7,000 ideas a year," said Mr. Leaming"