IDEAs make cents

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  America was built from great ideas. Someone's thoughts, opinions and strategies have brought Americans from the telephone pole to cell phones that send e-mails and play movies.

In the Air Force, the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness or IDEA program is a way to take those thoughts and strategies, approve them, then recognize and reward the people who initiated them.

Anyone may submit an idea for consideration using the web-based program, said Deborah Anderson, IDEA program manager at the base's manpower office. However, only personnel paid from appropriated funds can receive the cash award.

Ideas range from saving resources, increasing efficiency, improving processes, bettering quality of life, improving products and equipment and many others. These ideas benefit the Air Force by helping the service save money and perform certain tasks simpler and faster.

If someone's approved idea is tangible and a dollar amount can be calculated, the submitter will normally receive 15 percent of what their idea saved the Air Force, said Ms. Anderson. Ms. Anderson is the first filter when ideas come through and determines if the idea is eligible or ineligible. If someone's approved idea is intangible, meaning a dollar amount cannot be placed on it, the submitter will receive a $200 award.

Awards given to submitters can be monetary or non-monetary. One could receive a cash award ranging from $200 to $10,000 or promotional items and certificates.

Joseph E. Arnone, squadron aircrew flight equipment, night vision specialist, received a $200 award for his intangible idea, which was a modification to night vision goggles.

Mr. Arnone, who said his idea definitely saved the Air Force aircrew time, also said he enjoys finding ways to make a process a little bit easier, and he encourages everyone to put their ideas out there and think outside the box. For the past two years, Mr. Arnone has submitted 12 to 16 ideas and has three of them pending now.

"Your idea is important and can make a difference," said Mr. Arnone.

In 2010, Little Rock reaped $255,037 in savings from the IDEA program. Submitters received $15,722 in awards.

Some of the savings over the years were used to buy a mammogram unit at the medical group, said Ms. Anderson. The big fans underneath the overhang as people enter the base was also an idea submitted through the program.

"Any idea can touch anyone at anytime," said Ms. Anderson. "We all reap when the Air Force saves money. When Little Rock Air Force Base and the Air Force benefit from money savings through the IDEA program, we all win," said Ms. Anderson.

Ms. Anderson encourages anyone who has a thought or an idea to call her first to discuss the idea so she can help individuals understand what kind of an idea they have before going to the website. People may also submit ideas directly through the website.