Airmen empowered to be innovative Published May 28, 2014 By Senior Airman Jason Couillard 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev -- A letter sent to Airmen across the Air Force last week from Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer, empowered Airmen to not only think out of the box, but to share their innovative ideas with their leadership. "Last year, in response to budget sequestration, we launched the Every Dollar Counts campaign," according to the letter signed by James and Spencer. "Since that launch, your innovative ideas and money-saving efficiency changes saved our Air Force hundreds of millions of dollars during these challenging fiscal times." James and Spencer also stated that now is the time to leverage the success of last year's campaign and to continue to cultivate a culture of innovation, efficiency and savings. The goal of the Airmen Powered by Innovation program is to establish one program that improves the implementation and cross-feeding of good ideas. Airmen are encouraged to seek assistance from the Nellis and Creech AFB's manpower office before submitting their ideas. The 99th Force Support Squadron Manpower Office will actively assist both submitters and evaluators. The manpower office will help submitters build an idea by articulating proposed methods, the expected benefits and cost savings of the implemented idea. "Airmen can submit [their ideas] directly to the API website, "said Sean McCully, 99th Force Support Squadron manpower API program manager. "However, if they want to work with us before they submit, it may be beneficial as the idea may be more of a problem with potential solutions. We can help them identify this through the eight-step problem solving method." "This is an excellent opportunity for Airmen to put their ideas to work," said, Maj. Gen. Jay B. Silveria, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center Commander. "Our dedicated Airmen on the front line know their job and we value their opinion on how to improve the process. I encourage everyone to take a look at ways to streamline their work flow in an effort to increase cost savings throughout our Air Force." As stated in the letter to Airmen, "Our current initiatives are just the beginning. We challenge each of you to develop initiatives in your own area of expertise. If there was ever a time for out-of-the-box ideas, it's now. Each of us must be all in, all the time to make this work. There are two programs available to submit your great ideas to increase cost savings across our Air Force." All ideas will be actively processed by the Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force for Business Transformation. "If you see waste, just eliminate it. No need to appoint a committee. An idea can become the root of creating something magnificent," McCully said. Airmen may submit ideas online to the API website at https://ipds.afpc.randolph.af.mil or calling the manpower office at 702-652-4332.
