By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - They say nothing motivates like money. Parents and even innovative school sytems have found success rewarding good grades with cash. And if the payoff is significannt enough for the student, it works. Although the concept has yet to fully take hold on Guam, Andersen Air Force Base's experiment with such a program is showing early signs of success.

Under the Innovative Development through Employee Awarenees [IDEA] Program at Andersen, employees are awarded anywhere from $200 to $10,000 for ideas that improve on intangibles or that save cost. According to a news release from Andersen, "For tangible, measureable costs, submitters receive 15 percent of the first year's savings."

With the mutual benefits so obvious, one can't help but wonder whether such a system might help GovGuam save money, improve safety, help keep public properties better maintained, and incentify employees to advance themselves through proactive problem solving.

IDEA Program Rewards Airmen, Civilian Innovation

By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway, 36th Wing Public Affairs

10/15/2009 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program offers incentives for Team Andersen Airmen and civilians with creative ideas aimed at cutting cost or enhancing processes.

The program pays out a minimum of $200 for every approved idea and a maximum of up to $10,000. If the payout totals more than $2,500, the 36th Wing commander presents the submitter with the check.

According to Reva Fleming, 36th Force Support Squadron chief of manpower, most $200 pay outs are attributed to ideas with an intangible cost such as improving safety within a process. For tangible, measureable costs, submitters receive 15 percent of the first year's savings.

Ideas may be submitted through the IDEA Program Data System, or IPDS, at https://ipds.randolph.af.mil. Civilians must submit their ideas through Navy's program office due to a glitch in IPDS that occurred during the Joint Region Marianas merger.

"Our base averages two idea submissions per month - one of the lowest totals in the Air Force," said Veronica Camacho, 36th FSS IDEA program manager.

Despite the lack of participation, those who are using the program have seen their ideas pay dividends. Staff Sgt. Skylar Graham, 36th Maintenance Squadron metals technology section NCO-in-charge, submitted an idea in March 2008 and earned $421 in the process.

"[My] idea was to have metals technology sections locally manufacture a coupling that is used to bleed liquid oxygen pressure from aircraft servicing carts the Air Force purchased through contract channels for $1138," Sergeant Graham said. "The manufacture of each coupling versus purchase saved around $900 per unit.

"A monetary incentive is amazing," he added. "Not only was I paid my normal salary for doing my job, I was awarded an incentive for thinking of ways to help the AF save money. The IDEA program is a great tool for all Airmen to use to think of ways to make our force more productive. We all see flaws in daily operations, and the IDEA program is an easy way to help change the problem areas."

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