Base pays $30,000 for good IDEAs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena Air Base just paid out $30,000 for three submissions through the base's IDEA Program.

The Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) program encourages innovative, creative thinking by both military and Department of Defense civilian personnel. The program is designed to recognize and reward individuals whose suggestions improve the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of Air Force, Department of Defense, and federal government operations. Submitters of an approved idea can be rewarded with a monetary or non-monetary award.

One of the recent $10,000 payouts started out with a change submitted on an AFTO-22, a process Air Force maintenance crews use to recommend changes to the technical order which is the "bible" to repairing aircraft.

Staff Sgt Edward Bellus, an HH-60 maintainer with the 33rd Rescue Squadron noticed a small barrel-nut was sitting in a cavity that collected a lot of salt water. This water accelerated the corrosion of the helicopter's main gear box. His solution? Install a sealant to prevent the water from entering the area.

"That barrel-nut is only $20, that sealant you seal over with is maybe five bucks. So if you put in an extra five bucks into the gearbox, you save $450,000", said Sergeant Bellus.
A little homework on finding out the costs of the items, the plan, and about 10 minutes of paperwork earned him $10,000.

This isn't the first time Sergeant Bellus has made cash. Since arriving at Kadena in 2006, he's had about 20 suggestions forwarded to the base's IDEA program - 10 of those have paid $200 a pop.

Bellus isn't alone though, Master Sgt. Alan Pray, 18th Wing Air Ground Equipment superintendent, has been participating in the IDEA for most of his 24-year career and has lost track of how much he's claimed. He was just paid $20,000 for two ideas and has another one pending.

Steve McQueen, 18th Wing Productivity Manager, said some of the submissions he processes can be up to six pages long but they could be as short as, "Put a crosswalk in at the corner of Clark and Douglas Street." Of course, the more detailed the information, the sooner your idea will become a plan and you'll get paid.

The ideas have to be validated by having subject matter experts along with senior leaders from the base convene before a board. It's the process that may take a little time.
"You've got to be patient with it," said Sergeant Pray. "Just because you submit it, it may take months to get approved."

The base had 60 submissions in fiscal year 2009 and paid $4,100 for 12 of them. The base has paid already paid out $32,000 this year.

Mr. McQueen calls the potential earnings a "bottomless pit" because any Airman or federal civil service employee can submit and they are a "must pay."

The more money your idea saves Kadena, the more money you can earn. For more information on the idea program you can go to this site.

http://www.kadenaforcesupport.com/MPF/idea.html