An infomercial inspired William Durham, with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., to try a steamer and detergent, instead of the current hazardous chemicals, to clean the carbonized fuel, called coking, off of F-15 engine parts. The experiment yielded clean fuel distribution bodies, eliminated the environmentally hazardous chemical cleanser, and has saved the Air Force tens of thousands of dollars. And, it netted Durham $10,000 from the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent direction that the military services return to a more old-school approach to basic training—with instructors "tossing bunks" and "putting their hands on recruits”—will likely require the Air Force to rewrite policies for military training instructors it has modified over time to cut down on such…