Innovation Madness: Final Four advance

by Staff Sgt. Jessica Hines
USAFE-AFAFRICA

3/23/2015 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The Elite Eight wings faced off in another single-elimination round for the title of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa's most innovative wing.

The Final Four wings advancing to the semi-finals include the 52nd Fighter Wing's Sabers from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, going head-to-head with the 31st Fighter Wing's Wyverns from Aviano AB, Italy; while the 86th Airlift Wing's Team Ramstein AB, Germany, will compete against the 48th Fighter Wing's Liberty Airmen from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

The inaugural competition started with nine wings from around USAFE-AFAFRICA competing with each other in a tournament style match to determine which wing promotes the best innovative culture.

Each wing submitted their innovative ideas along with the money and man-hours saved. Those ideas also included clever ways their units completed the mission in more efficient ways.

A panel of judges has reviewed their ideas and awarded points to each wing. Scoring for the competition also included points based on the "Likes" each wing's innovative video has received on the USAFE-AFAFRICA's Facebook page.

The winning wing will be awarded the $250,000 grand prize to foster and encourage innovative ideas that will ultimately save the U.S. Air Force far more.

Tune in to the USAFE-AFAFRICA's Facebook page to see the competition progress to the final round and see who will be crowned the first ever Innovation Madness champion!