Elmendorf jet-engine technician earns $10K for IDEA

  • Published
  • By Gary L. Martin
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) --  A simple idea can be worth a lot of money; at least that is the case for Staff Sgt. Kevin Jackson. The 25-year-old jet-engine technician was awarded $10,000 for his submission to the Air Force's Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.

Sergeant Jackson, assigned to the 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron’s propulsion flight cell here, came up with his idea just before Thanksgiving 2002. Then, he worked in the unit's support section and was responsible for maintenance on equipment used to repair jet engines.

The winning idea related to PWA 50308 and PWA 5266 hydraulic wrenches used to apply torque to secure or remove turbine shaft nuts on jet engines.

"After doing the maintenance for awhile," Sergeant Jackson said, "it seemed like I was changing the hydraulic fluid an awful lot. All the other equipment only required the hydraulic fluid changes once a year."

After checking with the company that manufactured the wrenches, Sergeant Jackson determined that the hydraulic fluid used in his wrenches did not need to be changed every two months as prescribed by the technical orders. In fact, according to his research, the fluid only had to be replaced annually like most other equipment.

Sergeant Jackson's suggestion to change the hydraulic fluid less will save the Air Force about $250,000 a year in materials and manpower. By submitting the idea, he earned $7,500 after taxes.

Sergeant Jackson said saving the Air Force time and money was not his only motivation for submitting the suggestion. He said changing the fluid in the 300-pound wrenches is not fun. To do it, a technician has to siphon out the spent fluid and replace it with fresh fluid, which is both time-consuming and sometimes messy. So, changing it once a year is much better, he said.

From the time Sergeant Jackson came up with the idea until he received the check was more than two years.

Sergeant Jackson said that anyone who has a good idea should submit it. He said there were times he had doubts and was surprised that someone had not already thought of it. He also was impressed with how such a simple idea turned out to be so rewarding.

"I would advise people with an idea to go ahead and do the paperwork, but first do the research and make sure your work is accurate," Sergeant Jackson said.

His supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Brian Packard, describes Sergeant Jackson as a team player and somebody who is thinking all the time.

"He is a good example of what we like to see in our young (noncommissioned officers)," Sergeant Packard said. "He is enthusiastic, displays initiative and is always trying to find ways to make things better. He's not just doing it to find suggestions and make more money; he's simply that kind of person -- always thinking.

Sergeant Jackson, his wife Misti, and their three sons, Scott, 8, Bryce, 6, and Kevin Jr., 3, have plans for the award money.

"We will pay some bills and then have an extra-nice summer," Sergeant Jackson said.