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?
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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 >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 907
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Goes to show why a DD214 should not be the qualification to get a weapons permit in several states. Being in the Armed Forces does not equal weapons proficiency. We can say the same thing about numerous units in the Army as well.
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MSgt John Darchangelo
The DD-214, where I live is checked to see if you are weapons qualified, before they will issue a weapons permit and then only the first time you apply. After that, you have to pass a written test and range qualify. My DD-214 shows I qualified as expert with a M-9 and a M-16/M-4... I was also a member of one of the few Air Force OPFOR units while assigned to Scott AFB..
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Garrett, I am not sure where you are teaching and to what command you are working within, but this is not the norm for the command I belong to, we have not had the M-16 A1 for approx 17 yrs. Additionally we have transitioned to the Glock 19. We fire both the AFQT but them also engage in Small Unit Tactics. This is done before deployment and during operational train-up normally we engage in weapons training every quarter and or Full Mission Profiles. This includes the combat teams and the service support team and yes we wear Blue. Before you make the assumption that the entire AF is a mess look beyond your experience as a SSgt. There are commands who are focused on the survival of their people because they are not apart of the AEF cycle and part of a dedicated combat force. Regards Chief D.
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In 92 all of us were required to qualify with a M-16. But your correct because after basic I never had to qualify again.Guess it's because of how far away from the front line we were. Pilots had side arms but that was it.
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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 :)
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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!
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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."
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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
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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
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Garrett, some like medics are expressly prohibited by the Geneva Convention from having a firearm in a combat zone.
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SFC Mark Bailey
Medics carry an M9 pistol for self-protection... this is in keeping with and even stated in the Geneva Convention.
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