Posted on May 28, 2015
Why don't all members of the Air Force have to be fully qualified to be a rifleman in case of hostile events?
369K
4.45K
1.94K
565
565
0
I have noticed through the years of being in the Air Force (Security Forces member here) that most people in the Air Force are clueless when it comes to M-4/M-16/M-9. This is outrageous! What are they supposed to do if the enemy comes knocking on our door step and everyone needs to fight. I have taught classes on the M-4 with communication airmen and have seen them completely mess up clearing out the weapon, loading it (magazine upside down or rounds the wrong way), and just completely incapable of achieving a zero on target after four rounds of firing. I am a big fan of how the Army and Marines teach that your are always a rifleman first. It almost seems like some of the Airmen don't expect to carry a weapon (ummmm why did you join the military in the first place)? I wish the Air Force would pick up on this to make us a more combat ready force. But, enough of me what are your thoughts?
Rifleman
3P: Security Forces
Air Force
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 914
0
0
0
First off, perhaps you should have joined the Infantry i.e. the Army or MC? Second, while I agree that more money should be spent on weapons training (I was in the Infantry before switching to the AF) I think that perhaps you need to look at the larger mission and how it's conducted. Ever been down range? It's a much different world there and the Airmen are trained before they go. Further, when was the last time an airfield was even close to being overrun? Vietnam? Just saying there is more to the picture than I think you see at your level. Enjoy your career, I know I did :)
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Went through conus replacement center, crc out of ft bliss in 2013. As an AF guy, I was appalled at the number of Army troops that didn't have a clue!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
I would think if you were to give out another medal for qualifying with a weapon everybody would want to do it. The shooting positions would be the "Standing at the PX, Sitting reclined in your office chair, and the prone in the cot."
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I have always had to qualify once a year on a m4/m16. That said is there really a point no. They don't give maintenance personnel weapons anyways and if they do they give you a weapon a 5 rounds not even worth it haha
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
the Air Force is Slowly going to to having everyone "battlefield Ready" firing most career fields at least every two years for what most put on the AF710 is "mobility" reasons
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Garrett, some like medics are expressly prohibited by the Geneva Convention from having a firearm in a combat zone.
(0)
(0)
SFC Mark Bailey
Medics carry an M9 pistol for self-protection... this is in keeping with and even stated in the Geneva Convention.
(1)
(0)
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
All airmen are trained at BMTS to fire the M16. They have to hit the target 20 times (after practice and zeroing) to pass. Then they scamper off to their tech schools and first jobs. If their job doesn't routinely require them to carry a weapon, then that's it. Hopefully in their long-term memory they retain some of that when you Security Forces folks need a second (or more) line of defense!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Fully agree. Especially with the more broad scope of things Airmen are getting involved in. No such thing as too much knowledge!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google