API to receive joint base guidance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson-specific guidance for the Airmen Powered by Innovation program is scheduled to be released in the coming months.

API has been in existence since February 2015 and is an amalgamation of three other programs - Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, Best Practices, and Productivity Enhancing Capital Investments. API is designed to allow service members to voice their innovative ideas to influence cost savings and productivity.

According to Air Force Instruction 38-402, only Air Force personnel that fall under Title X can submit their ideas through the API website, however, since JBER is a joint installation, individuals from all branches are encouraged to submit their ideas, said Army Capt. Julie Hoxha, 673d Air Base Wing executive officer.

"Anybody who touches equipment or might see it everyday might have a better understanding of how it works, or how a process might be improved ... They want to give everyone a voice, and a way they can submit their ideas," Hoxha said.

API is a four-phase program. The first phase involves voicing the idea.

"What any [service member] can do if they have an idea is come to the Continuous Process Improvement office or the manpower office," Hoxha said.

There, personnel can review the idea and make sure it's feasible, she said.

Service members do not have hands-on involvement with the following three phases, which involve higher command evaluating, implementing and reviewing the results.

Awards for individuals whose ideas are implemented can be monetary and nonmonetary.

"If your idea goes up and they like it and they approve it, you get $100," Hoxha said. "Depending on how much is saved, [service members] will be awarded up to $10,000."

Nonmonetary awards can range from days off to anything an individual chain of command wants to give, Hoxha said.

Currently the 673d ABW is recognizing an Airman whose idea has saved the Air Force $13,000.

Technical Sgt. Matt Derheim of the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight helped improve the Monaco Network, said Command Chief Master Sgt. Garry Berry, 673d ABW command chief.

"He worked with our contractors to identify multiple areas across the installation where we didn't have good coverage," Berry said. "He helped develop a plan to raise six of seven antennas, which helped increase coverage by about 35 percent."

Even though the idea was not formally submitted through the API website, base leaders wanted to recognize the service member for having an innovative idea.

"With our limited resources, we are looking for ways to get the most for our dollar," Berry said. "We're more conscious with the time and the dollars we're spending."

For more information see AFI 38-402, or visit the API website at

https://my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/site/API