Got a bright IDEA?<br>Earn prizes for program submissions Published April 15, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- April 15 marks the beginning of Keesler's month-long IDEA campaign. The Innovative Develop-ment through Employee Aware-ness program encourages innovative, creative thinking by both military and Department of Defense civilian personnel. The program is designed to recognize and reward individuals whose suggestions improve the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of Air Force, Department of Defense, and federal government operations. Submitters of an approved idea can be rewarded with a monetary or non-monetary award. Deatrice Jimerson, Kee-sler's IDEA program manager, said that during the campaign, people who submit an eligible idea in accordance with Air Force Instruction 38-401, Chapter 2, are entered into a non-monetary drawing. An IDEA promotion Apple IPOD or a Garmin GPS navigation system are the prizes in two separate drawings. The first 15 people to submit an idea receive an IDEA duffle bag. Ideas are submitted and evaluated through the IDEA Program Data System at https://ipds.randolph.af.mil. The Web-based application provides Air Force users 24/7 access from any military desktop computer with a common access card. "All DOD military, civilian employees and contract personnel at Keesler may submit an idea and be entered into the non-monetary drawing," Ms. Jimer-son explained. "However, only Air Force military members, Air Force federal civilian employees and Air Force Reserve personnel on active-duty status who are paid from appropriated funds are eligible for a monetary IDEA award." Monetary awards are calculated on first-year savings only and can be as high as $10,000 for each approved idea that results in validated tangible savings, and $200 for approved ideas resulting in intangible benefits. The IDEA submission must contain present method, proposed method and expected benefits, with a detailed description or solution of how to change the current practice or implement the idea. Ideas must be clearly titled and state the current practice, method, procedure, task, directive or policy. Ideas must include specific recommendations, not just complaints, thoughts, or opinions. "Each eligible submission is be good for one entry into the non-monetary drawing," Ms. Jimerson said. "There's no limit to the number of submissions. Ideas must be submitted by May 14, and the drawing is held May 20. For group submissions, the primary submitter and co-submitters are entered into the non-monetary drawing separately." Keesler's IDEA submitter of the year, who submits an approved idea from Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, with the most cost savings to the Air Force, wins a 32-inch Sony flat-screen television. If a group entry is the annual winner, only one TV is awarded to the group. In case of a tie, the winner is decided by a drawing. For more information about Keesler's IDEA campaign and Submitter of the Year award, call 376-8172 or e-mail deatrice.jimerson@us. af.mil.