Airman earns $6K through IDEA program

by Senior Airman Katherine Holt
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

11/19/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Recently, a 2nd Maintenance Squadron Airman received a $6,275 check from the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program.

In 2010, Staff Sgt. Jerod Weddle, 2 MXS communications navigation mission system craftsman, then a senior airman, submitted the paperwork for IDEA, which would save the Air Force $40,500 annually.

After working in the 2 MXS back shop for only a year, Weddle noticed that something wasn't adding up when it came to the process for repairs of a certain part on the B-52H Stratofortress.

Because Barksdale's back shop does not perform 3-level maintenance, certain aircraft parts, like the APQ-166 Strategic Radar Antenna used for navigating munitions, had to be shipped from Barksdale to the Depot at Warner Robbins AFB, Ga., for service and repair.

"To service these antennae, we use a boresight test," said Weddle. "This test allows us to see any error in the antenna and what may need maintenance."

When there is an error the part is shipped to the Depot, repaired, and returned to Barksdale. However, sometimes the parts wouldn't be returned for months.

"I looked at our history data and realized the same parts were being shipped back and forth multiple times with no solution," said Weddle.

That's when he decided to make something happen.

Weddle reached out to Robert Price, Air Force Engineering Technical Service avionics equipment specialist, to figure out why this was happening.

"The problem had gone on for five years," said Price. "So we reached out to leadership, and got the funding to make a trip to the Depot."

Upon their arrival to the Depot, Weddle and Price immediately saw the problem.

"The Depot was using a specific, radar frequency electronic test set," said Weddle. "They were unable to duplicate the errors we were receiving with the boresight test."

After their four-day visit, Weddle and Price worked out a "gentleman's agreement" with the Depot, but Weddle wanted it to be official.

"I suggested he go through the IDEA program," said Price. "He did all the leg work. I was just his mentor."

According to Weddle's IDEA submission, implementing additional tasks at the Depot would save $40,500 annually in shipping costs alone. Since the Depot was allotted 80 hours to function check an antenna, and the Barksdale back shop was allotted eight hours, he calculated 2,376 man hours saved. Additionally, due to back and forth shipping, 27 mission essential line replaceable units that were deemed unserviceable would become serviceable with the tasks additions.

"This resolved a critical problem with the bombing system," said Price. "It is corrected, and we feel real happy about that."

Weddle is the most recent member of the Barksdale AFB community to receive an IDEA Program payout.

"It is nice to be recognized," said Weddle. "But it's nicer that the problem is fixed, and I don't have to fill out as many Quality Deficiency Reports. They are a pain."

According to Air Force Manpower Agency, the Air Force IDEA Program is an incentive program that promotes process improvement and resource savings through ideas submitted by military and civilian employees. It is accomplished by encouraging a better way of doing business by fostering employee awareness and participation in the Air Force IDEA Program.