Browse Ideas with tag 'military':

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  Overhaul the mililtary procurement process

  I've been in the Navy for over eight years now, and much of how the military purchases equipment doesn't make sense in the real world. For example, there are many instances where Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) products are used, and this is fine for most products. However, when it comes to computers & high tech devices, quality goes up and price goes down rapidly. I've seen instances where a multi-year computer contract ...more »

  I've been in the Navy for over eight years now, and much of how the military purchases equipment doesn't make sense in the real world. For example, there are many instances where Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) products are used, and this is fine for most products.

  However, when it comes to computers & high tech devices, quality goes up and price goes down rapidly. I've seen instances where a multi-year computer contract is signed that pays for high end systems, and locks that initial price in for additional and replacement units. The problem is that the price of a specific computer model will drop to about half in a single year and be worthless in three, while the Navy will continue paying the original purchase cost for now obsolete replacements five years later.

  Also, there are specialized equipment systems where the final purchase authority doesn't have more than a conceptual idea of the system, i.e. s/he knows what the system does, but doesn't know the details of the individual pieces of gear within the system and how they interact with the whole. This leads to contract padding, where a system is made unnecessarily complex in order to increase the contract cost. If enlisted maintenance technicians & installers were more involved with the final purchase it could result in a better and less costly product.

  More examples can be given, but this post is long enough as it is.

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  Consistency in Computer programs

  Consistency in Computer programs It has been noted by most Federal Employees that there a way too many different computer systems to all do the same thing. Personnel, Time Sheets, Payroll, Supplies, Finance Accounting are just some examples. This doesn’t even include the processing systems that just don’t work in a manner that is conducive to efficiency of process. 1 Time sheet and payroll system that can accommodate ...more »

  Consistency in Computer programs

  It has been noted by most Federal Employees that there a way too many different computer systems to all do the same thing. Personnel, Time Sheets, Payroll, Supplies, Finance Accounting are just some examples.

  This doesn’t even include the processing systems that just don’t work in a manner that is conducive to efficiency of process.

  1 Time sheet and payroll system that can accommodate all federal agencies should suffice.

  NCR is an example. They managed accounts for all banks and the federal Reserve, so why can’t they have programmers create a program to manage Federal payroll and timekeeping that will accommodate support and production type missions for the entire government. Don’t give us that bit about monopolies. Look around this country at the business climate and tell me there are not monopolies.

  Supplies and Inventory – Every branch of the government is or should be required to buy through the same source – GSA. They are or should be required to buy JWOD and NBNSH – that includes Executive and Legislative Branches. Have ONE supply system that manages ALL supplies for ALL Branches of the Military in particular.

  Finance and Accounting – everyone has to report to the treasury so come up with ONE system.

  EVERY military branch has some form of maintenance, supply, inventory, and purchasing. Create one program that incorporates all of the processes to accommodate these aspects for every organization on every base. Don’t say it can’t be done because it can!!! It’s a matter of thinking through the logistics because all of those aspects fall under logistics. You should be able to manage and track finances and property cradle to grave in any organization.

  The second biggest problem is this - This office wants their program, that office wants their program, this military branch does it differently from that military branch. As far as the military is concerned Department of Defense should have some shining stars that can research and come up with a programming company to create a design and then FORCE, yes, I said FORCE every branch to use it and bring about consistency throughout the department. Too much money and time is wasted as a result of non-uniformity.

  The first biggest problem is waste caused by favorite or pet projects. .

  And stop buying computer programs in accordance with friends, constituency, lobbyists, or favorites of particular services using them now. Have an objective study – oh how about a green belt project for this? Find the company that can make the best program to accommodate ALL aspects of the process that is needed to fulfill requirements and have it custom made. It would cost a lot less money than the money being wasted with bad programs, bad interfaces, patches and whatever else to make it work . Keep Congress, Senate, Lobbyists, constituents, friends, good ole boys, relatives and every other form of favoritism out of it. THE FACTS…JUST THE FACTS. Find the BEST company with the BEST talent and product.

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  Decrease Military Contractors

  Returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan claim that they are the ones doing the job contractors are paid to do. So, why do we need contractors? A 3-star General returning from Afghanistan also claimed two weeks ago that millions of dollars are being flown out of Afghanistan by contractors on a daily basis; and these amounts are being taken/deposited to foreign accounts! If the job or task can be done by our soldiers ...more »

  Returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan claim that they are the ones doing the job contractors are paid to do. So, why do we need contractors? A 3-star General returning from Afghanistan also claimed two weeks ago that millions of dollars are being flown out of Afghanistan by contractors on a daily basis; and these amounts are being taken/deposited to foreign accounts! If the job or task can be done by our soldiers or civilian workers deployed, why do we need contractors?

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  Military Reserves

  VERY very closely look at the reserve forces. Identify clearly what we want them to be doing, and set a total compensation package commensurate with their expected duties. [initial clarification: for many reserves, IDT (drills) training is not reflective of what the bigger DoD is using them for during mobilization. We need to identify if mobilization is the goal, and multiple mobs is the plan, then the current pay, ...more »

  VERY very closely look at the reserve forces. Identify clearly what we want them to be doing, and set a total compensation package commensurate with their expected duties.

  [initial clarification: for many reserves, IDT (drills) training is not reflective of what the bigger DoD is using them for during mobilization. We need to identify if mobilization is the goal, and multiple mobs is the plan, then the current pay, retirement, and protections are insufficient to the damage caused to the reservist's ability to provide for their family over the long haul. We can reduce training costs by eliminating training not aligned to what we will use them for and sizing the reserve force to meet the end point objective (if it is mob general, w/o specific skills, then so be it); then we likely are going to have to increase the overall compensation package to offset the damage we are creating by using reserves as we have for the last 8 years. So, again, we need to really look at the reserves. Ask what we want to have them do, and then make sure we are addressing the demands we are placing on them, and right size the force. Realize this: noone is getting rich in the reserves, and the med/pay/retirement benefit only helps if you live beyond 60. Then at 65 reserves gets kicked off tricare to medicare first, and tricare second. The package isn't that great, but it is ok. The suicide and divorce rate of the reserves over the last 8 years continues to climb. So....there is a lot of reserve reform we need to do to optimize what we want to achieve, and care for our people. Without looking closely, we will definitely go somewhere, but it likely will not be in the right direction. And that is exactly what is happening today...we are going the wrong direction.]

  It is unarguable that the Reserve forces have stepped up to the challenge in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, there is a sizable part of the reserve force that is dedicated overhead, and the "training" of reserves often is truly wasteful when the USG uses reserves as a temp pool regardless of skills.

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  Universal Soldier

  While the Nation's military is steeped in tradition and change is lengthy and sometimes painful, the idea of a Universal Soldier (US) becomes more appealing as resources become scarcer. The idea? By unifying the armed services, you are able to reduce redundancies, standardize training, create more agile, adaptive teams deployable for specific missions. Within the Unified Command you have specialty areas where the best ...more »

  While the Nation's military is steeped in tradition and change is lengthy and sometimes painful, the idea of a Universal Soldier (US) becomes more appealing as resources become scarcer. The idea? By unifying the armed services, you are able to reduce redundancies, standardize training, create more agile, adaptive teams deployable for specific missions. Within the Unified Command you have specialty areas where the best of each branch are selected to perform specific missions (air, ground or naval support etc.). Best practices are taken from each branch and adopted as the standard of training – the disparity between whose method is more effective, dwindling resources, uniform changes, TTPs, manuals – everything would be consolidated into one, streamlined organization. Every US (Universal Soldier) would be issued a standard ‘smart suit’ adaptable to the environment; trained to a national standard so senior leaders have more levity to plug-and-play individuals for specific missions; and a core of basic equipment and artillery every US is trained to employ. The greatest innovations develop not from where we were or are right now in the fight, but what the battlefield will look like in the future.

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  Military

  This one is simple. Instead of forcing the Military members to uproot their entire lives every three years and move somewhere else, let them stay where they are stationed if they would like to do so in order to promote stability and family togetherness. Giving them this choice would encourage a lot more people to remain in the military because they have the freedom of choice. Also, the military is among the lowest ...more »

  This one is simple. Instead of forcing the Military members to uproot their entire lives every three years and move somewhere else, let them stay where they are stationed if they would like to do so in order to promote stability and family togetherness. Giving them this choice would encourage a lot more people to remain in the military because they have the freedom of choice.

  Also, the military is among the lowest paid jobs in the nation. For those that defend all of the freedoms of this nation, and for all of the sacrifices that they make, they deserve better compensation. There are soldiers who are forced to live paycheck to paycheck because they are trying the support a family on a $17,000 a year salary. And then when the government shutdown was looming, they were afraid that they could not provide for their families if their pay was taken away. Long story short, if the people of this nation expect these freedoms, then those that provide those freedoms deserve a little more compensation then they are given.

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  Change mandatory PCS of non-deploying & shore jobs for military

  This one is simple. Why are we requiring that people move to a new command if they have the ability to grow and develop where they are at, while fulfilling local billet requirements? Some navy ratings require balancing "In" and "Out" ratios, when in reality both are Shore billets. The only difference is that one is out-conus and one is in-conus. Maintain rotation for those who wish to rotate, but why is it impossible ...more »

  This one is simple.

  Why are we requiring that people move to a new command if they have the ability to grow and develop where they are at, while fulfilling local billet requirements?

  Some navy ratings require balancing "In" and "Out" ratios, when in reality both are Shore billets. The only difference is that one is out-conus and one is in-conus.

  Maintain rotation for those who wish to rotate, but why is it impossible for some sailors to fulfill a billet in the same command or geographical area they are working? It's a massive waste of tax-payer money to MANDATE that a member pack up and move elsewhere.

  Worse still, you lose specialized workers that know how to operate stuff no one else does. Why would you mandate those people move? Why wouldn't you mandate they train a replacement before they would be ALLOWED to move?

  A change of mandatory PCS is needed. Allow for more Homesteading when operations support it, rather than mandating a new body show up when a fully qualified one already exists.

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  Certification Requirements for Higly Technical Military Jobs

  Unlike other portions of the DoD, the military tends to skim over requirements like DoD8570 and push them aside for "A" and "C" schools (in US Navy Terminology) that teach information that is extremely outdated, poorly taught, and often focusing on the quantity of passing students rather than the quality of those students. Example: DoD8570 requires an E-5 in the navy working as a Computer Network Defense Analyst to ...more »

  Unlike other portions of the DoD, the military tends to skim over requirements like DoD8570 and push them aside for "A" and "C" schools (in US Navy Terminology) that teach information that is extremely outdated, poorly taught, and often focusing on the quantity of passing students rather than the quality of those students.

  Example: DoD8570 requires an E-5 in the navy working as a Computer Network Defense Analyst to obtain at least IAT level II (Security+ Certification), and Global Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA).

  Why aren't we sending these people to schools that certify them for these specialty positions before they arrive?

  Why do we have to rely on command training budgets to provide that training when they should be able to expect their technicians to hit the ground running when they arrive?

  Why do they have to wait to arrive at a command and suddenly realize the training they received has little to nothing to do with what they'll be doing for the next 3 years? These people should be allotted for and trained for specific positions based on aptitude BEFORE REACHING THEIR FIRST COMMAND.

  Then the same person PCS's to another command, and is put into an entirely different job where the skills they've learned only partially translate.

  Teach and Maintain SPECIALTY TECHNICIANS, not JACK OF ALL TRADES.

  Countless hours are spent by under-qualified personnel struggling through PQS or JQR requirements that should be taught far before they arrive at their duty station.

  We expect our Civilian and Contracted employees to hit the ground running, so why are we wasting so much money on training when we should be getting solid work hours out of them.

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  Re-evaluate eligibility for military disability payments

  I am probably not using the proper terminology here, but I hope to get the point accross. I know of at least two people who were formerly in the military who receive payments into perpetuity for injuries they received while in the military. One woman I know had shin splints and gets, I believe, $250 monthly for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, she is now totally recovered (out of the military for about 7-8 years now)and ...more »

  I am probably not using the proper terminology here, but I hope to get the point accross. I know of at least two people who were formerly in the military who receive payments into perpetuity for injuries they received while in the military. One woman I know had shin splints and gets, I believe, $250 monthly for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, she is now totally recovered (out of the military for about 7-8 years now)and is an excellent athlete.

  The other person, a gentleman, had a back injury from parachuting in the military and is receiving this monthly payment as well. I don't know the amount, but he is in his 50's and I cannot see that he has any long-term disability from this injury that would justify this perpetual payment.

  Every payment of this type should be re-evaluated upon release from the military and every five years (maybe fewer years...?) thereafter to determine the need. We cannot continue to subsidize these minor "disabilities" when there are people returning from war as guadraplegics and with traumatic brain injuries that will need assistance for the rest of their lives. We have to realign our priorities.

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  Voluntary Furlough

  Have permission to take off without pay for non-essential workers. Obviously, military personnel are essential. Give the paperpushers days off if they want.

  Camden NJ has mandated 22 days furloughed a year until they get their budget under control.

  Save money.

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  Bring Military Home from Foreign Wars to work Rebuilding the US

  I know we have one of the largest most capable military of any other nation but why does that mean that we have to be out fighting other people’s battles? I feel we should bring home many of the military who are overseas fighting battles and put them to work rebuilding the US. Areas like New Orleans, poverty stricken areas (projects) and others could greatly benefit from the attention of the US military. We could have ...more »

  I know we have one of the largest most capable military of any other nation but why does that mean that we have to be out fighting other people’s battles?

  I feel we should bring home many of the military who are overseas fighting battles and put them to work rebuilding the US. Areas like New Orleans, poverty stricken areas (projects) and others could greatly benefit from the attention of the US military. We could have them rebuild communities; start implementing more of the green energy the President is trying to push, educating and assisting our people rather than others in a foreign land.

  We need to focus on the American people and America as a whole now more than ever. It would be great if the money that goes to the military could go back to our community in more than just wages.

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  One Day Off and rotation starting from the TOP DOWN.

  One Day Off or Furlough for one day starting from the top down to military and civilians. This idea would save the Government and the U.S.A. Nation funds on a yearly basis. The idea is spreading the furlough to all Government and Military but NOT at the SAME TIME. For God sake what is this government Idea on FURLOUGH EVERY ONE AT THE SAME TIME. I am putting this on bullets for simplicity, so the idea can be escalated ...more »

  One Day Off or Furlough for one day starting from the top down to military and civilians.

  This idea would save the Government and the U.S.A. Nation funds on a yearly basis. The idea is spreading the furlough to all Government and Military but NOT at the SAME TIME. For God sake what is this government Idea on FURLOUGH EVERY ONE AT THE SAME TIME. I am putting this on bullets for simplicity, so the idea can be escalated accordingly and steps can be added or removed.

  1- Spread the furlough to Government employees and military to only one DAY (a day off without pay) but distributing the load to different employees at different time frame (not all at the same time.)

  2- Starting from the President down to the Vice-President, Congressman, Senate everybody would received a day off without pay.

  3- On the other hand, the same for all Military branches, starting from the top down, one day off without pay for generals, commanders, officers, and enlisted. Everyone will take it but not at the same time.

  4- PAY Roll has to be set up to accommodate for this day off ensuring the day is not pay accordingly to the proposal. And not like few years ago when EVERYONE was off and EVERYONE still received payment for the days off. A nice free vacation with payment included.

  5- We all need to remember, even if the president does not receive pay for one day, he is still the president with decision to make on HIS DAY OFF. And same thing with every military commander, pretty much they all giving a day off without pay but their executive officer or next in the change of command will be incharged.

  6- There is always a backup plan when 25 or 50% of an outfit organization is off duty, the other 50% takes over and performs the function of the office. As the norm when a supervisor is off the next level supervisor takes charge until current supervisor comes back.

  7- Do this for one year, equally shared to all branches of the government and military. Analyze the cost saving and if it works and does not hurt anyone, make it a proposal and mandate to future years.

  8- This also can be implemented to States Government hierarchy.

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  Military

  Why not increase the number of years to be eligible for retirement from the military from 20 to 30. Yes, yes, I know wartime readiness is important, and you can still have that, but up until the member hits 20 years. The final 10 years can be spent educating and training new members of their career field. These final 10 years would have the member in an environment without being deployed or having a significant physical ...more »

  Why not increase the number of years to be eligible for retirement from the military from 20 to 30. Yes, yes, I know wartime readiness is important, and you can still have that, but up until the member hits 20 years. The final 10 years can be spent educating and training new members of their career field. These final 10 years would have the member in an environment without being deployed or having a significant physical requirement. Current instructors, trainers within 20 would not be required. It would require a phase in as many are close to retirement now. But imagine how large the experience pool would increase and the knowledge capture the military would have.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop Using Military Aircraft as Personal Transport

  It is time to stop the perk of Military Commander's using their Fighter Aircraft as personal transport when they go TDY. If a Squadron Commander needs to fly from Nellis to Langley, he/she can get on a civilian flight like the rest of us. At (conservatively) $10,000 per hour of flight for a US Fighter aircraft it is way to cost prohibitive. We need to stop all these cross country flights that military pilots use to ...more »

  It is time to stop the perk of Military Commander's using their Fighter Aircraft as personal transport when they go TDY. If a Squadron Commander needs to fly from Nellis to Langley, he/she can get on a civilian flight like the rest of us. At (conservatively) $10,000 per hour of flight for a US Fighter aircraft it is way to cost prohibitive. We need to stop all these cross country flights that military pilots use to hang with buddies and go to golf tournaments. I've seen it with my own eyes as I've personally loaded golf clubs into travel pods for these cross country flights.

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  Military Demonstration Teams

  The Department of Defense should combine the Air Force Thunderbirds, Navy Blue Angels, Army Golden Knights, and other military demonstration teams into a single DoD Demonstration Team that is centrally located and administered. By centralizing administration, maintenance, scheduling, practice, etc to a single team and single location (Nellis & Indian Springs as an example) should reduce the total overhead by reducing ...more »

  The Department of Defense should combine the Air Force Thunderbirds, Navy Blue Angels, Army Golden Knights, and other military demonstration teams into a single DoD Demonstration Team that is centrally located and administered. By centralizing administration, maintenance, scheduling, practice, etc to a single team and single location (Nellis & Indian Springs as an example) should reduce the total overhead by reducing number of personnel and costs that are right now duplicated across the different teams. And until our fiscal situation is improved, the number of demonstrations should be reduced.

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  Adopt the S1000D standard

  Adopting the S1000D international standard for technical publications would allow the entire government to be able to share information more easily. The information, once put into a common source database, would be able to be used by whomever needed it. And once it is placed there, the need for reentering the data is not needed, threrby decreasing the costs of rewriting and reediting the work. Most major companies ...more »

  Adopting the S1000D international standard for technical publications would allow the entire government to be able to share information more easily. The information, once put into a common source database, would be able to be used by whomever needed it. And once it is placed there, the need for reentering the data is not needed, threrby decreasing the costs of rewriting and reediting the work. Most major companies have begun to adopt the standard.

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  A Trillion Dollar waste - WELFARE,section8 ,low income housing

  http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income ...more »

  http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income housing system is a complete failure which has drained the US economy of trillions of dollars and maintained tenets in social and financial bondage. there is no incentive to leave section 8 or low income housing. why work or attend college when you can get housing for free or low cost. This encouranges drug abuse and out of wedlock births and tenet abuse by housing squatters and unauthorized people living in the units. section 8 and low income housing also reduce local taxpayers home values and create blighted neighborhoods with loud music and cars with dark windows and dirty messy yards often with dirt as a yard.. SECTION 8 and LOW INCOME HOUSING TENETS NEED TIME LIMITS of 1 to 3 years then they must be evicted from the units since they are living on free enititlements and have no incentive to Raise themselves out of the free benefits. WAKE UP AMERICA! WE ARE TRILLIONS IN DEBT and giving away FREE BENEFITS . remember that all secion 8 and low income housing authoritys are TAX FREE and you pay the costs of educating the people and their rents are susidized and food and insurance are subsidized and paid for. its like the midlle and upper class is paying triple to live, we all have to pay for everyone else.. its not fair..http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm

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  Take top 25 submissions and top 25 contributors for discussion

  I like most ideas on this website. I think that most ideas have come from somebody who is trying to do a great job at what they do. It has become so difficult to navigate through that, I have decided to take 15 minutes out of my day to dedicate to this at home on my own time. I believe that the top 25 contributors and top 25 idea submitters should be invited to bring their heads together and discuss what is really ...more »

  I like most ideas on this website. I think that most ideas have come from somebody who is trying to do a great job at what they do.

  It has become so difficult to navigate through that, I have decided to take 15 minutes out of my day to dedicate to this at home on my own time.

  I believe that the top 25 contributors and top 25 idea submitters should be invited to bring their heads together and discuss what is really important to their agency and to the federal government as a whole.

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  More Potluck and BBQ with workers and managment to share ideas

  Have the company / or / organization to share free time in an organizational, family or potluck / BBQ day.

  At the potluck having employees, mid-managers and top managers together to open to each other on ideas and innovaton for better solution to the organization.

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  End “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell”

  Allow open/active LGBTQ Americans to serve this great nation. Honor the years of hard work & sacrifice of those who already are. We need all the help we can get to protect our interests both domestically & abroad. A diverse pool of talent = strength = success, for our nation, our military, our communities. Most Americans, regardless of ANY kind of preference, are abundantly able to be respectful, hard-working, loyal, ...more »

  Allow open/active LGBTQ Americans to serve this great nation. Honor the years of hard work & sacrifice of those who already are. We need all the help we can get to protect our interests both domestically & abroad.

  A diverse pool of talent = strength = success, for our nation, our military, our communities.

  Most Americans, regardless of ANY kind of preference, are abundantly able to be respectful, hard-working, loyal, trustworthy, skilled, dedicated, soldiers.

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Extend the life of the PRINTER – no refreshing in 3 years

  Extend the life of the PRINTER – no refreshing in 3 years is needed. The life spam on printers is actually measured by the amount of printouts the printer do in its life, and not because the printer is 3 years old and it needs to be replaced. YOU CAN ENVEN doubled this timeframe, and save cost for the office, the government and the tax payers. For example high-end and network printers has a life spam of 500,000 printouts, ...more »

  Extend the life of the PRINTER – no refreshing in 3 years is needed.

  The life spam on printers is actually measured by the amount of printouts the printer do in its life, and not because the printer is 3 years old and it needs to be replaced. YOU CAN ENVEN doubled this timeframe, and save cost for the office, the government and the tax payers.

  For example high-end and network printers has a life spam of 500,000 printouts, this is approximately 100,000 per year for a total of 5 years. This is assuming the offices print 8350 pages per months. The printer even could last longer that the specified life spam stated by the manufacture. Parts can be replaced, and if the cost of repair exceed 40% of the cost of the printer, then it would not be economical to repair.

  On another note, on today’s economy saving there is no need to print as mush as in the way we used to 5 or 10 years ago.

  Save energy, do less waste, go paperless and save tax payers money

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop printing T-n-A and other doc-file them online.

  Instead of printing any Time and Attendance (TnA) document, some time even 3 sheets time 3 or 4 times (for distribution), adding any SF71 to it.... Do them electronically, store them and process them online. Some organization has and can process them via the mainframe financial institution or online secure services. There is no need to print them out, they all can be processed, verified and certified ELECTRONICALLY; ...more »

  Instead of printing any Time and Attendance (TnA) document, some time even 3 sheets time 3 or 4 times (for distribution), adding any SF71 to it.... Do them electronically, store them and process them online.

  Some organization has and can process them via the mainframe financial institution or online secure services.

  There is no need to print them out, they all can be processed, verified and certified ELECTRONICALLY; here is the amount an employee can print every 2 weeks:

  1- One copy for the employee,

  2- Make another copy for the supervisor

  3- And then another for the Admin or budget person to verify the entries.

  4- If there is one error the cycle starts again, and you end up 2 or 3 time the initial amout printed originally.

  ONE PERSON could generate 12 sheets or more just for each pay period (this assuming there is no mistake and the forms need to be printed again).... you can do the numbers, if you have 1000's employees.

  Save more,,,,do less waste... Lets go paperless….

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Libya - Another Knee Jerk Reaction

  Why is it that every time there is some sort of "crisis", that we have to get involved? While going through the international community, is a step forward....when did Libya become critical for the US? Why do we do it, must be because we have a lot of military assets. It is time to trim back on these open ended military adventures....yeah we all feel sorry for these poor people in Libya, but we are going bankrupt and ...more »

  Why is it that every time there is some sort of "crisis", that we have to get involved? While going through the international community, is a step forward....when did Libya become critical for the US? Why do we do it, must be because we have a lot of military assets. It is time to trim back on these open ended military adventures....yeah we all feel sorry for these poor people in Libya, but we are going bankrupt and spreading ourselves too thin....STOP NOW, and lets use our resources for something more productive here at home.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Equipment CONSOLIDATION and ReUTILIZATION

  Equipment CONSOLIDATION and Re-UTILIZATION First come first served. Someone’s trash or excess is someone’s treasure (items needed for another office / or site.) We need to start sharing our knowledge of what we have in excess and what we can donate, exchange, or give away; this could be done within the organization we all resides / or working with…. 1- Each department can provide an equipment list of excess, unused ...more »

  Equipment CONSOLIDATION and Re-UTILIZATION First come first served.

  Someone’s trash or excess is someone’s treasure (items needed for another office / or site.)

  We need to start sharing our knowledge of what we have in excess and what we can donate, exchange, or give away; this could be done within the organization we all resides / or working with….

  1- Each department can provide an equipment list of excess, unused or not desire equipment.

  2- This list can be consolidated as a good faith estimate for property disposal - but not to be disposed of as scrap or as unserviceable items to your local supply or DRMO (Demilitarized Reutilization Marketing Office) or via disposition under form SF120, or disposal of to “Area 51.”

  3- Have 2 Goods-Assets Offices (a logistics office or a Central point of distribution):

  a- a Non-Information Technology (IT) or Office Furniture -- Have an office to store or coordinate the excess of furniture equipment - for utilization whiting the Agency; and after 6 or 12 moths the equipment can go on a SF120 for other agencies to take advantage.

  b- An Information Technology Equipment -- Have an Office in charge of reporting all of the excess Information Technology Equipment. There is so many unopened or boxed up electronic equipment, cables, parts, magnetic media, ect out there that it can be realigned.

  Example 1 --- Maybe someone has a piece of switch / router equipment, or let said a Printer or keyboard, for example it could be transferred to someone in needs of printers or networking communication equipment. And this could start within the office Organization. The cost related to this scenario; as stated before someone needs a $25,000 or $65,000 Cisco 4600 Switch with 192 Giga-Ethernet ports and fiber ports. The equipment could be transferred to the office needing the upgrade without the need of spending almost $80,000 on Switches and this kind of sort of equipment.

  Example 2 --- Someone is conducting a program and there is a project of changing cables on the switches and converting this old Cat5 to Cat6 cabling, because the new technology is booming and the office is going to have Voice-over-IP technology. There was an office down the street that has excess of Cat6 cables and connectors sitting in a corner for the last 2 years. The IT Office Reutilization tapped and has the knowledge of this equipment, and then the Cable could be transferred to the NEW Project office for optimizing the network with Voice-over-IP system. The cost scenario here, someone needs 300 patch cables at approximately $15.00 a piece. The total here is $4,500 in just cables (upgrading the infrastructure to CAT6 only.)

  Remember some of this part can last a long time; cables, parts, magnetic media (usually this magnetic storage media is good for 30 or 40 years.)

  The question is: How many of you have some of them, knowingly that someone could benefit from it.

  see other ideas here:

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Control-AC---Heating-and-1-hour-turn-off-for-SAVING-ENERGY-/123166-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Eliminate-Government-Vehicle-for-permanent-Domicile-to-Duty/122824-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Wind-turbine-and-Solar-Panels/122931-13060

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Wind Turbine and Solar Panels - Green Energy for Feds Buildings

  Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings. The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal ...more »

  Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings.

  The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal buildings.

  The Gov office could set the example by assign a pilot program especially to a NEW CONTRUCTION offices and or business. This pilot can be set and studies can be used to compare conventional usage of energy versus new Wind Turbine and / or Solar Panel.

  I have seemed the Corp of Engineer along with the local agency organization conducting and planning 2 or 3 years ago having the implementation of outdated R22 refrigerant (this Freon is being banded by the EPA effective 2008) versus Eco-Friendly R410a.

  Additionally:

  Military building can benefit from this in the long run instead of warhead expenses; by diverting some of the tomahawk and other missiles strategy cost to this Solar and Wind Turbine energy. It’ll pay back.

  See other ideas.

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Control-AC---Heating-and-1-hour-turn-off-for-SAVING-ENERGY-/123166-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Eliminate-Government-Vehicle-for-permanent-Domicile-to-Duty/122824-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Equipment-CONSOLIDATION-and-ReUTILIZATION/123337-13060

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  6 comments for Idea: Wind Turbine and Solar Panels - Green Energy for Feds Buildings

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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