What is the Airmen Powered by Innovation program?

  • Published
  • By Maj. Dawn Zink
  • 14th Force Support Squadron AFSO 21 Program Manager
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Does short manning and lack of funding have you frustrated on how to accomplish your daily tasks?  Do you have ideas that could improve the way we do business but no way to have them heard? 

Well, the Airmen Powered by Innovation Program is the solution you have been waiting for. 

     In April 2014, the Air Force launched the API program as part of the "Every Dollar Counts" campaign which supports process improvement throughout the Air Force. This initiative is one of Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James' top priorities for the Air Force. API allows bright, enthusiastic Airmen an opportunity to turn their ideas into realities by saving time and/or money, increasing productivity, or decreasing waste. 

     The Air Force developed an enhanced API page found on the Air Force Portal as a resource to you. This page provides submitters a wealth of information from the latest API approval stats, to tools that can help refine and enhance potential submissions. To get the most out of this application, Airmen need to provide an evaluation-ready idea with sufficient details describing the current method, proposed method, expected benefits, and cost of implementation to support the idea.  Another great aspect of the API page is you can research other ideas that have previously been submitted to see if your idea has been evaluated by another base. 

     Not sure how to submit an idea?  The Air Force Smart Operations of the 21st Century office, aka AFSO 21, located in the Manpower Section of the 14th Force Support Squadron, can help take your ideas and determine the best proposed method by following the eight-step problem solving method.  Also, starting February 2015, Columbus Air Force Base will have 24 newly trained Green Belt facilitators ready to help find the best solutions to your problem or idea.  Once all of the required aspects are met, the idea can be submitted through the API program for potential Air Force approval and widespread implementation. 

     Finally, there is a brand new AFSO 21 SharePoint Site on the 14th FTW SharePoint main page.  It is there that you can submit ideas for the AFSO 21 office to research.  Just locate the "Process Improvement" tab and, under your organization, let us know how we can help you find answers on how to improve your work area.