Improve Travis, get rewarded with IDEA program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew McGovern
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Airmen are getting rewarded for discovering ways to improve their job with the Travis Innovative Development Employee Awareness program.

The IDEA program is an Air Force-wide incentive program that offers monetary rewards to people who improve the way they do business.

"We want people with ideas -- big or small, to participate in the IDEA program who will perhaps leave their mark on Travis," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Brown, IDEA program manager.

The IDEA program manager would like to see more people from different career fields at Travis take advantage of the program.

"Most of our submissions are basic Air Force Form 22 submissions from the aircraft maintenance folks," said Sergeant Brown.

"These types of submissions 98 percent of the time have intangible savings for the Air Force and are awarded a $200 monetary award payment," he said. "Some of our top submitters are Tech. Sgt. Clemmon Cook, Tech. Sgt. Kevin Potts and Staff Sgt. Anthony Elder. "Others, whose ideas have a tangible monetary impact, could receive even more," Sergeant Brown said. "I know they're out there."

Master Sgt. David Kennedy, 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, designed a way to test a KC-10 Extender thrust reverser and improved the technical manual for it - he received $10,000 for his idea.

"The KC-10 thrust reverser is used to slow down the aircraft on landing sort of like the brakes on your car. When a thrust reverser is not working, it limits where the aircraft can go. By designing a tester and rewriting the technical manual, it enables the mechanic to keep the aircraft in the air and perform its mission of supporting the war fighter in more areas of the world," said Sergeant Kennedy.

Sergeant Kennedy's idea reduced operation time for troubleshooting thrust reverser problems by 89 percent and provided $60,000 fuel savings per year.

"Making the Air Force better should be the main goal of every idea. Each approved idea benefits the Air Force and the defense of our nation," said Sergeant Brown.

For more information, contact Sergeant Brown at 424-5995.