Three NCOs here recently were approved to receive $10,000 each for coming up with new ideas that saved the Air Force money.

Master Sgt. Mark Gauthier and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wilson of Air Force Special Operations Command, and Tech. Sgt. Arnoldo Cuevas, 16th Civil Engineer Squadron,  are expected to save the Air Force more than $865,000 a year with their suggestions.

Sergeant Gauthier developed a plan and procedure for repairing aircraft accessory drive housings on T56 engines in the field rather than having them sent back to a depot for repair.

Sergeant Cuevas suggested replacing electrically powered “Exit” signs with glow-in-the-dark signs that use ambient light to charge and require no electricity. They are guaranteed for 25 years and involve none of the maintenance and inspection tasks required by the old signs.

Sergeant Wilson recommended replacing the high frequency radio antenna on MH-53 Pave Low helicopters with a more sturdy and easy-to-maintain antenna. This process saves 20-30 man-hours spent to repair each aircraft using the old antenna.