Turning idea into IDEA means $$$

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • 71st Flying Training Wing public affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Want some cash? Try submitting an idea to the IDEA program.

The Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program is an incentive program established to recognize Airmen for their approved ideas that benefit the government by streamlining processes or improving productivity and efficiency, said IDEA program manager, Tech. Sgt. Rachel D. Echard of the 71st Mission Support Squadron.

"This program is an avenue for anyone and everyone, who either sees a problem or knows of a better, smarter, and/or cheaper way of doing business," she said. "In turn, the idea gets the issue fixed; and, in the long run, saves extremely valuable resources, or improves processes, products or equipment in the interest of national defense."

This may sound like a kind of an old cliché, but the folks closer to the product know what the real problems are and know how to fix them.

When was the last time you looked at in house processes and said to yourself, "This is really dumb! Why are we doing this in this manner? " or "If we could do this....or do that this way... it could sure make a big difference."

If it's broke and you know how to fix it...no matter how inconsequential you may think your idea sounds...submit it anyway. IDEAs can earn 15 percent of the estimated first-year savings with a minimum award of $200 and a maximum award of $10,000.

Put some $$$ in your pocket like these Airmen did:
IDEA to insert a warning into a technical order - $10,000 - KACHING
IDEA to turn a part destined for scrap pile into a training aid - $10,000 - KACHING IDEA to replace a washer for 26 cents instead of buying new part for $800 - $10,000 - KACHING.

Anyone with access to a military computer may submit an IDEA at https://ipds.mont.disa.mil/, but only active-duty military and appropriated fund employees are eligible for cash awards. Also, an IDEA must be a person's own thought and must be beneficial to the U.S. government.

For more information, visit https://ipds.mont.disa.mil/ or call the base IDEA manager at 6324.