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Good idea nets NCO big bucks

  • Published
  • By Janet Taylor-Birkey
  • 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  “Good ideas are common. What’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about,” noted Ashleigh Brilliant, an author and syndicated cartoonist. 

One of those uncommon people is Master Sgt. Ken Oswald, 27th Fighter Wing Flight Safety, who received a check in the mail from the Air Force for $5,663, after taxes, May 4 for having a good idea. It is just one of the nearly 1,000 payments he has received for almost 2,000 suggestions during his 24 years in uniform that add up to a tidy $150,000. 

This most recent award is the result of once again seeing a problem and coming up with a solution. 

While investigating a mishap that resulted in damage to an F-16 engine compressor case during the removal of a compressor blade lock, Sergeant Oswald found that though the technical order was followed to attempt to remove a screw, something had gone wrong. The screw to be removed by drilling it out had heated up during the drilling process, which caused it to harden and become brittle. This led to damage to the compressor case during subsequent attempts to remove the screw. 

Sergeant Oswald reasoned that the mishap could have been avoided if the stop sleeve used during the drilling processed was shortened. 

Working with General Electric engineers, Sergeant Oswald found that the stop sleeve could be shortened, which would allow the drill bit to bore deeper and remove the screw more easily. 

The changes Sergeant Oswald suggested will prevent an estimated $120,000 in future compressor damage. 

One of the key factors to the number of Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) program suggestions he has made, comes from his job, Sergeant Oswald said. Maintainers are in the perfect position to submit solutions to the IDEA program, since they work directly with the jets and can often see how maintenance procedures can be refined to save time and money. “The IDEA program is a great innovative tool for the future of the Air Force and [Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century] Initiatives,” said Sergeant Oswald. 

“From the old days of the suggestion program I’ve been awarded as little as $25, this is my largest [before taxes] check for $7,000,” he said. 

Not every idea submitted yields cash in his pocket. “I’m at about a 50 percent approval rate,” said Sergeant Oswald. He encourages aircraft maintainers to submit ideas, since they are in the best position because they work directly with the jets and can often see how to improve routine maintenance procedures. 

“The IDEA program is not a contest; therefore there are no winners or losers. The individual earns a cash reward for submitting an idea that is approved through a specific approval channel,” said Idea program manager Staff Sgt. Anne Augustain, 27th Fighter Wing Mission Support Squadron IDEA program manager. 

So what does Sergeant Oswald plan to do with his earnings? 

“I’m thinking about going back to England for a vacation with the family,” he said. “We were stationed there earlier in my career and we enjoyed it. It would be nice to visit again.” 

Considering the number of ideas he continues to offer to the Air Force, it won’t be the last trip he takes, courtesy of his suggestions and the government’s pocketbook.
If someone has an idea that they’d like to submit, go to https://ipds. mont.disa.mil/ IPDS/ dv_new_home_page, said Sergeant Augustain.

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