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Wing Innovation: Raider Spark Cell debuts with $450,000 awarded funds

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

The 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell awarded a total of $450,000 for use in eight approved innovation projects, during the annual Financial Management Board, February 15.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, cleans a dry erase board, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. The 17th TRW RSC was a physical and opportunistic location designed to accelerate change by transforming service members’ ideas into workplace realities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

Wing Innovation: Raider Spark Cell debuts with $450,000 awarded funds

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, cleans a dry erase board, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. The 17th TRW RSC was a physical and opportunistic location designed to accelerate change by transforming service members’ ideas into workplace realities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
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“There were eight to ten projects or innovators who were awarded,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief. “Those new innovations will pay dividends to the units, the Airmen, and the students.”

Launched in late 2022, the Raider Spark Cell is a physical and opportunistic location designed to accelerate change by transforming service members’ ideas into workplace realities.

“This is an organization where people can come with their ideas,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17th TRW Raider Spark Cell superintendent. “We exist solely to help those people.”

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell superintendent, ponders ideas in the spark cell, at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. Lefemine mentors and coaches service members with their innovation ideas through funding and resource challenges by offering an outside perspective. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

Wing Innovation: Raider Spark Cell debuts with $450,000 awarded funds

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell superintendent, ponders ideas in the spark cell, at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. Lefemine mentors and coaches service members with their innovation ideas through funding and resource challenges by offering an outside perspective. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

One recipient of the squadron innovation funds was the Goodfellow Air Force Gaming Cell. Previously, the program did not have a dedicated space and borrowed equipment before these funds.

“I am extremely excited we were able to receive these funds,” said Space Force Staff Sgt. D’Andre Floyd Space Force Gaming base ambassador. “This is a huge step in the right direction, not only for the base, but our community as well. This enables us to further amplify our message, build our community and boost morale.”

“I am remarkably proud that we were able to receive these funds and that leadership backs up our vision,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Vialpando, Air Force Gaming base ambassador. “This is a great opportunity for us to start something that has not been established yet on this base.”

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, far left, and Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17TRW RSC superintendent, far right, award Air and Space Force Gaming $25,000 from squadron innovation funds, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, March 23, 2023. The RSC awarded eight projects a total of $450,000. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

Wing Innovation: Raider Spark Cell debuts with $450,000 awarded funds

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, far left, and Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17TRW RSC superintendent, far right, award Air and Space Force Gaming $25,000 from squadron innovation funds, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, March 23, 2023. The RSC awarded eight projects a total of $450,000. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

The Raider Spark Cell’s efforts made this vision happen.  

Aligning with Air Education and Training Command, members efforts to incorporate digital-age technology across the training wing became easier through the spark cell team’s resource navigation.

“We are here to help mentor and coach service members through funding, resources, and outside perspectives,” said Lefemine. “A lot of big impacts come from small ideas.”

Brainstorming space and facility use is open to everyone with base access, to include joint services.

“What a lot of people don’t see is there are so many different ways to solving their problems,” said Crook. “There is a lot of untapped experience, knowledge, and ideas that don’t make it out there. We want to help those Airmen with those ideas and ultimately make Goodfellow better.”

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, and Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17th TRW RSC superintendent, review content, at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. The RSC helped award eight projects a total of $450,000 for use in an approved innovation project, during this year’s annual Financial Management Board. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)

Wing Innovation: Raider Spark Cell debuts with $450,000 awarded funds

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Crook, 17th Training Wing Raider Spark Cell section chief, and Master Sgt. Anthony Lefemine, 17th TRW RSC superintendent, review content, at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023. The RSC helped award eight projects a total of $450,000 for use in an approved innovation project, during this year’s annual Financial Management Board. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

 

Congratulations to the following Squadron Innovation Funds recipients:

  • 315th Training Squadron, $7,500 for a target development instrument
  • 313th Training Squadron, $300,000 for an Agile Combat Employment (ACE)/Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) visualization tool
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs, $10,000 for a Green Room and Information Domain Nerve Center
  • 17th Training Support Squadron, $19,000 for a Lightboard Studio
  • 17th Training Support Squadron, $46,800 for Circadian Classroom and Office Lighting
  • 17th Logistics Readiness Squadron, $25,511.16 for Operation Go for Flight
  • 17th Communications Squadron, $25,000 for an Initial Equipment purchase for Goodfellow Air Force Gaming Cell
  • 17th Comptroller Squadron, $22,000 for a Comptroller Squadron Kiosk