News>Airmen submit innovative ideas by the thousands
Photos
An Airman reads through lists of submitted ideas in the Airmen Innovation Operations Center May 7, 2013, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The AIOC is the hub of Every Dollar Counts, where Airmen manning the center filter the ideas to the respective units to be routed and answered. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
Airmen field ideas that have been submitted to the Every Dollar Counts Program May 7, 2013, in the Airmen Innovation Operations Center, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The AIOC is the hub of Every Dollar Counts, where Airmen manning the center filter the ideas to the respective units to be routed and answered. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
An Airman reads through lists of submitted ideas in the Airmen Innovation Operations Center May 7, 2013, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The AIOC is the hub of Every Dollar Counts, where Airmen manning the center filter the ideas to the respective units to be routed and answered. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
Capt. Shaun Carney (left) and Senior Master Sgt. Joanna Ogden discuss routing choices for an idea submitted to the Every Dollar Counts program May 7, 2013, in the Airmen Innovation Operations Center at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The AIOC is the hub of Every Dollar Counts, where Airmen manning the center filter the ideas to the respective units to be routed and answered. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
by Senior Airman Jamie Jaggers
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
5/21/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- More than 8,000 money-saving ideas have cascaded into the Pentagon from across the Air Force this month.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer launched the Airmen Powered by Innovation Challenge May 1, challenging uniformed and civilian Airmen to find places to save money across the service, no matter how big or small.
"If there are things we can do better, if there are things we can stop doing, or if there are ideas (Airmen) have on how we can better manage our money... we want to hear it," Spencer said.
When Airmen click "submit," on one of two websites, their ideas fall directly into the hands of Spencer's team of action officers here, who dedicate their time to receiving ideas and tasking them out for consideration.
"Chaotic, at best, is what it's like working in here, because all these ideas are flowing through considerably. It takes me personally, on average, about 10-15 minutes to process each idea," Master Sgt. Joel Meyer said.
Meyer, a security forces Airman by trade, said this is a unique opportunity for today's Airmen.
"It's an opportunity for Airmen in the field to provide an idea straight to the top, and not have that filter of that staff sergeant on their flight, or master sergeant, or (operations) officer," Meyer said. "They don't have to go through any of that ... they can get (their idea) right to General Spencer."
Airmen who may be holding back due to reservations about confidentiality should think again.
"The people who are responsible for filtering that (submission) and looking into it deeper -- they have no idea who it is. So don't be apprehensive. Submit it," Meyer said.
Uniformed and civilian Airmen can submit their ideas on how to squeeze the most out of every Air Force dollar via the Air Force portal, or EveryDollar.DoDLive.Mil; the opportunity is live until June 1.
Comments
5/31/2013 4:09:24 PM ET Ever actually try to submitt an idea using the idea program. It is designed to reject solutions not implment them.
Joe, Omaha
5/24/2013 3:52:07 PM ET The difference between this program and the IDEA program is that the IDEA program has the potential to pay the submitter money.
Michele, OK
5/23/2013 3:43:12 PM ET John Desert that is exactly what I hear in the chain of command. They ask an honest question and you in turn give an honest answer and then listen to them criticize you for complaining and not giving the answer they would like. Almost everyone here is correct in saying that the irony is another program being made and money spent on it to ask where money can be saved. We ask our young people to become more educated and get degrees and the byproduct of that is they can see an over paid for boondoggle of money spent and then their told they are negative and bitter.
MSgt A.J. Brookmyer, Alpena CRTC
5/23/2013 2:50:29 PM ET It's wonderful that 8000 ideas have come in so far but I know for a fact the ideas have always been there and have always been elevated in the past but it looks as though this time they may get some traction we'll see the proof is in the pudding. I personally submitted an idea that discussed going back and doing things simpler more cost effective and a lot less redundant. After 25 years in two services I have seen the career balloon in size in regulations and personnel but the productivity has remained the same or decreased. In simple terms we have had an explosion in supervision and requirements with no correlation in product and productivity. I hope for the sake of ALL airmen from E1 to the O10 that we put aside our egos and get back to the common sense that makes the system work best.
MSgt A.J. Brookmyer, alpena CRTC
5/22/2013 10:03:37 PM ET I'm glad the 5 sign represented in picture two is agitating people. Take the program for what it is participate submit ideas or do something better yourself. Negative comments towards ever single AF program makes higher ups say Why even try. Be an adult and make a difference.
John, Desert
5/22/2013 3:25:25 PM ET @John...lol. I'm more impressed how 4 of them appear to be chuckling at what they're reading. The LtCol has a REALLY expression. The picture is priceless.
MI, AL
5/22/2013 9:04:04 AM ET Was it necessary to have a sign designed and created to sit in an office for a photo op If leaders expect us to believe every dollar counts then maybe they should too and stop with the retoric.
me, here
5/22/2013 7:12:05 AM ET Hopefully the military people manning those tables are at least those from the wasted career fields like the Bands.
David Brett, Fl
5/22/2013 7:10:19 AM ET I know it's been Suggested many times but I'll Suggest it again as I did on the website. Dump the Gov Contracted Airfare official travel requirement and the JWOD and NIBISH GPC requirements. They are sucking money big time.
Dave Brett, Florida
5/22/2013 3:40:39 AM ET What people do not understand that the US Govt does nothing that actually saves money. It's called 'fair and reasonable profit'. Anytime the govt contracts anyone to do anything not only is the govt paying for the development of a product it is paying for the product itself and for the profit of that company. So the short of it is that the govt literally cannot do anything that saves money for itself. If there are cuts in one area they get sucked up in another area. Looks great on paper if you do not show where those funds go.
Brian, FL
5/22/2013 3:03:48 AM ET How ironic. A program designed to save money is spending money on temporary signs. Love picture 2 is that lady wearing a bath robe
John, Here
5/21/2013 2:03:41 PM ET Here is my favorite When Airmen click submit on one of two websites their ideas fall directly into the hands of Spencer's team of action officers here who dedicate their time to receiving ideas and tasking them out for consideration.What about a system already in place that has been doing this for a long time called the IDEA PROGRAM The submission review structure is already in place and a team of action officers would not have been needed. Picture 2 of 4 is my favorite and I think I will submit that picture to the Dollar Saves website as a means to cut costs that should not have been spent in the first place.
