Kunsan Wraith wins Air Force IDEA check

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  A Wraith from the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle management flight was awarded an Air Force IDEA program cash award of $1,875 here Aug. 30 for implementing a new process to save the Air Force money and increase the mission-capable rates for all vehicles on base.

His idea was to add a tire rotation plan to the scheduled maintenance of vehicles.

"Our current method to rotating tires is to just fix them when they need replaced," said Senior Airman Jason Devore, 8th LRS vehicle management. "This is not the most efficient method, as most our vehicles make more turns than they do going straight effectively wearing down the tread unevenly."

Devore's idea is estimated to save the 8th Fighter Wing and Air Force more than $12,000 annually.

"I'm very happy a Wolf Pack member received a cash reward through the AF IDEA Program," said Nanhui Kang, 8th Force Support Squadron base IDEA program manager and manpower analyst. "Submitting an idea means a diligence to me, giving a little more concern and interest about our job's surroundings to make it better."

And making it better is just what Devore did, taking a program costing the Air Force more than $31,000 annually and cutting it nearly in half to approximately $19,000 budget. In an ever-slimming Air Force, where funds aren't as commonplace as they were in years past, Devore stepped up and proved his worth.

"The Air Force encourages innovative thinking in doing the AF mission better, faster, cheaper and smarter," Kang said. "Sometimes changes are painful, but with an open mind, if the new method is better, be flexible and accept it."

Group leadership has said vehicle management runs an excellent program, but Devore saw an area he could improve during his year tenure here at Kunsan and submitted an idea.

"What inspired my idea was the fact that multiple vehicles were sitting unusable for problems that could have been prevented with the proper program," Devore said. "This is especially true during a time when the vehicle management flight had limited to no funds for even the smallest repairs."

Even though Devore is a junior enlisted member, his voice was heard by the Air Force and he received a cash award for speaking up and submitting his idea.

"I like the fact that the AF IDEA Program facilitates people whose voices may not always be heard," he said. "It allows them to voice their opinions and ideas through a different channel to possibly see if their idea can get heard and implemented."

It worked for Devore, it could work for other members of the Wolf Pack.

Kang said if other Kunsan Airmen are interested in making a few dollars and improving Air Force operations along the way, they should visit the IDEA Program Data System website at https://ipds.randolph.af.mil or call her office at 782-4020.