Every single dollar makes a difference

by Tech. Sgt. Joy Meek
PACAF Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARLHARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- 

The tightening of the money belt can no doubt be felt throughout the Air Force these days, but some insightful Airmen are creatively finding ways to save their units and the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars.  

Through Pacific Air Forces' Every Dollar Counts (EDC) initiative, Airmen at all levels are encouraged to develop a culture of cost consciousness and focus on saving and cutting costs. 

The EDC program is founded on the belief that with the power of our Airmen's ideas a small change can have a huge impact.  For example, if each PACAF Airman saves $1 per day, the command can save $15 million in a year.

PACAF kicked off the EDC program last June in support of the Air Force-wide month-long money saving initiative that encouraged Airmen to submit ideas through the "Airmen Powered by Innovation" website.

The PACAF EDC campaign recognizes initiatives that have already been implemented to achieve savings.  PACAF leadership wants to learn about real money saving ideas and share them across the command.

PACAF's EDC was designed to encourage a cost-conscious culture at every level of the command and, in turn, recognize Airmen who have identified and implemented innovative ways to save money in their work centers and across their bases. 

Through EDC, those ideas can then be shared across the command and could even earn Airmen time off awards and/or an Air Force Achievement Medal.

Three initiatives have been implemented and submitted by PACAF Airmen that saved the Air Force almost $800,000 in one year earning the five Airmen who submitted the ideas special recognition.

Staff Sgt. James Kliewer, 673rd Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, thought the Air Force was paying too much for a potassium acetate deicing fluid.  He discovered it could be purchased through the Defense Logistics Agency versus through local purchase. His research saved the Air Force $246,000 in the first year.

"The research process, coordination, and testing took about four months to complete," said Kliewer, "but they've estimated that JBER will save nearly $500K per year."

But the savings initiative doesn't end there.

"We've started looking more into supply versus DLA checks in purchased items to see if we could save more elsewhere," Kliewer added.

Staff Sgt. Tyler Ambrose, 36th Maintenance Squadron, Anderson Air Base, Guam, saved the Air Force nearly $124,000 when his idea for a B-52 wheel shipping and rebuild initiative was implemented.

While stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Captains Andrew Lawrence and Garrett Pitts from the 909th Refueling Squadron, joined forces with Capt. Nicholas Trudell from the 5th Expeditionary Airborne Command Control Squadron, to develop an innovative air refueling track that enabled maximum benefit out of every flight hour for ongoing missions. This combined effort saved the Air Force $408,000 in just 74 days and will continue to create future savings for the units.

According to Regina Torosian, Pacific Air Forces Financial Management Budget Analyst, "The Every Dollar Counts program is an ongoing effort that allows money saved to go back to the units to help pay for mission essential equipment and supplies."

The Every Dollar Counts program is intended to encourage, recognize and reward PACAF Airmen for saving the Air Force money.  Airmen have amazing ideas on how we can do business smarter and EDC is an avenue to get recognized for those ideas. To learn about the EDC program, including where to submit your initiatives and how you can qualify for an award, log on to the PACAF EDC website at http://www.pacaf.af.mil/pacafeverydollarcounts.asp