KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- New ways to solve old problems and new ways to solve new problems are just what the U.S. Air Force Reserve is looking for from its Citizen Airmen. Innovative approaches and uses of products to provide the warfighter with the tools they need to be mission ready is the goal of the Squadron Innovation Fund program.
According to Gen. David L. Goldfein, Air Force Chief of Staff, the Wing Commanders have been provided discretionary operations and maintenance resources to invest in innovative ideas brought forth by their Airmen to increase both readiness and lethality.
For those who have an idea that could improve your work area or even improve a process that is currently in place, there are Squadron Innovation Funds available to do just that.
“Working together and starting at the local level with these innovative ideas, we will be able to increase our capabilities and improve on our processes, which will enhance the effectiveness of our Wing and the Air Force Reserve,” said Col. Jennie R. Johnson, 403rd Wing commander. “Our Airmen are our best source for insight and ideas on how to make this happen.”
Air Reserve Technicians, Civilians and Traditional Reservists alike can submit their ideas. Just remember some of the questions you need to keep in mind are.
- What is the problem this idea tries to solve?
- Who has the problem or needs this solution?
- Who does it affect or who will benefit?
- What is the idea for creating a solution? How does it work?
- Why is it better?
- What might be the non-financial resources needed to make this happen?
- How much funding will be required? Ballpark estimates are sufficient at this stage.
While not all of these questions may apply, these are just a few that you may need to consider when making your request.
According to Chief Master Sgt. Monte Snyder, 403rd Wing performance process manager, to use these funds you need to go through your Squadron leadership and present your idea. If your leadership agrees then it will be submitted to his office, where it is logged.
“I will review the request and if there are any questions, I will contact the person to follow up,” said Snyder. “Then I will present it to Barry Argento, the 403rd Wing comptroller and budget officer, the group commanders and the wing commander for final consideration to have the funds transferred for use.
Argento said that when you submit a request to use SIF, you have to go through the normal O&M request process, but ask to use SIF instead.
“Just remember the deadline to submit is Aug. 16, 2019, so get the requests in early, because after that date the unused funds will be converted toward other readiness priorities,” said Argento.
All of the ideas and expenditures are forwarded to 22nd Air Force and the Air Force Reserve Command, but if the SIF request exceeds the dollar amount available at the Wing level, then more funding can be requested.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve Command encourages and requests Airmen use the U.S. Air Force Ideation Platform website at https://usaf.ideascalegov.com/ and look at other ideas, post ideas, make suggestions or ask questions. The use of this website can help wing members answer questions they may have about how to initiate the process.
“By encouraging the Airmen who actually do the job to figure out the issues they encounter every day, we are empowering them to maintain their commitment to the core value of Excellence in All We Do,” said Johnson. “I want our Airmen to step up, come up with solutions, and work together to implement the changes to help make the 403rd Wing, the Wing of Choice.”