PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Sometimes a great idea can save the Air Force millions of dollars and sometimes it can save someone a million headaches. For Tech. Sgt. Brandy Duncan of the 302nd Airlift Wing, her Airmen Powered by Innovation idea might help educate Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen and save time.
The Airmen Powered by Innovation program began in April 2014 and is intended to be an engine for innovation across the Air Force. Ideally, it empowers Airmen to implement efficiencies.
Duncan, a Customer Support Supervisor assigned to the Peterson-based 302nd Force Support Squadron, had an idea to create a more efficient process for Air Force Reservists to request a Department of Defense Form 214.
The DD-214 is best known as the form you receive when you leave active duty. It contains a Reservist’s duty history and can be used when validating service for the Veteran’s Administration and other government agencies.
Air Force Reservists do not receive a DD-214 when they separate or retire. Reservists earn a DD-214 when they spend 90 or more consecutive days on non-contingency orders or as short as one day on contingency orders.
This can be confusing for Citizen Airmen because many people associate a DD-214 with separating from the military and when one arrives in their file it may cause concern. It is also confusing, because Reservists are not aware they are able to request them following their time on orders to validate school or other benefits.
Duncan was brought in on orders at the 302nd Airlift Wing to help process the military service records, ultimately reducing the backlog of people who were eligible for the DD-214.
The list or backlog is generated by the Systems Branch at Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters. It uses data from the Air Force Reserve Order Writing System and the Military Personnel Data System. If the eligible DD-214 isn’t showing up in the Automated Records Management System, it makes it onto the backlog.
All Reservists typically log into AROWS-R to validate their orders after their duty. With this, Duncan reasoned there could be an option, either as a drop down menu or as a link to could give a short explanation of the DD-214 and allow Citizen Airmen to request it immediately. This would serve a dual purpose of educating members about their eligibility for the form and preventing a future backlog.
Duncan discussed the possibility with a colleague and they agreed it would help with the problem. She took the idea to her then supervisor, Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Robertson, now 302nd AW Command Chief, who encouraged her to submit it.
“It is important to bring your ideas to the table as Tech. Sgt. Duncan did. We often get stuck in a rut with how we do things and one idea can open doors to endless possibilities to make it easier to complete the mission. I highly encourage anyone with an idea to submit it,” said Robertson.
It is easy to scan through the Air Force Portal and submit your idea online. The Air Force highly recommends you search the API portal site before submitting recommendations. A keyword search will allow the user to see if a similar idea has already been submitted.
The API cell is located at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The API cell manages and tracks every idea from submission through evaluation and implementation.
Duncan submitted her idea early in 2014. She was notified it was accepted by the Air Force at the end of the year. While the idea could not be implemented in the AROWS-R program, it is currently being implemented through the Air Force Integrated Personnel and Pay System.
She encourages other people with innovative solutions to go ahead and suggest them.
“If you have an idea, you should absolutely submit it,” said Duncan. “They are getting looked at and if mine could be accepted, anyone might be considered. It could be small or it could save millions, you never know where it will go.”