JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The Guardians and Airmen Innovation Network (GAIN) has introduced an enhanced Open Call process, managed by the Continuous Improvement and Innovation Branch for the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management (SAF/MG’s) Improvement and Innovation Division.
Open Call is a year-round initiative inviting all Department of the Air Force personnel, military and civilians, to submit and refine ideas. Innovators work with Continuous Improvement and Innovation or CI2 consultants to enhance their ideas for better approval chances.
Previously a tracking system for ideas, Open Call now offers a more interactive process. Realizing the potential for improvement, Vanessa Salzl Bibb, CI2 Branch, in coordination with contractors at SAF/MG, led an effort to make the campaign more interactive and helpful to users. The result is a revised process that assists innovators unfamiliar with CI2 tools and practices. It guides users through a five-step refinement process with easy-to-understand questions and tools, helping them develop a strong case for their commanders.
Despite greater autonomy, consultant assistance remains crucial. They conduct two "vector checks" during the process to ensure ideas are ready to advance.
The GAIN platform is accessible to anyone with a controlled access card (CAC). Users must register at GAIN and create a profile, using their DAF email. The preferred Username is an individual’s DAF (@us.af.mil or @spaceforce.mil) email. There is no need to complete Access Request Notes or create a password.