You, too, can think Out of the Box

by Capt. Tamara Fischer-Carter
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

5/20/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- If you were King or Queen for a day, what would you change to improve the mission of the Air Force?

A new Air Force Space Command initiative, "Out of the Box" Innovation allows just that--an opportunity to think out of the box and improve the work environment through innovation. AFSPC personnel can directly impact the mission of Air Force Space Command by proposing changes to make the command more efficient.

Both uniformed and civilian AFSPC members can participate in the open call for ideas and share their creative ways on how to save money and time. The new event encourages people to suggest changes that will generate cost savings, improve productivity and increase efficiencies.

"Now is the time for innovation," said Air Force Space Command's Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Maj. Gen. Jane Rohr. "We must be more innovative ... with the budget issues and concerns of today, we must encourage everyone to look at their areas and units to find out how we can work more effectively to accomplish the mission. We absolutely must be more efficient in the delivery of our capabilities."

Airmen should submit their ideas, regardless of what the potential savings may be. "If we're going to be successful, we need everyone to participate. I truly mean that - we want to hear the ideas out there, big and small," said Gen. Rohr.

Airmen can submit their ideas through the Out of the Box Innovation SharePoint site from May 20 to June 5. The SharePoint site also has a link for individuals to sign up as a facilitator. The facilitators will attend a three hour training session and sign up for a team after the idea submission deadline. There will be one facilitator per team.

Additionally, individuals will have the chance to review the ideas and sign up on a team of their interest to research and expand upon an initial submission. Each team will have a minimum of 20, maximum of 25, participants.

Once teams are formed, they will participate in an "event day" which is tentatively scheduled for June 27. On that day, each team will collaborate on its given submission, identify a potential solution and formulate a response for leadership consideration.

The Innovation Management Team will evaluate and categorize all submissions and present them to Gen Shelton.

"The Out of the Box Innovation Program encourages innovation, embraces new thinking, and takes prudent risks to achieve mission success," said Gen Rohr. "We want all Airmen to view this as an opportunity to get involved and use their creativity to streamline processes and find new ways to get the job done."