IDEAs can earn $10,000 Published July 16, 2007 BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Air Force has rewarded nearly $1.3 million over the last several years through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA, program. The IDEA program, which is open to all Air Force personnel, rewards Airmen with cash if they have an idea that will save the Air Force money. Rewards typically range from $200 to $10,000 depending on the value of the idea. The amount of money awarded depends on the benefit the Air Force gains from the idea. Since the beginning of the program, ideas have resulted in saving the Air Force more than $81 million. In addition, more than 2,800 ideas have been approved. On average, 47 percent of all ideas submitted are approved. Ideas that get approved either save time, money or resources and improve or correct a current process. The IDEA submission must be the applicant's own thought or a new application of an old principle. To see if the idea has already been submitted, visit https://ipds.mont.disa.mil. For more information on eligibility of submissions and rewards, see AFI 38-401. For more information about the IDEA program, call Lonnie Koyama at 720-847-IDEA (4332).